Professional Experience Project

UNSW Art & Design's Professional Experience Project (PEP) is designed to equip you with grounded and sustained experience in a professional workplace environment.

PEP offers every student opportunities to build additional professional skills and knowledge that can helping you make informed choices about your future career pathways, complete practical work experience under the guidance of practicing professionals, and to accelerate establishing a professional network and links that may open up graduate employment pathways.

PEP is a compulsory, core course undertaken by students enrolled in the Bachelor of Fine Arts (Hons), Bachelor of Media Arts (Hons) and Bachelor of Design (Hons).

All students complete ADAD4000 Professional Experience A (6 UOC), which consists of 150 hours of professional engagement. This can take the form of a placement with an industry partner or project-based activity with a creative or design-led business, gallery or arts organisation.

If you select the internship option you may also enrol in ADAD4001 Professional Experience B as one of your electives, which adds an additional 150 hours to extend your placement.

With approval of the Course Convener, you can commence your professional experience from mid way through your third year (as long as you have completed your Professional Practice course), although it is normally undertaken from the end of your third year and at any time through your 4th year. You can undertake professional experiences overseas or interstate, and ADAD4000 PEP A can be combined with a period of Student Exchange.

What support is available for my PEP?

All students have access to a Moodle site through which they access information on assessments and view descriptions of projects and placements on offer. The Moodle site is the main avenue for support and information, and you can contact the course convener, Dr Kim Snepvangers through the site. 

The Moodle site will also have all the forms you need to have your PEP approved and assessed.

Interested in being a PEP Host?

If you're a company, institution, or professional working across the fields of art, design and media and the wider economic, cultural and social sectors and you'd like to host a professional opportunity for one of our talented students please register on the Professional Experience Partnership page.

If you are a student and require more information on the Professional Experience Project at UNSW Art & Design, please contact:

Emma Sinclair 
Professional Experience Administrator
Ph: +61 2 8936 0702
Email: pep.artdesign@unsw.edu.au