International Focus

"As a Master of International Relations student, an internship with UNESCO was academically a dream come true."

"It has also opened up a new world of career opportunities for me – I have been lucky enough to be offered a contract here in Paris and after that, who knows!"

Kym Chapple
Master of International Relations
Intern at UNESCO France in Paris

An international community

Macquarie received five stars from the Good Universities Guide 2008 for the cultural diversity of its student body.

As well as a high proportion of international students, (almost 30% in 2007), almost half the student population are born overseas.
Macquarie University is located in Sydney, one of the most multicultural cities in the world. More than 25% of Sydney’s residents born overseas. Sydneysiders come from 180 different nations and speak 140 different languages.

Study Abroad

All students at Macquarie University are eligible to take part in Macquarie’s enviable Study Abroad and Exchange programs.

Macquarie has the largest array of programs and the most generous travel grant scheme in Australia.
This means that while completing a Macquarie degree, students can travel to another country and study abroad at one of the University’s partner institutions.
With over 300 partner universities in 60 countries world-wide, Macquarie gives students a huge choice, whether you want to study international law in The Hague, environmental management in Iceland or even bioscience at the most renowned schools in the United States.

Global Leadership Program

As an undergraduate student at Macquarie you have the opportunity to join the unique Macquarie Global Leadership Program (GLP).

The innovative Macquarie Global Leadership Program is a free, extra-curricula program, taken alongside academic studies. It allows students to develop their leadership potential and international experience, opening up opportunities to live and work globally.
Students participate in a Colloquium Series exposing them to international issues and developing professional skills; attend the Distinguished Speaker Series to hear inspiring international leaders; and undertake a range of Experiential Credit activities both on campus and overseas, which enhance their leadership potential and build international experience.

(The postgraduate program will be launched mid-2008).

Macquarie Volunteers Abroad

Supporting worthwhile not-for-profit projects around the world, Macquarie Volunteers Abroad gives students the chance to put something back in to communities both in Australia and abroad.

Volunteering opportunities are available in Asia Pacific, Latin America and Africa for students to immerse themselves in a different culture and use their studies, skills and enthusiasm to help a community in need; whilst adding to their professional skills and personal development.
Some projects that Macquarie students have been involved in include: Saving endangered species in Costa Rica or Galapagos; working with street children in Vietnam or Cambodia; Marketing handcrafts internationally in Mexico and teaching English in Easter Island.

Internships

Gaining work experience overseas is one of the most valuable experiences you can have on your résumé. The Internships program at Macquarie offers students the opportunity to undertake an unpaid internship during the course of their degree.

The Macquarie program is unique in its multidisciplinary quality, meaning that internships are available to any student from any area of study.
More Macquarie students obtain an international work experience placement than students at any other Australian university.

Visit the Vice-Chancellor Professor Steven Schwartz’s website to read the Vice-Chancellor's strategic goals for Macquarie University.