Hundreds of students seek approval for one-off placements with international organisations each year, many of whom are unwilling to enter formal University of Sydney agreements for single, short-term events. This page provides information and resources for relevant faculty/school staff to process single, self-sourced international student placements where an overarching University agreement cannot be executed.  

The Student Placement and Projects Policy 2015 was amended in April 2024 to support students in undertaking genuine beneficial placement experiences while addressing compliance and reputational risks associated with the absence of agreements for such arrangements. Section 9(4) of the policy outlines an alternative pathway for approving international self-sourced placements by nominated delegates of faculties/schools (see 6.14.11 of the Delegations of Authority), provided that certain conditions are met. 

The International Agreements team in Sydney Future Students will assess host sites under the Foreign Arrangements Scheme (Australia’s Foreign Relations (State and Territory Arrangements) Act 2020 (Cth) and the University of Sydney International Collaboration Principles (pdf, 197KB). Should a host site meet the criteria for notification to the Department of Foreign And Trade (DFAT), a two-step process will be instigated by the International Agreements team.