You won't regret studying in Sydney! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I really enjoyed studying at the University of New South Wales. Coming from a large university like Purdue, UNSW was a comfortable transition as it was similar in overall size as well as class size. I found the workload to be easier because there was never weekly homework. In almost every class I took there were 2-3 papers or major assignments and a final comprehensive exam. The one thing I found difficult was arranging my schedule. At my home university I am able to choose which section and what time I would like to take each class. At UNSW I was not able to choose which section I wanted to be in. I'm sure this is because I was new to their system, but this left me with some long breaks in between classes. Overall, I loved the UNSW environment and the opportunities I was offered.

On-site administration of your program

The Education Abroad Network works to fulfill all your needs and solve all of your problems before you even know you have them! They were very helpful pre-departure providing packing lists, information for both students and parents, and information about travelling while abroad. They communicated frequently to ensure that I was comfortable and knew what to expect upon arrival. Not only did they set up housing, but also cell phone, orientation, airport pickup, and all academic correspondences.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The Education Abroad Network was responsible for setting up all my of housing. I lived in the Tiffany Apartments in Bondi Junction. Sad to say I will probably never live anywhere as nice as the Tiffany. The apartments were serviced weekly, meaning they were cleaned, linens and towels changed, soaps and detergents restocked. This location was about a 20-25 minute bus ride from UNSW, but completely worth the commute time. Bondi Junction is a shopping hub with a Westfield Mall right outside of the train/bus station. It's also conveniently located between Bondi Beach (20-25 minute walk/10 minute bus ride) and Sydney CBD (20-25 minute bus ride/10-15 minute train ride).

Sydney provided a wonderful array of foods. The only downfall is the expense. Going out to dinner is going to be pricey ($20-$30) for many restaurants. I found myself cooking at home for the most part to save money.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Sydney has quite the variety of activities to partake in. There are all sorts of outdoor festivals, markets, and fairs to attend. There are almost weekly events at Bondi Beach that are always fun to just walk through. TEAN was good about setting up events to get us out into the city and involved. I attended a bar-b-que at Coogee Beach as well as a volunteer event at a Kosher kitchen near Bondi Junction.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

The Education Abroad Network set up Overseas Health Insurance for me. At one point during my trip, I caught a really bad cold and needed to visit the doctor. I set up an appointment with the university health care services at UNSW and they were able to see me the same day, and were very flexible to accommodate my schedule. Because Australia has socialized medicine, I was not required to pay anything for seeing the physician.

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

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• Apartment

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• Americans