Washington DC Placement Program

Applications for summer 2014 will open in September 2013.

Program Conditions

By submitting an application you agree to the following program conditions:

Selection criteria and application process

• All applicants must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree (including combined degrees) with the University of Sydney Business School.
• All applicants must have completed (or will complete in Semester 2, 2012) at least 48 credit points of their degree and have a minimum of 18 elective credit points left to complete.
• All applications will only be received via the online facility on the University of Sydney Business School website and no hard copy applications will be received.
• There is a single application form for both the Washington DC and LA Placement Programs. If you are currently in your second or more years of your degree, you can indicate if you would like to be considered for both programs.
• Applications close on 9 October 2012. No late applications will be accepted.
• The University of Sydney Business School will administer all applications and enquiries for the program. Correspondence and applications should be directed solely to the Business School and will not be received by the United States Studies Centre (USSC) or the University of California Washington Center (UCDC).

Units of study

• All successful applicants will enrol in a total of three units of study: BUSS2500 Washington D.C Placement Program (enrolled via the University of Sydney Business School) and two UCDC units: The Presidency and the Executive Branch; and an elective from a list of approved options.
• Upon successful completion, students will receive a total of 18 credit points towards their degree at Sydney. (6cp for BUSS2500, and 12cp of credit from UCDC). Please note: the credit from UCDC units will be unspecified electives, and will not count towards any of your majors or specialisations.

Internships

• Internships will take place from January to March 2013.
• Successful applicants will be placed within a business, government, non-government or media organisation for a period of approximately nine weeks.
• As far as possible, the Business School will allocate internships according to a student's educational background and interests. However this is dependent on availability and it cannot be guaranteed that an intern's role will be directly related to their particular area of study.
• Students will work fours days a week, Monday through to Thursday. Students will be required to commit to the specific work hours required by the internship host. The specific work hours are agreed with the host organisation prior to commencement of the internship. A representative of the host organisation will provide a work statement outlining the main objectives of the internship. This may also include a list of the intern's main tasks and any further work obligations that can be readily identified and reviewed periodically throughout the work period.
• All internships will be unpaid.
• Students must not attempt to facilitate work placement arrangements in the US on their own.
• The University of Sydney, United States Studies Centre, University of California Washington Center and internship organisations, require all interns to perform their respective duties in a professional manner and to abide by the normal work ethics and conditions as set by the host organisations.
• No intern shall misrepresent the University of Sydney, United States Studies Centre, University of California Washington Center or host organisation in any way. Inappropriate use of the institution's name and resources, either professionally or otherwise may result in the immediate termination of the intern from the program.
• The University of Sydney, United States Studies Centre, University of California Washington Center, and host organisations are entitled to remove any intern from the program deemed to seriously misrepresent any of these organisations or the program as a whole.

Visa and travel arrangements

• Students are responsible for their visa application and lodgement costs. Details on costs for an F-1 visa are available through the Embassy of the United States.
• All students must pay the SEVIS fee prior to booking an interview at the US Embassy or Consulate. See the US Student and Exchange Visitor Program website.
• Students are responsible for their own travel arrangements to and from Washington DC. Students must arrive in Washington DC by 2 January 2013 to attend the mandatory UCDC residential orientation session on 3 January 2013. Failure to attend the orientation session will result in a financial penalty payable by the student to UCDC.
• Two pre-departure sessions will be held at the United States Studies Centre in October and November 2012 (exact dates TBC) and it is compulsory for successful applicants to attend.
• Students are also responsible for organising their own comprehensive travel insurance. Travel insurance is a compulsory requirement for all students and students will only be permitted to participate in the program once proof of valid travel insurance has been provided.

Fees

• Eligible local students can elect to defer their fees for the unit BUSS2500 Washington D.C Placement Program, through the Australian Government's FEE-HELP scheme.
• A deposit of A$1000 is due by 24 October 2012
• The full program fees are due no later than 30 November 2012.
• Students are responsible for additional costs including visa processing and lodgement, return airfares and transfers, comprehensive travel insurance, their own food and entertainment costs and any other associated costs.

Accommodation

The Business School and USSC will liaise with UCDC to organise accommodation on the UCDC campus. Housing contracts, roommate assignments, and student data will to be sent to UCDC in October 2012.

Media

Students consent that photographs or film recordings taken in connection with the Washington DC Placement Program may be used for marketing purposes by the University of Sydney, the United States Studies Centre or the University of California Washington Center.

Students who have concerns about this should contact the Director of Marketing and External Relations at the United States Studies Centre to discuss via us-studies@sydney.edu.au.

Confidentiality

Student information as required for administering all aspects of the program will be transferred from the University of Sydney Business School to the United States Studies Centre and the University of California Washington Center.

The US Studies Centre will act as the 'registration centre' and enrol students directly with UCDC. No assessment information or grades will be released by UCDC to the US Studies Centre.