The Year in Industry Program

The physics course is designed to teach the fundamentals of physics, an ability to solve problems and how to handle technical equipment. This knowledge can be applied in many different fields (see the Physics jobs page), but much can only be learned 'on the job', and not from books or lectures.
The School of Physics offers a Year in Industry (YII) Program, providing students with the opportunity to spend a year using their Physics experience to work in industry between their Intermediate and Senior years. The program is not subsidised in any way by the School. Industry partners agree to hire students as full-time employees for the year, doing a regular job, after which the students return to University to complete their studies for the BSc degree. For example, in 2000 two Physics students pursued a YII with ANSTO.

Dr Anton Stampfl of the Bragg Institute has a number of experimentally-based research projects to offer Chemistry or Physics students through the Year in Industry program at ANSTO. The projects focus on current problems in condensed matter science which involve the use of neutron and X-ray facilities both here in Australia and overseas.

Projects are centered on three cross-cutting themes
(a) Nano-science and technology,
(b) Complex systems and
(c) Functional materials.

The Year in Industry Internship program available at the Bragg Institute, is an opportunity for students to gain industrial experience in one of Australia's leading research groups. is open to University students who have completed 2 years of a 3 year degree, or have completed 3 years of a 4 year degree.

For more detials about the ANSTO Year in Industry program visit ANSTO's website or for general enquiries about the program contact Linda Fox on (02) 9717 3825 or e-mail: yearinindustry@ansto.gov.au

The benefits to the student are obvious - in experience and competitiveness in seeking future jobs. The employers will have the services of young, extremely bright and enthusiastic individuals working with them for a year.

Students choosing this program must have the character and self-reliance to be able to work effectively in an industrial setting, which will be quite different from their academic experience of lectures, laboratory assignments and examinations. In the selection of students, considerable weight is given to academic performance during the junior and intermediate years, with particular emphasis on performance in the practical courses. However, academic performance is not the only criterion for selection, and candidates are interviewed and selected by a School committee that includes an industry representative from the Science Foundation for Physics. The committee shortlists students for interview by a particular employer, but the actual selection of a student is made by the employer concerned after a personal interview.

Enquiries from interested students or potential industry partners should be directed to the Senior Physics Coordinator

Students should enquire at least one semester before their Year in Industry would start.