Students studying together
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Student experience and development

Services to support you during your studies
We offer a range of student opportunities and support services to help you succeed during your studies, including Welcome Month activities, mentoring, academic services, career workshops, health and wellbeing initiatives and student leadership programs.

Mentoring programs

Taking part in a mentoring program will give you the opportunity to meet other students and build networks, learn about student life and help you gain valuable academic skills as you settle into the University of Sydney.

These include programs for local undergraduate students, international undergraduate students, Dalyell Scholars and undergraduate students aged 25+.

The Domestic Mentoring Program will help prepare you for academic, professional and personal success during your first semester as a local undergraduate Arts and Social Sciences student.

You’ll be supported by a senior Student Mentor in your area of study from Welcome Day and have an early opportunity to make new friends, access student skills workshops and social events, and learn important information about planning your degree.

Moving to a new country can be exciting and challenging. By joining our International Mentoring Program, you'll connect with other international students, ask questions, and participate in fun social activities. You’ll also have access to skills-building workshops, talks, seminars and networking opportunities online and on Campus.

The Dalyell Mentoring Program spans across the three-years of the Dalyell Scholars Program. Year One consists of an 8 week-long peer mentoring program with senior Dalyell students that connects new Dalyell scholars together to assist with your transition into university.

Mentoring focuses on orientation at university and skill building workshops that equip you with the knowledge required to actively participate in career path exploration and excel academically at university.

Dalyell Scholars are also encouraged to attend events during the semester along with their Dalyell Mentors. This includes university-wide Dalyell events and faculty-specific opportunities.

Our 25+ Mentoring Program is a specialised option for non-school leaver students who are generally 25 years or older. It is up to you whether you opt in to this program. If you are younger and have not come straight from school, you can also join the program. You will be matched with a mentor and other students in a similar age group.

The Education and Social Work Mentoring Program follows a structured workshop schedule during the first eight weeks of your first semester. You’ll learn how to make the most of lectures and seminars, how to use the library and educational databases, learn about academic writing and referencing style, develop a reflective journal (a skill widely used in the school’s coursework), participate in competitions and meet with other first-year students in a vibrant and friendly environment.

The “Communities of Support” Program is designed to offer guidance and support for First in Family students as they navigate their first year of university study.

By participating in the program, you will learn a lot about how university works, what skills and strategies might help you to do well in your studies, and also get the chance to meet other first year First in Family students in a friendly and supportive environment.

Academic support

Getting your head around the style of teaching and learning at university and what is expected of you can take a bit of time. We have a range of resources available on our student website including information about learning services and workshops to help you strengthen your academic skills, details of study spaces around campus and other helpful information.

We have a team of dedicated academic advisors to offer you advice and support you throughout your studies. You can talk to them about a range of different topics including:

  • Improving your academic performance
  • Setting study goals
  • Planning your degree and choosing subjects
  • Understanding the range of different student support services available to you and accessing the best resources for your needs
  • What to do if you are struggling at university and need some advice

As soon as you’re enrolled and have access to Canvas, we recommend enrolling in our Student Affairs and Engagement Canvas page, which includes a useful Self-Degree Check tool, student-created study resources, and lots more information about all the great services and opportunities available to you in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

We also offer a writing support drop-in service to all undergraduate students in the faculty. Run by staff in our Department of Writing Studies, they are also an opportunity for you to receive individualised feedback on your essay drafts, outlines, arguments and ideas.

Career planning

Our career programs offer undergraduate and postgraduate students a diverse range of paid and virtual placements, internships for academic credit with government, corporate, not for profit organisations and Indigenous communities. Students have placed with organisations as varied as CommBank, Macquarie Dictionary, NSW Government, City of Sydney, Westpac, Amnesty International, and NSW Department of Education, among many more.

You can also attend exclusive Faculty events including Careers Panels, industry networking events, and an abundance of Careers Centre workshops to help you identify your career options, build your essential skills and professional identity and achieve your career goals.

Health, wellbeing and support services

As a University of Sydney student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, your health and wellbeing is supported at every stage of your degree. Some of the ways you can engage with our Faculty include:

  • The First Year Toolkit for Success, which provides you with comprehensive information on a variety of social activities, societies, student opportunities and university services that you can get involved with
  • Peer-to-peer student mentoring, whether as a first year student (as part of a mentoring group with a senior Student Mentor in your area of study), or by applying to become a Student Mentor yourself after one year of full-time study, where you’ll be professionally trained to build your leadership skills and knowledge of health and wellbeing
  • Monthly eNewsletters and fun social media campaigns that put you in touch with your community and other students with similar interests
  • Ther-A-Paws dog therapy sessions (on-campus/online) and other interactive community initiatives to put you in touch with other students and university staff
  • The Student Affairs and Engagement Canvas page, your one-stop shop for a huge range of student-led initiatives and activities and other exciting programs available across the Faculty

You can email our Student Affairs and Engagement team with any questions relating to your studies and to find out more about health and wellbeing programs and support services

You’ll also have access to a range of health, wellbeing and support services at the University of Sydney, including:

  • Counselling and Mental Health Support – offers free counselling services and workshops for undergraduate and postgraduate students at the University of Sydney; this can help you in times of anxiety, stress and crisis management.
  • University Health Service – offers bulk-billed appointments with doctors five days a week.
  • Ally network and LGBTIQ support – a trained group of staff and students who support and advocate on behalf of everyone who identifies as LGBTIQ.
  • batyr – a non-profit organisation that organises fun events and initiatives with University of Sydney students to enable and empower positive dialogues around mental wellbeing.

Student Partnership Program

The award winning Student Partnership Program connects like-minded students in different areas of study in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Your community is led by your Student Representatives, who are elected student leaders that are responsible for advocating for you and building your experience at university. 

All students in each discipline of study in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences have the opportunity to:

  •  Participate in student programs, events and activities created by your Student Partners in collaboration with academic and professional staff in your area of study and the wider Faculty
  • Give feedback on teaching and learning in your area of study and in relation to your experience as a student in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences

Students who are interested in developing their leadership skills and experience have the opportunity to apply to join the Student Partnership Program at the beginning of Semester 1 each year. Roles are offered on a department, program, stream and committee-level basis throughout the faculty.

By joining the program as a Student Partner, you’ll get the opportunity to:

  • Develop practical skills and experience working on initiatives that impact the academic success and wellbeing of other students in our community
  • Receive training and mentoring from experienced professional and academic staff in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences
  • Access VIP career development opportunities designed for student leaders
  • Meet other high achieving student leaders who are passionate about our community and build your networks
  • Be recognised as an emerging future leader

If you have further questions about becoming a Student Representative, please contact us at fass.studentpartners@sydney.edu.au

Student Experience Innovation Grants

The Student Experience Innovation Grants program is a unique opportunity to develop a fully-funded student experience initiative for Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences students. Students can access up to $2,500 of funding and partner with staff and other student leaders to facilitate projects that build cross-cultural connections and make an impact on the academic, personal and professional success of our students.

You'll be given the opportunity to:

  • Make a significant impact on students in our community.
  • Gain practical experience applying the skills you've learnt in your degree to a real world project
  • Receive training and mentoring over six months to develop your project design, project
    implementation, marketing and communications, data analysis and reporting skills
  • Build your resume and be recognised for your leadership as part of this prestigious program

A number of Student Experience Innovation Grants have also been developed into established, nationally-recognised student-led programs and projects, such as the Sydney Policy Reform Project and Therapaws health and wellbeing initiative.

To find out more and how to apply, please email us at fass.studentaffairsandengagement@sydney.edu.au

Sydney Policy Reform Project

The Sydney Policy Reform Project provides students with the opportunity to voluntarily contribute to the policy and law reform work of under-resourced community and public agencies, with supervision from University academics. 

Previously, students have carried out research in areas of human rights, mental health care, barriers to vaccination, criminal justice, Indigenous justice, data ethics, credit licensing, racist extremism, and aged care. 

  • Selected students receive a valuable opportunity to develop skills, gain practical experience working on real-world challenges, develop their Graduate Qualities and establish relationships with other students and academics interested in policy and law reform. Recent organisations have included the Australian Human Rights Commission, Australian Council of Social Service, Anti-Poverty Week, Just Reinvest NSW and the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT).

To find out more, including terms of reference and how to apply, please email us at fass.studentaffairsandengagement@sydney.edu.au