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Study Abroad in Sydney, Australia

Name: Study Abroad in Sydney, Australia
Brand: WorldStrides
SKU: 15851
Rating: 5 (81 reviews)

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WorldStrides

5 (81 reviews)

Good for

Students

Adventure travelers

Solo Travelers

Study Abroad in Sydney, Australia

WorldStrides

5 · 81 reviews

Community Choice Award Winner

Location

Australia
- Sydney

Term

Fall, Spring, Summer

Subject Areas

Accounting Advertising Business Communications Economics Entrepreneurship Finance Law Media Relations Social Sciences Sports Sports Science Tourism Visual Arts +4

Need-based funding, Merit-based funding, General grants/scholarships, Payment plans, LGBTQIA+ funding, BIPOC funding

Health & Safety

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Program Details

Program Type

Provider

Degree Level

Bachelors

Housing

Apartment

Language

English

Last Updated: May 26, 2026

Last Reviewed: Feb 06, 2025

Wish List

16 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

Sydney is a bustling and fun-loving city known for its surprisingly laid-back attitude and iconic beaches.

As Australia’s most populous city, you’re bound to see first-hand the wide range of cultures and peoples that keep this modern city active and vibrant. While studying in Sydney, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the trending neighborhoods of the central suburbs, discover the city’s expansive sea-side trails, and marvel at the hustle-and-bustle of the beautiful Sydney Harbour.

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COMMUNITY REVIEWS SUMMARY

Students praise the program for its strong support, well-organized orientation, and immersive excursions that foster friendships and cultural learning.

AI-generated summary from verified community reviews Read reviews →

Video and Photos

View of bridge and opera house in Sydney

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Diversity & Inclusion 💙

BIPOC Support

Our team is committed to providing exceptional support through identity-focused advising and resources for students, university partners, and staff. We have developed our Community and Impact Committee to help serve all students and stakeholders, particularly the needs of underrepresented student populations.

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LGBTQIA+ Support

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Neurodivergent Support

WorldStrides is devoted to facilitating quality programming to students with varying levels of neurodivergence. Our Health & Safety team is available to answer questions about insurance and medication, as well as provide students with materials on overseas access to support.

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Accessibility Support

We are dedicated to facilitating quality programming to students with varying levels of accessibility. With our wide portfolio of program types and locations we’re confident there is a suitable and accessible program for each student. Accommodations abroad can be complex and take time, so those with accessibility needs should inform WorldStrides of any accommodations requests as early as possible in the advising process.

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Impact 🌎

Sustainability

We have partnered with Fill it Forward to engage team members and program participants in waste reduction practices. The goal is to encourage the elimination of single-use waste. Every QR code scan shows the impact of reusable bottles and unlocks a donation to environmental impact groups.

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Ethical Impact

WorldStrides, a global organization, is committed to educate and serve communities worldwide. Our commitment is fueled by the passion of our team members and partners to make experiential learning accessible, while also being socially, environmentally, and ethically responsible. Together, we accomplish this by investing in initiatives to promote inclusion, diversity, and sustainability.

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Program Highlights

Sydney is more than just an Aussie experience; you are certain to meet people from all over the world here!
The 5-day Australia Orientation takes place in the northern city of Cairns, famous for its tropical atmosphere and access to the Great Barrier Reef.
ICMS is a leading business school focused in the areas of Event & Hospitality Management, International Tourism, Sport Management, Retail Marketing & Property Management.
UNSW is ranked in the top 50 universities in the world
Featuring a multitude of courses covering a variety of subjects, University of Sydney is considered one of the top three universities in the country.

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Program Reviews

5.00 Rating

based on 81 reviews

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Rating Spread Study

5 rating 100%
4 rating 0%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Academics 4.45
Support 4.95
Fun 5
Housing 4.85
Safety 4.9

Good for Students, Adventure travelers, Solo Travelers

Showing 1 - 8 of 81 reviews

Studying abroad in Sydney, Australia was one of the most transformative experiences of my life. From the moment I arrived, Sydney lived up to every expectation and dream I had for my abroad experience. Waking up just minutes from the beach, exploring the iconic Opera House, and taking weekend trips to some of the most breathtaking places in the world made every day feel surreal.
Studying at UNSW challenged me academically while also allowing me the flexibility to travel weekly and enjoy everything my host city had to offer. While many people don't expect it, there was a bit of a culture shock with the Aussie slang and slower pace of life. Engaging with locals and other international students made the experience so meaningful and transformational. I will never forget the amazing Australians who welcomed me with open arms and showed me what Australia was all about.
Looking back at my four months in Australia, this experience shaped me into a more confident, independent, and open-minded person. Studying abroad pushed me beyond my comfort zone and gave me a new perspective of the world. I will always be grateful for this experience.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

Skydiving in Queenstown, New Zealand!!!!

Pros

Flexibility to explore Australia and nearby countries.
Introduced me to incredible people from around the world.
Challenging courses and real-world experiences that counted for major course credit.

Cons

Limited time in Australia because of the trimester system.
Housing on campus wasn't very social.
Budgeting for trips was difficult.

I studied at the University of New South Wales in Sydney, Australia under the TEAN program. Academics were rigorous and stimulating at UNSW, but I appreciated taking only 3 classes per term since it allowed me more time to explore Sydney and Australia as a whole. Lab and seminar/discussion-based classes were the best way to make local friends! TEAN staff were amazing! They were extremely helpful and so sweet. I hung out with and really got to know my TEAN RD on a personal level while also knowing that they could also help me with any questions or issues I had. Housing was a mixed bag. I lived on UNSW campus and it was mostly fine. I started out living in a unit that had cockroaches. However, my RD advocated for me and the other students and we were moved into other housing quickly. I had friends living in the other accommodations option, living off campus about 15 minutes from UNSW, which was obviously superior to the on campus option. The only real benefit to living on campus was reducing commute time by a couple of minutes. I rarely ever felt unsafe in Sydney, even as a woman. Public transport and walking around at night in well lit areas was also very safe. Obviously, it is still important to apply common sense and avoid danger as much as possible, but otherwise, there was very little risk. Overall, I had an amazing experience and I would totally recommend studying abroad with TEAN in Sydney! I would recommend participating in all of the excursions, especially the surfing lesson!

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?

One of the most surprising things I did were day trips to other cities in Australia. Domestic flights are relatively cheap out of Sydney and if I didn't have time to fully explore a city, I would just fly there for a day, explore as much as possible, and fly back on the same day!
Another one of the most surprising things about Australia was that I only saw about 4 spiders in total, and one of them was at the zoo!

Pros

Breathtaking hikes in the Blue Mountains, including some leading to natural pools.
Constant access to the ocean and hundreds of beaches.
Perfect mix of big city life and quick access to natural spaces.

Cons

Most places don't have air conditioning, which can get hot in the summer!
Smaller shops and restaurants tend to close early in the evening and don't open on weekends.

I had the best semester studying at USYD through TEAN. The campus is beautiful, the classes were challenging but interesting, and Sydney was such a fun city to live in. There is lots of fun places to explore and the locals were so very welcoming and fun to spend time with! The TEAN staff was very helpful and always available when help was needed or if I needed clarifications about something that was unique to Australia. I also really enjoyed the orientation week in Cairns because I was able to meet everyone in the program so I got to Sydney and already had a group of familiar faces.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Spend your weekends traveling around Sydney and NSW! There is so much to see, and you are close to SE Asia as well so take advantage of that!

Pros

Lots to do in Sydney
Good student housing
Helpful TEAN support throughout the semester

Studying in Sydney at USYD was the best decision I could've made. Australia is one of those regions where you need a good amount of time rather than a 2-week vacation where you can plan a mid-semester break to New Zealand or a weekend trip down in Tasmania. We were placed in a great and safe part of the city which is at the outskirts of the CBD, but also near a shopping centre and 10-minute walk to campus. It is such a vibrant, multicultural, and touristy city that you'll never run out of things to do. While the courses at the insanely beautiful University of Sydney's campus are pretty vigorous, the professors, TAs, and students are kind enough to help and many resources are there to help.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

During our program's orientation in Cairns, I had the opportunity to try a tasting platter with 4 native Aussie animals such as kangaroo, crocodile, emu, and smoked salmon. Surprisingly, the emu was the most delicious to me, followed by the salmon, kangaroo (which doesn't have a particular or funny taste), and crocodile, which wasn't my favorite since it was too smokey and rubbery tasting.

Pros

Resourceful and caring staff both in person while on the program and online.
Sydney is an extremely safe city with impressive public transportation.
There is a mix of city, nature, and beaches.

Cons

The front desk staff at our student housing wasn't the greatest or useful.
Courses at the University of Sydney are doable, but hard and set at higher expectations.
It is a bit hard to explore outside of Sydney if flying isn't an option and trains don't run in that path.

One of the various beautiful Sydney sunsets.

I had an incredible four months in Sydney on the TEAN program attending the University of New South Whales. From traveling around Australia and to many "nearby" countries, making life-long close friends, making many memories, and experiencing moments that cannot be replicated anywhere else, these factors will stay close to my heart forever. This program staff not only creates a great orientation in the Great Barrier Reef and Cairns, Australia where you get to know Australian history, and culture, along with their incredible wildlife. This program feels like a dream from start to finish. I regularly studied and read on the beach (or other pretty campus locations), ate great cheap but quality local food, and spent time getting to love Sydney closely for all it has to offer.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

Do as much as you can!! Spend every day trying a new food place or activity, or even walk around, there is so much to explore solo or with friends, Sydney is a place with a lot to offer. My favorite activity was snorkeling everywhere I could, it's super easy to rent gear if you don't have it either!

Pros

Super Social Program
Provided Housing to the Max detail
Great support system staff

Cons

Giant Bugs occasionally

Swimming with wild dolphin pods in Nelson Bay

night ferrys and fun boat cruises in the harbor

Celebrating Easter abroad with new friends!

unbelievable aborigional art exihibit in Melbourne

I strongly suggest to use TEAN when going abroad! I went to Sydney, Australia Spring of 2024 with 3 friends and the support of the TEAN staff made all of us feel so safe in such a far away place. Our pre-trip with TEAN to Cairns was absolutely amazing and they planned amazing activities for all of us!! When the Westfield stabbing happened all of the members of the TEAN staff reached out to the students to make sure we were comfortable and okay. I was also able to meet so many more friends by doing TEAN.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?

Vegemite!!! It's definitely not a fan favorite.

Pros

Support from staff members
Pre-trip to Cairns

Studying abroad has always been a dream of mine. When I found a program in my dream vacation spot I knew I had to apply. Spending 6 weeks in Sydney was a dream come true and I could not recommend it enough. Meeting new friends, visiting new places, and gaining lifelong experiences is something I will cherish forever. While in Sydney, I visited some amazing places and saw some amazing things. Saying I have witnessed a symphony in the world-famous opera is something I will talk about forever. TEAN made my experience easy and fun. 10/10 Recommend!!

Studying abroad in Australia was one of the best decisions I've ever made. In the 4 months I spent abroad I met more people than I can count, traveled around Australia and Indonesia and New Zealand, and grew as a person. There are so many unique and cool experiences for people to discover in Australia, including the different animals and unique foods. I really loved seeing koalas, kangaroos, and platypuses in the wild. One of the most important parts of studying abroad is to take advantage of every opportunity you have, and that really helped make my abroad experience something that I'll never forget.

What is your advice to future travelers on this program?

If I could give one piece of advice to anyone looking to study abroad, it would be to say yes to every opportunity you have while you're over there. There is so much to do around you and it's important to take advantage of everything that you can to make the most of your experience. For example, I decided to sign up for skydiving during our orientation in Cairns, and I still think of it as one of the best decisions I made during my time abroad.

Pros

Meeting new people from all over the world
Traveling to places I never thought I'd get to
Becoming more independent and growing as a person.

Cons

Getting sick in Bali
The super long flight from the US to Australia
I wasn't expecting the temperature to get as chilly as it got towards the end

Uluru in the Northern Territory of Australia

Questions & Answers

How much did studying abroad through TEAN cost?

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I chose this program because I felt that Sydney offered everything I was looking for as a destination to study abroad. I was interested in experiencing city living, as well as taking classes at a large university (to experience a contrast to my small home uni). Additionally, Sydney is known for its beaches and laidback culture, which I was super exited to experience first hand. I loved being in the city and having everything be so accessible to me, with all of my favorite things just a walk or short bus ride away! I found myself exploring the beaches, the mountains, and walking around the many farmers market the city has.

In a more practical sense, I also figured that living in Sydney for 5 months as opposed to visiting Australia for a holiday would be a lot more worthwhile considering the distance, travel time, and expenses. I found that it was very valuable to be able to have Sydney as my "home-base" for a substantial amount of time, as it allowed me to visit many other countries and places in Australia that I would have never otherwise had the opportunity to travel to had I just gone to Sydney for a short vacation.

What did your program provider (or university) assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

TEAN assisted me with the majority of aspects regarding my education abroad experience. They helped me with securing my student VISA, took care of my health insurance, gave guidance on booking flights, provided a pre-departure orientation as well as an amazing on-ground orientation week in Cairns, Australia at the Great Barrier Reef. In addition to this, the program also took care of securing student housing for me, which was a huge help because finding a place to stay in Sydney as a student can be extremely challenging and costly. After I arrived in Sydney, they helped me get acclimated to my University and provided a number of activities throughout the semester that were included in the program and were a great opportunity to take advantage of!

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

I would recommend to save up a lot more than you are expecting to! Not only is Sydney an expensive city to live in, but there are also so many more opportunities for traveling and experiences that I had realized or financially prepared for. By saving up and preparing to spend a lot, you are able to give yourself more financial freedom and less stress during your time abroad. It is so important to feel like you can live in abundance and fully experience everything to its greatest potential instead of worrying or limiting yourself in what you can partake in. That being said, if you can swing it, spend it! Money is best spent on experiences you will never forget, and will always come back to you:)

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

Typically, I would wake up and go for a morning walk to a local cafe to get an outstanding coffee (what a great start to my day!). After this, I would return to my apartment and get ready to head over to campus, which was a convenient 15 minute walk away. After class, sometimes I would take the bus to the beach and spend the rest of my afternoon enjoying the beautiful weather, or I would head back to my apartment to do some school work or go to the gym. On the weekends, I could always be found going to the farmers market, the beach, or the Blue Mountains. I also loved grabbing dinner with friends or my roommates, where we loved to head to Spice Alley or Newtown to dine at some of the best restaurants! We also loved to end our night with some frozen yoghurt (I highly recommend Yo-Chi)
.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

Going into my experience, the biggest fear I had was my housing accommodation. I was most nervous for living with 7 other people and having to share a room and common area with so many people. I overcame this fear simply by going into the experience with no expectations and trying to remain as open as possible. Once I got settled into my apartment, met my roommates, and got accustomed to my new life and routine, my view changed significantly and my fear subsided. I actually grew to love living with so many people! It was so nice to always have people to do things with and know a solid number of individuals while learning to navigate a completely new city and country.

Write and answer your own question.

The city of Sydney has so much to offer and always has extremely cool things going on! Make sure to take advantage of the countless of free activities and experiences you will find in Sydney. Time Out Sydney has some of the best recommendations for restaurants, cafes, and how to spend your weekends. Each week they update their top things to do, and share some of the best information about the city!

Sebastian Estores

2016 Alum

Maya Moskowitz

Julie Gitman

Ashley Burns

Kyle Goldhoff

Taylor O Donnell

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Lily is part of the programs team for TEAN based in the Chicago office. She is a graduate of Temple University and interned abroad in London.

What is your favorite travel memory?

This is such a hard question!

I think my favorite one most recently would have to be waking up in Queenstown every morning and opening my shades to see Cecil Peak across Lake Wakatipu. It's an absolutely unreal sight; photos don't do Queenstown justice.

I understand now why all of our students go back again after their orientation!

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What is the best story you've heard from a return student?

I had a student that went on our University of Otago program in New Zealand which houses a number of international students together with a local kiwi flatmate to help them get acclimated to the area.

This student, in particular, had made such a great connection with her flatmates that they still talked regularly and she was planning to go visit some of them in their home countries over the summer.

It's great when study abroad experiences open up students to more cultural opportunities not just relating to the country they’re in, and more future travel!

If you could go on any program that your company offers, which one would you choose and why?

I love our Semester in Shanghai program. I've fallen completely in love with Shanghai as a city -- there's so much to do and see. Plus then you can travel through the rest of China, in addition to the Chengdu and Beijing excursions we include in the program.

I'd personally love to see the sunrise over the Great Wall. I'm always so jealous when I see the photos each semester! Also, the language program is an excellent opportunity. It's incredibly immersive and I'd love to advance my Chinese language skills.

What makes your company unique? When were you especially proud of your team?

I really like that at TEAN it's very one-on-one when working with students and we focus on a specific part of the world. It gives you the opportunity to know your students well and your regions intimately. I love being able to tell students about my favorite places to get pork bao in Shanghai or where the local farmer’s market in Wellington is.

Working in an office in Chicago, we don't get to see students much but have the opportunity to get to know them through their pre-departure calls and emails which is really nice.

I'm always proud of our team here, but especially when I see someone working closely with a student when they run into an issue or just need extra help. We really try to go above and beyond for our students here and when I see colleagues going an extra mile to make study abroad work for the students, I get a swell of pride for what we do.

What do you believe to be the biggest factor in being a successful company?

Being able to adapt and change. We're constantly revising our processes and looking at what works and what doesn't for students and then making changes to make the process easier.

You get students from all different backgrounds, ranging from those who have traveled extensively to those who have never even set foot on a plane before.

We want to make sure everything is clear so that whatever your background is in terms of traveling and studying abroad, it's made easy for you - and fun!

About WorldStrides

As a leader in international education for over thirty years, WorldStrides is dedicated to providing university and college level students the opportunity to discover, learn, and enjoy a way of life other than their own. We offer a diverse portfolio of education abroad programs across Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Pacific. Our...