Plus, meet Sonnet, the Con student breaking barriers in music, and what's happening this week for Creative Month.
 

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8 September 2025

Week 6, Semester 2

 

This edition

To-do this week

Top stories

What's happening at Sydney

Events

Welcome to your Week 6 edition of Student News!

The weather is warmer and campus is buzzing, both with events and unexpected visitors (🦊🐦‍⬛). 

Last week, you told us you want to see more events and opportunities in Student News, so we’ve added an Opportunities at Sydney section in this edition. Plus, we share R U OK? Day events, live music and art for USU Creative Month, and how to score a bargain at the Great Hall Book Fair.

Scroll on for events, tips and stories to keep you inspired and in the loop.

This edition

To-do this week

Top stories

What's happening at Sydney

Events

Welcome to your Week 6 edition of Student News!

The weather is warmer and campus is buzzing, both with events and unexpected visitors (🦊🐦‍⬛). 

Last week, you told us you want to see more events and opportunities in Student News, so we’ve added an Opportunities at Sydney section in this edition. Plus, we share R U OK? Day events, live music and art for USU Creative Month, and how to score a bargain at the Great Hall Book Fair.

Scroll on for events, tips and stories to keep you inspired and in the loop.


We're here to support you anytime, anywhere 

We want you to feel welcomed, comfortable, and safe, both on and off campus. If you’re struggling, feeling low, or just need someone to talk to, student wellbeing services are free and available to you 24/7.


To-do this week

Spring has sprung! Explore green spaces on campus 🌳

Feeling stuck staring at the same four walls? Mix it up by trying a new study spot on campus. Whether you want somewhere quiet, social or close to snacks, there’s a space for every vibe – including leafy outdoor spots perfect for soaking up the sun while you study. Check out the full list of study spaces on campus and find your next go-to.

 

Familiarise yourself with special consideration and extensions, and the difference between the two ✍️

A simple extension is an informal arrangement where you can receive an extension of five calendar days for non-examination tasks, such as written assignments or oral presentations.

If you can't complete an exam or need an extension for a longer period of time due to exceptional circumstances or essential commitments, you may be eligible to  apply for special consideration.

 

Have a group assignment coming up? Learn how to work with others 🤝

If you're a coursework student, group learning is a key part of your studies, so it's important you know how to effectively and respectfully work with others. Our guide on group work and participating in class is a great place to start. If you need further support, reach out to the Learning Hub (Academic Language and Learning). 


Top stories

Three female students looking down at a paper on a desk

The Student Experience Survey lands in first and final-year students inboxes from tomorrow! Here's what to expect

The Student Experience Survey (SES), a nation-wide survey of higher education students, launches tomorrow Tuesday 9 September. If you're in your first year and have completed at least one unit of study or are a final-year student, you'll receive an invitation to complete the survey from the Social Research Centre (ses@srcentre.com.au).

This is your opportunity to tell us what it's like being a University of Sydney student and contribute to shaping the future of higher education in Australia. It only takes 10-15 minutes to complete, and you'll automatically go in the draw to win a limited-edition USYD hoodie and a $1000 gift card.

 
Students chatting at the Engineering Building

R U OK? Day: start a conversation that matters

R U OK? Day is Thursday 11 September and there’s plenty happening across campus all week to help you spark meaningful conversations around mental health. From free food and therapy dogs to creative workshops and student-led panels, there's something for everyone.

Not sure how to start a convo? We asked fellow students for their tips on making meaningful connections easier. Their advice? Keep it simple, be genuine, and don’t worry about having all the answers – just being there to listen can make a big difference.

 
Books in the Great Hall

Bag a bargain at the Great Hall Book Fair

The Great Hall Book Fair is back! From Saturday 13 to Wednesday 17 September, wander into the Great Hall and discover your next favourite read without scrolling on #booktok. Proudly brought to you by the University of Sydney and Lifeline Sydney & Sutherland, this fair is all about good books for a great cause. No registration needed, just show up, browse, and find your next read.

 

What genre are you picking up at the Book Fair?

Romance 😘
Crime 🕵️
Fantasy/Sci-fi 🪐
Biography/memoir ✍️
Something else? Tell us in the comments! 🗣️

Notices

Temporary elevator closure in Brennan MacCallum Building from Wednesday 10 September

The elevator in Brennan MacCallum Building (A18) will be undergoing upgrades and will be unavailable for use from Wednesday 10 September to early November. During this time, elevator access to Brennan MacCallum will be available via the Quadrangle Building (A14).

 

Sharing campus with wildlife this spring 🦊

Spring’s here and so are some unexpected visitors! Foxes have been spotted around Camperdown campus. They’re wild animals, so please don’t feed or approach them. 

It’s also bird nesting season, especially for masked lapwings nesting on rooftops like Fisher Library and Wilkinson Building. If you see chicks, leave them be – they’re safest with their parents.

Let’s keep campus safe and welcoming for everyone – feathered or furry.


Hugging emoji

Have you completed the compulsory Respect@Sydney module?

If you've started your studies in 2025, you’re required to complete our Respect@Sydney module in Canvas by Friday 12 December 2025. This module has been co-designed with students following consultation and feedback, and completing it is an important way to keep yourself, your friends and our community safe on and off campus.


Opportunities at Sydney

 
A student with their presentation at the awards

Win return flights to Europe with FutureReady ✈️

Don’t miss your chance to win a return ticket to Europe or a CEO for a Day experience. FutureReady applications close Sunday 14 September and are open to all students who completed an in-person internship (minimum 4 weeks) between July 2023 and August 2025. Need a hand with your application? Reach out to the team at student.innovation-awards@sydney.edu.au.

 
A group of people engage in lively conversation and networking at an indoor event

Explore our CBD campus and postgraduate study opportunities 🧑‍🎓

Interested in taking your studies further with a postgraduate coursework or research degree? Join us at the CBD campus (133 Castlereagh Street) on Wednesday 17 September at 5.45 pm for our Postgraduate Information Evening, designed to equip you with the knowledge and connections to take your studies and career further.

 

What's happening at Sydney

USU Block Party

Creative Month continues!

Week 2 of USU Creative Month is packed with events across campus – from gallery crawls to live music and film screenings, there's heaps on to get your creativity flowing.

🖼️ Campus Gallery Crawl – Tue 9 Sep

🎞️ Creative Awards: Short Films – Fri 12 Sep

🎈 Creative Month Block Party – Fri 12 Sep

🎸 Battle of the Bands: Heats – Tue 9 and Wed 10 Sep

🥂 Museum of Togetherness Launch – Fri 12 Sep

🎤 Creative Awards: Artist Talks – Sat 13 Sep

Explore the full list of programs via the USU Creative Month home page.

 
Curry with rice and bean sprouts in a white rectangle box

Searching for cheap food on campus? Look no further than Laneway

All semester we're offering $5 meals at Laneway (Level 3, Wentworth Building), weekdays from 11:30 am–2 pm. Just rock up with your student ID and choose from three hot meal options, rotated daily. Plus, keep an eye out next door for a new space to enjoy your meal and hang with friends.

Recently enjoyed a $5 meal at Laneway? Tell us how it was by completing our $5 meals at Laneway survey and you’ll go in the draw to win one of five $50 gift cards.

 
University of Sydney community with Dr Karl in front of The Quad

Celebrate 175 years at the University of Sydney Community Festival!

To mark 175 years of serving our community, our much-loved Alumni Festival is back with a new name – the University of Sydney Community Festival.

On Saturday 8 November, campus comes alive with live music, food trucks, talks and workshops, interactive research, free pet health checks and much more. Don’t miss guest talks and book giveaways from science icon Dr Karl and TV host Melissa Leong, and heaps of hands-on activities.

Grab your mates and join the celebration – it’s free, fun, and all happening on your campus.

 
Weaving workshop

Get hands-on with cultural experiences at Fisher Library and CreateSpace 

Come along to Fisher Library and CreateSpace for a series of hands-on cultural experiences. Guided by Indigenous educators, you’ll have the chance to weave, paint, share stories, and connect in ways that celebrate creativity and community. Events are free but registration is essential, so get in quick! 

 

Play 
Play 

Student Spotlight: Sonnet Cure, aka Sweet Boy Sonnet 🔦

Meet Sonnet (aka Sweet Boy Sonnet), a University of Sydney student who switched from biomedical engineering to contemporary music, appeared on the ABC TV show 'Headliners', and has unilateral hearing loss, which means she's deaf in her right ear. Hear from Sonnet about all things music, expressing yourself, and finding your voice.


Events

 
Sylvia Plath manuscript

A window into Sylvia Path's mind

Join the Library for Learning to see with Sylvia Plath, a special talk by Dr Aaron Nyerges next Thursday 18 September from 5:45 pm. The presentation will explore Plath’s early student typescripts, recently acquired by our Library, and offer a rare glimpse into her formative years –  revealing a young writer beginning to develop the vivid, otherworldly vision that continues to captivate readers today.

 
Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt

Wingarra Djuraliyin: Larissa Behrendt’s journey in law and storytelling

Join us next Thursday 18 September from 6 pm in the Law Foyer for the 2025 Wingarra Djuraliyin, an evening reflecting on Distinguished Professor Larissa Behrendt's remarkable career advocating for the rights of First Nation's peoples across a range of mediums as a lawyer, storyteller, writer, director and filmmaker.

 
A surreal image featuring a flying alarm clock with wings above a reaching hand. A large red circle and blue background add a sense of urgency and time slipping away.

Can we slow ageing?

It's natural that as we get older, our body and mind decline. While we can’t stop the effects of time, is it possible to stave off the growing risk, onset and burden of disease and incurable conditions? Join us for Sydney Ideas: Slow ageing on Wednesday 24 September from 6:30 pm where our experts explore what it means to age well.

 

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