a very peaceful and gorgeously natural experience Past Review
By Vicky W (Geology and Environmental Science, The University of Texas at Austin) - abroad from 07/09/2012 to 11/11/2012 with
University of Tasmania: Hobart - Direct Enrollment & Exchange
What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My time abroad was awesome. By doing a direct enrollment in a rather isolated part of the world, you really learn to fend for yourself. Unlike being in a program, your friends aren't chosen for you. You really have to be outgoing and immerse yourself in order to make friends. Luckily for me, my classes were small and interactive so I was able to become friends with quite a few locals. UTAS also has a great student community that often hosts parties and barrels. Tasmania is gorgeous and it really allows you to relax and just breathe. Its nice going from the hustle and bustle of city life to one of the prettiest places on the planet. You learn to spend more alone time, at first it can be boring, but once you get used to it, it's quite enjoyable.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The university is very small so professors are always accessible. Classes are small and professors even lead the labs which is amazing. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
There were no real international student programs at the uni. However, most of my international friends were made during our orientation. But after the orientation, you're left to fend for yourself. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Hobart is a very safe place. There is virtually no crime here and people are honest overall. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
Australia is very expensive as it is, Tasmania is even more expensive. Eating out often and frequent purchases of alcohol will definitely have a heavy impact on your wallet. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $150 - $300 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cook for yourself on the weekdays and save your money for the weekends. Alcohol is VERY expensive in Tassie. You will learn to drink and love goon - nasty boxed wine, but cheap. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Direct Enrollment/Exchange
| * Did you study abroad through an exchange program or did you directly enroll in the foreign university? | Direct Enrollment |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? | 10+ |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I've thought about my experience time and time again and am still not sure what my stance is. Tasmania is definitely different from big city life. If you're looking to party hard and have that type of study abroad experience, I would suggest looking elsewhere. Hobart's nightlife is limited to a handful of good bars and even fewer, if any, good clubs. Hobart is not where you come to go crazy. Additionally, the isolation of the place makes it difficult to travel. I would suggest buying a car with some friends if you want to travel around the island. Traveling to the mainland is a bit more difficult since you have to fly to either Melbourne or Sydney first and flights are more expensive than just traveling within the mainland. I highly highly highly recommend coming to Hobart during your spring semester. The winter here is COLD. The houses have minimal insulation and small space heaters that might as well not exist. The crummy weather makes weekend travels hard to plan and you better get used to carrying around a raincoat. My local friends told me that summer in Tassie is amazing, unfortunately I wasn't able to experience that. With that said, Tasmania is lovely. It is peaceful and very relaxing. It is an absolutely beautiful place. I went on a weeklong road trip around the island once school ended and was amazed at the beauty of the place. I loved going on runs around the town and going to the park to read. Having an essential friend group is a must, or the place can become pretty lonely. My friends and I spent lots of time at each others houses just hanging out. Going out is expensive and going to the same places over and over again becomes dull. Living in the colleges can be worthwhile because you're surrounded by lots of other students (as opposed to living in a share house.) However, the colleges are expensive and far from town and up an enormous hill. Salamanca Market on saturdays is a great place to spend time wandering around with your friends. Overall, Tasmania is a simple life. I enjoyed my time there and made some pretty good friends. It definitely isn't for everyone though. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
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