Study Abroad in Australia: A change of perspective thats changed my life Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

In the degree that I was pursuing(dance)the classes were very challenging,but I had less of a focus on general education and academic courses and I had more technique classes. I think that the grading system that they had at Edith Cowan University was a bit harsher. I feel that on a whole, that the grading is lower, but they expectations are also different. I think that getting very high grades there is a bit less of a standard and they know that getting those higher grades is less common I suppose.

On-site administration of your program

It is my opinion that the university could have been more helpful in the process of getting a visa or explaining as to what is needed for a visa. That was the most difficult process and I think the school should have kept in better touch in terms of registering for classes. Most of the registration was easily sorted out once I arrived, but it would have been helpful to have more guidance during that process.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Well the housing I stayed in was a facility on campus that provided accommodations for individuals that weren't necessarily university students. The housing was conveniently located near my classes, but it was quite expensive to live there. I had to pay out of pocket for laundry, internet, and had to bring my own sheets and buy my own cookware. The facilities attempted to make meeting other students easier by having certain events at the recreational room. I really enjoyed the pool that was near my apartment and the housing area was well tended to in terms of being litter free. The rec room contained 2 tvs as well as a foosball table and table tenis which was quite nice as well.

I bought all of my food at grocery stores in the city. The only grocery stories had to be accessed by bus, which made going shopping a bit inconvenient, especially since the bus did not run frequently on the weekends. Food was expensive but once I learned how items were priced I ended up saving a lot of money. The food that was available there was pretty much the same as they have in the U.S, so I didn't really experience any differences in diet.I never really bought anything at the local cafeteria, but I did occasionally go to a cafe located across from where I had most of my classes and they had good food and coffee.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The housing facility I was living on did plan certain events. They provided discounted tickets to go to an Australian Rules Football game, which was lots of fun. Most of the cultural attractions that I went to were because of my own accord. I planned my own trips to museums and dance concerts, which were really pleasant. I really enjoyed seeing the differences in the art form that I am studying. The scenery and environment was very different in Australia from NY, so I really enjoyed just soaking in the landscape differences and I would certainly recommend doing lots of traveling in free time if possible.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Perth is a city that is quite small, I never experienced much of a problem with safety. Obviously I wouldn't suggest traveling alone late at night; it can be quite deserted which is a bit frightening for someone used to busy streets and public transport. Australia requires you to have overseas health coverage, so that covers the basics. One of my friends became a bit sick at one point and she easily found a doctor she could go to to get a check up at. There was also a doctor on campus with the university that could be easily reached.

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

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• Apartment
• Dorm

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• Americans
• International Students

• The Classes
• being in a country with a completely different landscape

• communication in applying before attending