Sydney is one of the most amazing cities I’ve ever had the pleasure of exploring Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The Australian academic experience is unique in that there is a heavy emphasis on discussion. Contrary to my home university where the lecture and discussion are combined into the same class, at the University of Sydney, I had tutorial or discussion sections separate from the lectures. This was very beneficial because we talked through all the material we had been learning in the lecture while forming our own opinions and ideas. One of my favorite classes that I took while abroad was a Global America class. It was fascinating to gain a global perspective of my own country by learning about how other cultures viewed my own while giving my own opinions on the topic as an American.

On-site administration of your program

Michelle Florance was the local staff member I met while abroad and she could not have been more helpful. I would even go as far to say that she was a “mom” figure to my friends and I while we studied in Sydney. She checked in with us often and planned several lunch and coffee meet ups and also planned larger cultural experiences like kayaking in the Sydney Harbour, attending a show at the Opera House, surfing at Bondi Beach, and seeing a professional rugby game. The entire TEAN staff was so helpful while I was in Sydney and through my application process. In fact, while filling out my application I found that I had a large number of questions regarding studying abroad, all of which were answered in detail and in a timely manner which helped to ease my nerves. Overall, the TEAN staff created a wonderful experience for me.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

While studying in Sydney, I stayed in the Urbanest student accommodations. My roommates and I were fortunate to not only have our own bedrooms, but to also have our own bathrooms, only sharing a living room and kitchen area. The apartment was clean and had everything we needed. It was also in close proximity to the University of Sydney, Broadway shopping centre, Central shopping centre, and the Central train station putting me at the center of everything I would need. I would definitely recommend these accommodations to someone else because of the access they have and the fact that everything you need-sheets, towels, desk, kitchen utensils, are provided for you. These things made it a lot easier to move into an apartment so far from home. There were also laundry, a gym, study rooms, and a bbq on site which were nice add-ons. Moreover, TEAN paired me very well with my roommates and we quickly became super close.

Sydney is one of the most amazing cities I’ve ever had the pleasure of exploring. There are so many different areas to explore and things to do. There are so many incredible restaurants and shopping centres at the heart of the city. The Rocks down by Circular Quay had a lot more upscale restaurants, somewhere to think about taking parents if they make the trip down under, while Bondi Beach had a lot of great brunch and lunch options like Harry's or Speedo's!

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Americans tend to be ethnocentric, and it is understandable. We have everything we need here. You can get a great education, there are great places to live, and amazing places to visit all within our borders. So, some decide that's all they need. I feel differently. I think it is important to travel to other countries, to learn new cultures, to study with people from different places with a different set of experiences, to eat different foods and to hear what other people think of us. One of the most interesting courses I took at University of Sydney was Global America. I was the only American in the class and inevitably when there were questions about how Americans thought or what they believed in, all eyes were on me. That experience was even more pronounced as I traveled abroad during our own contentious presidential elections. It became very clear that people from all over the world were engaged with what was happening in my home country and were very interested to talk to me about it. Perhaps most importantly, I learned a lot from them.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Though I did not have any major health concerns during my stay in Sydney, health care was readily available to all of us. On several occasions my roommates fell ill and were able to quickly get all the healthcare they needed.

Deciding to study at the University of Sydney through TEAN is by far one of the best decisions I have ever made. Traveling to the other side of the world alone was terrifying, however, TEAN eased my nerves by being so helpful through the entire application process and supportive through my entire study abroad experience. Sydney is a relatively safe city but it's always important to be smart no matter where you are. I recommend always sticking with friends especially when out at night.

TEAN was so helpful in adjusting me to life abroad and ensuring that I was comfortable throughout my time in Australia. They also hosted fun events for myself and other TEAN students which gave me the opportunity to do things I never would have dreamed of like see a show in the Opera House!

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

I found it difficult to maintain a student's budget because of travel. On a weekly basis I was booking a trip or embarking on a trip to a new city so for that reason I was not able to maintain a solid budget.

Select all that apply

• Apartment

Select all that apply

• Americans

Select all that apply

• Local Students
• Americans
• International Students

• The Staff
• My roommates
• Host City

• N/A

The Outright Urbanite