Professional Development Program
Exclusive for international students, learn about workplace culture from a local and global context and gain impactful, community driven industry experience. Apply now for Term 2 2026.
International students: gain skills for professional success
Starting a career as an international student in a new country can be challenging, which is why UNSW Employability created the Professional Development Program (PDP).
Explicitly designed for international students, this program consists of two phases:
1. Workshop phase
Students will learn about workplace culture from a local and global context, develop communication skills, recruitment tips, interview skills, employer expectations and much more to help you positively enhance your Employability.
2. Experiential learning phase
After completing the workshop phase, students will have the opportunity to interview for the experiential learning phase.
This phase provides those successful students the opportunity to gain hands on volunteer experience with a well-recognised charity partner. The volunteer experience provides students the aptness to make a positive impact by giving back, whilst learning.
The Professional Development Program will run in Term 2 and Term 3 of 2026.
Applications are now open for Term 2 2026.
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Professional workshops
The Program offers insights into workplace culture from a local and global context, recruitment tips, employer expectations and much more to help you enhance your Employability.
The workshop sessions develop workplace communication and job readiness skills, helping you to prepare for success in a local and global workplace context. The content will include recruitment tips, job and interview preparation, and long-term professional preparation via tools such as LinkedIn.
During the workshop phase, you will also have the opportunity to practice your interview skills and submit an online interview as part of your application. Those successful students will have the opportunity to gain hands on experiential learning with a well-recognised charity partner.
Experiential learning
After completing the workshop phase, all participants are invited to interview online. This is your chance to practice video interviews which is a common recruitment process. Those students who successfully progress through this phase will be offered an experiential opportunity with one of UNSW’s partners.
Some of the charity partners include Paramatta Marathon, Sydney Children’s Hospital Foundation and UNSW Arc.
Those successful students will have from weeks 2- 8 to complete their required hours to gain AHEGS.
NOTE: The Experiential learning phase is competitive. Experiences are offered based on candidate suitability and the availability of places.
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Who is eligible to apply:
- A current international student at UNSW with English as a second language.
- In your second or subsequent year of your undergraduate study, or at any stage of your postgraduate degree.
*Please note this program is not suitable for students enrolled in MBA programs. Please contact Career Accelerator @ AGSM for career development support/career coaching support.
Inclusive and supportive program
We are dedicated to fostering a learning environment that is inclusive and supportive for everyone. If you have any specific needs to help you fully participate, we are here to make the necessary adjustments.
These adjustments might include providing extra time, ensuring spaces and processes are accessible, or offering materials in alternative formats. If there is anything we can do to support you, please let us know by emailing us at pdprogram@unsw.edu.au. Your comfort and ability to fully engage are our top priorities.
Listen here to the accessibility message.
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Follow these steps to apply:
Step 1: Ensure you have read the FAQs below about the program
Step 2: Complete the online application form
Note: Places in the program are limited. You will not be automatically accepted into the program, even if you meet all eligibility requirements, your application will be assessed.
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How often does the Professional Development Program (PDP) run?
The PDP runs two times a year. In 2026, PDP will be offered in Term 2 and Term 3.How is the program delivered?
The workshop phase of the program is delivered in a face-to-face format on campus, with one day of engaging sessions with experienced facilitators. There is an option for online sessions, however we strongly encourage student attendance and participation via the face-to-face format. All attendance is recorded.The work experience phase will be in-person.
If I am accepted into the PDP program, does that guarantee me a spot in the work experience component?
No. After the workshop phase, you will need to complete an online interview for the work experience and virtual opportunities. Your participation during the workshop phase, online interview and number of spots available will all be considered when allocating work experiences.
How many work experience places are available?
Volunteer work experiences are offered based on candidate suitability and the availability of places.How many students will be in a UNSW-hosted group project?
Group projects will normally have groups of 3-4 students; however, some projects can take larger groups. There may also be some projects that take one or two students.What is the time commitment for the volunteer work experience phase?
The volunteer work experience will be a maximum of 6-8 hours in total throughout the duration of the program.UNSW-hosted experience
The time commitment will vary depending on the project or placement and could be between 18 – 20 hours. Projects and placements are held between week 2 - week 8 of term. You will be expected to meet with your supervisor at least once a week. Please note, depending on the nature of the work experience and the arrangements between supervisor and students, parts of the experience can be in person or online.What are some examples of projects completed as part of the work experience?
Just a few examples of previous UNSW-hosted projects include:developing a Power BI dashboard to enable quick access to insights
conducting a review of operational processes to increase efficiencies within the team
designing a student graduate program for UNSW Finance using best-practice research
automating processes with Microsoft Power platform
creating a social media strategy for an upcoming event / program.
Is there an assessment at the end of the work experience?
UNSW hosted experience
At the end of the work experience students are expected to produce a short report or presentation (depending on their experience). All supervisors understand that you are also taking classes at the same time, and you will be responsible for managing your schedule.Will I get work experience that is relevant to the course I am studying?
The experiential learning phase is designed to enable you to practice the skills you learn from the program in a real-life working environment.Do we get paid for these work experiences?
No, the Experiential learning phase of the program is on a volunteer basis, which provides an opportunity for international students to practice skills gained through the workshop phase. Students who complete both the workshop phase and Experiential learning phase will be eligible for AHEGS recognition.
What happens if I am not successful in the interview?
If you do not pass the interview stage, this should not be a cause for concern. Thankfully, all students who participate in PDP will have an opportunity to engage in many other programs run by UNSW.