Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

There is more to Sydney than the opera house Past Review

By (University of Maine - Orono) - abroad from 02/15/2017 to 06/30/2017 with

API (Academic Programs International): Sydney - Macquarie University

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
independence, definitely yes.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Classes met a lot less often than my courses at home do, and all of the lectures were recorded and available online. There were also fewer assignments, but that also meant that all of the assignments were large percentages of the final grade.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I lived in Macquarie University Village and was assigned random roommates, which was hard. The administration of the village was alright, and usually came when called for maintenance. The Village did sponsor dinners and other events throughout the semester.

* Food:

We had kitchens, so most of our food we cooked ourselves, but the food in Sydney when we did go out was fantastic.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The Village was predominately international students, so my only real integration with the local culture was in class or in student clubs.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I did not have any health problems, but a girl in my program needed knee surgery while we were there and she said it was pretty easy.

* Safety:

Sydney overall felt very safe, and I can't think of any safety related incidents on campus or in the city.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

I think that I would. Macquarie Uni is pretty far outside of the city, about a half an hour train ride, but Sydney has a great public transport system that makes it accessible. However, the trains stop running at midnight, so late night plans in the city can get expensive if you need to call an uber or a taxi. However, having this distance meant that we often saved money on food and going out that we could use for travel or exploring sydney.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

I was able to stick to my predetermined budget, which was $120USD/week, most weeks. Dining out in the city can be very reasonable if you plan out where you want to go, taxes are included in the prices of things and tipping isn't a thing. However, this did not include travel within Australia, which my parents had to help me be able to achieve.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? $120USD
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Save as much as you possible!! The more money you have available, the more places you can go, and the more food you can try. However, Sydney is definitely a city where the coolest places are free/outside and accessible by public transportation. Also, alcohol is very expensive in Australia, so be prepared for that if you drink.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Local Students
  • Americans
  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Sydney
  • Cairns orientation
  • Academic classes
* What could be improved?
  • Housing
  • Integration with local students
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known how far outside of Sydney the campus was.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Academic or Linguist
You went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you!