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Australia may be famous for its sunny beaches and laid-back lifestyle, but it’s also home to a dynamic academic and professional environment, making it a top destination to study abroad. AIFS Abroad offers programs in Sydney and Perth, two of Australia’s largest cities, each providing unique cultural experiences and opportunities to advance your degree across a wide range of disciplines. Interested in learning more about what it’s really like to study abroad in Australia?
Hear from four college students who did a study abroad program in Australia with AIFS Abroad!
Olivia: Fall Semester in Perth
Are you a STEM student who isn’t sure if you’re eligible to study abroad? Meet Olivia, an animal science major with double minors in biology and chemistry at Berry College—she studied abroad in Perth during fall semester.
As a STEM major on a pre-vet track, she took “three different classes here in Australia. They’re all lab-based classes so they’re 4 credits each and count as 12 American credits back home.”
Studying abroad in Australia allowed Olivia to observe the local wildlife, as she explains:
“One thing Australia is known for are its unique animals that are native just to here… Kangaroos make their home on Heirisson Island which is only 15 minutes by car/bus from Perth!”
One of Olivia’s favorite things about Australia is the beautiful landscapes:
“We went [to Rottnest Island] on an AIFS-sponsored trip, and it was honestly one of the prettiest places I’ve ever been to. Stunning crystal-clear water, we could bike around the island… so many unique animals and trees there… one of my favorite places I’ve ever been to in the world.”
Plus, as she explains below, you really can’t be that Aussie sunshine!
“Perth is Australia’s sunniest city with over 200 sunny days a year… The weather right now is absolutely beautiful, it’s mid-spring here in Australia because it’s in the Southern Hemisphere… everything is in bloom, it’s my favorite time of year—70 degrees, sunny most of the day, I think it’s rained once in the past three weeks.”
Faith: Spring Semester in Perth
Meet Faith, a sophomore at Bradley University studying user experience (UX) design. She studied abroad in Perth at Murdoch University during spring semester.
She said that her three favorite things about studying abroad in Perth were “the lovely people I’ve met, the beaches, and the quick 3.5-hour flight to Bali.” During her AIFS Abroad program in Perth, she traveled to Bali twice!
As Faith explained, making friends during her program was easy: “The social life here is amazing! I’ve made tons of friends along the way!” Plus, she had “classes with people from all around the world—international, study abroad, and Murdoch students,” offering plenty of chances to meet new and interesting people.
Listen to Faith describe why she chose AIFS Abroad:
“I knew people from home who went on different study abroad [programs] and they said AIFS was always supportive and helpful along their journeys, and now that I’m studying abroad in Australia, I can say I do not regret choosing AIFS, they have been extremely helpful.”
Australia is renowned for its beautiful beaches, and Perth is no exception. During her free time, Faith loved relaxing at the nearby beaches, as she explains, “Murdoch is great because it’s only a 30-minute bus ride to the beach.”
When she wasn’t using her free time to relax at the beach or travel to Bali, Faith was earning credits for her degree:
“I’m in three classes this semester… COM100: Thinking Communication, GAD 154: Introduction to Game Art & Design, and GRD 204: Design Thinking for Innovation.”
Emily: Fall Semester in Sydney
Emily was a Junior at Centenary University majoring in business and marketing when she studied abroad in Sydney during fall semester.
Some students want to study abroad close to their home, while others, like Emily, use it as an opportunity to explore the opposite side of the world, as she explains:
“[Australia is on the] complete opposite side of the world from where I’m from, I could not have gone any further. It’s so much harder to get here and any place around here for us, whereas it’s way easier for me to go to Europe back home. So, it’s just a totally different experience than people back home get.”
Curious what everyday life is like during a study abroad program in Sydney? Hear Emily share her typical week and some favorite daily moments:
“Most of my classes are Monday-Tuesday, so on those days I typically will go to classes all morning, then study or do assignments later. On my other days, I wake up, go for morning walks, take public transport to Circular Quay or the beach, then come grab food with my roommates!
My favorite part of my days here is morning walks in Darling Harbour or by the beach, or the end of the night when all my friends come over and hang out and watch movies and cook.”
Luka: Spring Semester in Sydney
Luka from Fairfield University chose a Study + Internship program in Sydney that allowed him to take courses to advance his degree and build his resume at the same time.
At his marketing internship, Luka’s responsibilities included:
“Creating a customer map journey for clients, creating LinkedIn and Instagram mock posts, and designing an investor’s pitch deck for prospective clients.”
In addition to his part-time internship, Luka took classes that helped him expand his academic knowledge and earn credits. Hear him explain his experience at the University of Sydney (USYD):
“All classes are unique and the professors are all distinguished in their respective fields… Lectures at USYD are followed by a tutorial class that places you with a small group of students to go over the week’s material. Led by academic tutors, they have proven to be helpful and are there to answer any of your questions regarding assignments, exams, projects, etc.
As a business student, I am most definitely sharpening my spreadsheet skills and my ability to work in teams while gaining knowledge of the international business world as a whole.”
When he wasn’t in class or at his internship, Luka enjoyed exploring Sydney and Australia as a whole, including Bondi Beach, Sydney Opera House, Royal National Park, and the Great Ocean Road. To sum up his experience studying abroad in Sydney, Luka said, “Studying abroad at USYD has been the best decision of my life.”
Advance your degree and soak up the sunshine with an AIFS Abroad study abroad program in Australia!
AIFS Abroad offers a range of programs in Australia, each tailored to meet specific academic and personal preferences. With a study abroad program in Australia, you can earn credits, immerse yourself in the exciting Aussie culture, and travel throughout Australia, Oceania, and even Southeast Asia, like Luka and Faith. Choose AIFS Abroad and take advantage of our valuable program inclusions (which really take the stress out of planning!), such as housing, trips and excursions, social and cultural activities, comprehensive insurance, 24/7 emergency support, and the support of our trusted on-site staff.