International Studies

Find out how RMIT’s international internships and strong professional networks prepare you for a career in international studies.

Upbeat music plays throughout

Duration: 2:35 mins

[Opening title]
RMIT Presents

Pieter Bossink (RMIT International Studies graduate): I guess International Studies to me, means a course of study where one better understands how global events are triggered and how they impact the community.

Alice Slevison (RMIT International Studies Graduate): You become a global citizen with a strong understanding of different cultures and languages so that you can work anywhere in the world. It's all about carving out your own niche during your time at RMIT, and pursuing your interests.

Pieter: What attracted me most to the degree was the international internship component. It gave me the opportunity to get international experience in a field that I was deeply passionate about.

Alice: I had the opportunity to study a semester abroad at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, and complete an internship at the Australian Chamber of Commerce. I learnt about Chinese foreign policy and politics with students from across the globe, immersed myself in the culture, and learnt Mandarin which opened so many doors for me later on. The internship fast-tracked my career and provided me with professional networks that I still have to this day.

Pieter: Since graduating I've lived and worked in Nepal, Thailand, and Bangladesh, and I'm now in Cambodia working as an Operations Manager for Cardno International Development. I run a program that's designed to increase productivity and incomes for farmers and spread knowledge about new agricultural techniques.

Alice: I'm working as a policy officer in the China and non-tariff measures team at the Australian Government Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, in Canberra. I negotiate market access for Australian agricultural goods to enter the Chinese market and assist the Minister by compiling ministerial briefs and providing advice on the Chinese market. I didn't succeed by just applying for jobs and getting them, they were always a result of having a strong professional network.

Pieter: I still remember one of our lecturers saying, “we're giving you the skills to do jobs that don't even exist yet”, and he was right. I've got mates from uni who are now senior Australian diplomats working in embassies throughout Asia and Europe, others work on Indigenous issues in Australia, there's a human rights lawyer and one guy owns a couple of bars in Phnom Penh.

Alice: Often in this industry you're looking so far into the future that you may not see the impact you're making each day, but I've realised change doesn't always happen on a global scale. It's happening right in front of you.

[Closing Credits] Shape the world with an international studies degree
Find out more: www.rmit.edu.au
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