GlobaLinks - Study Abroad at University of Sydney
Study in Australia at the University of Sydney with GlobaLinks Learning Abroad (formerly AustraLearn)! There isn't much not to like about the University of Sydney. Students have many facilities readily available to them and transportation is conveniently located throughout the campus, so you can make the most out of your study abroad experience! The campus provides an eclectic mix of national and international students who come to study at this renowned institution.
Besides the excellent academic education students will receive at the University of Sydney, international students seek every opportunity to explore Sydney, a cosmopolitan city with many heritage sites to explore for those looking for a more historical feel. GlobaLinks can make your study abroad experience hassle free at the University of Sydney. Visit the GlobaLinks Learning Abroad website to learn more about how you can study abroad in Australia.
Reviews
100%Overall
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80%Overall
Rating
GlobaLinks has been a great help in facilitating my move to the University of Sydney. The staff provided me with all the services I required, from offering advice on particular universities to helping me find a great place to live.
Sydney is a wonderful place to study. The university itself is excellent, and the Sydney has much to offer an ambitious tourist. It is altogether beautiful and lovely here. The people are friendly. The transportation is affordable and very reliable. It truly is an ideal place for anyone interested in serious study, and some great fun on the side.
Critical Feedback:
The program is very good. Perhaps one small area of improvement would be to have a wider range of possible housing options for students to consider.
100%Overall
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...was to study abroad in Sydney, Australia. Although it has been three years, it feels like yesterday that I was boarding the plane and headed halfway around the world.
Ever since I was young I have had a desire to go to Australia. My cousin happened to study abroad at the University of Sydney, and after doing research I realized that was the place for me. Normally not a city girl, Sydney is one of the two cities I would ever live in (the other being Christchurch, New Zealand). AustraLearn made the application process so smooth - I still remember where I was when I got the phone call that said I was accepted into the program. When I tell people I remember every single moment of my journey, I am one hundred percent serious.
I highly recommend to everyone studying abroad to take advantage of the orientation week. It's the first time you get to relax and take in this fantastic chapter of your life. I met two of my best friends this week!
I was lucky enough to find friends that were more into traveling than going out to bars (since we were legal in Australia). One of my best friends and I decided to buy a three month train ticket that allowed for unlimited trips between Brisbane and Melbourne. What a perfect choice we made!! While most people in our program traveled north to the islands for spring break, we went south and ventured to Kangaroo Island (one of my favorite places to ever exist in the world). Additional trips included Fraser Island, a surfing weekend, Melbourne, Adelaide, driving along the Great Ocean Road, Katoomba and hiking in the Blue Mountains, skydiving in North Wollongong, I could go on for hours (literally).
My classes were wonderful - the professors were incredible and wanted us to experience the country as best we could. I opted to take classes that were designed for study abroad students, meaning we got to go on field trips (think rugby match, swimming competitions, plays - Billy Elliot was FANTASTIC, and a tour of the Opera House). Sydney University is a gorgeous school, and I miss seeing jacaranda trees and magpies on my walks to class.
The Australian people are some of the nicest I have ever met. Always willing to help or talk, they're kind and generous; there is nothing negative to say about the country or its people.
One thing I recommend to everyone is to do their research. My friends at I would park ourselves at Gloria Jeans and try to find the coolest places to go and things to do while we could. Also...don't be afraid to ask questions!! Most people would love to help you out! After debating where to go one day with our train passes, my friend and I ended up going right down to Sydney Central and asking the gentleman at the counter what we should do for the day (we ended up going to a beach in Newcastle). Another time we took the bus to Circular Quay and walked back to the SUV - hitting every travel agency we spotted trying to find our spring break trip. Why do what everyone else is doing when you could go somewhere completely new?!
I never once got homesick. Sure, I talked to my family once a week. I didn't stay holed up in my room video-chatting or going onto social networking sites. GO OUT AND EXPLORE!! I took over 6,000 pictures in Australia alone. I have a box in my room that has every memento from my trip (including the wrapper from the first Tim Tam I've ever had! Excessive? Probably. But I can't seem to throw anything away that has some tie to Australia).
I highly recommend the YHA Hostels for traveling. They're so clean and you feel completely safe in them. The people there are always more than happy to help you out.
After my study at the University of Sydney ended, I took a two and a half week trip to New Zealand with three of the friends I met (two from orientation). I bungee jumped (twice), sailed in the Bay of Islands, took a vintage car drive around Christchurch, dolphin watched in Akaroa, and cruised in Milford Sound. My five month journey concluded all too fast.
It has been one of my top priorities since I've returned to share my experiences with others who are interested in studying abroad. My five-month adventure was absolutely flawless and I want nothing more than the same for others who are thinking about going (GO!).
So basically...if someone were to only read the final sentence of this review, I'd say this:
There will never be a day that I do not think about my trip. I tell everyone - "I could leave wherever, whenever, dressed however, and be at the airport in twenty minutes to go back. No question."
100%Overall
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Australearn helped set up an amazing program for me from start to finish. The University of Sydney is set right in downtown Sydney. Don't let that fool you though because the campus is big and beautiful and you do not even feel like you are in a big city until you look up and see the skyscrapers in the CBD. The nightlife in Sydney is world-class and there is always something to do. Not taking away from USyd's academics though, the university is world-class as well. Also, Sydney is centrally located on the east coast so you are only a plane ride from anything and everything fun in Oceania.
90%Overall
Rating
Things I found from AustraLearn.
* The first week orientation in Cairns was awesome.
* AustraLearn overcharges you for housing. Housing prices are also very expensive as it is, but you can avoid all these prices if you come to the school through an exchange program instead.
* If you live in Sydney University Village, expect to meet mostly Americans, the Australian students mostly live in on campus villages or elsewhere.
* Once you get to Australia and into the school, you don't really need the study abroad program. In fact you have little to no contact with them again.
That being said Sydney is a beautiful city, and the university is amazing. This is a great experience and a lot of fun. But I would suggest that this same experience would have been possible for a lot less money out of the pocket.
Alumni Interviews
Meet Natalie Farell
Natalie was born and raised in Toledo, Ohio and studied at the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University, earning a Marketing degree in December 2011. After graduating, Natalie moved to Vail, Colorado to work for Vail Resorts at the Golden Peak Children's Ski and Snowboard School. At 24, she is now employed by Vail Recreation District as an Administrative Assistant and does promotions on the side.
Why did you decide to study abroad with GlobaLinks?
Natalie: I looked at Globalinks initially because they had many different universities to choose from located all over Australia. I decided to study abroad with them because their orientation week included a Monday through Friday trip to Cairns on the Great Barrier Reef. With it being my first time abroad I wanted to see as much of the country as possible and the Great Barrier Reef was definitely on my list. This gave me a chance to explore the area and spend my traveling money on other adventures. It was also an opportunity to meet other Americans studying at my university and staying at my student housing before classes started. My favorite part was getting to scuba dive and swim with sea turtles on our "reef day".
What is one piece of advice you'd give future GLA - Sydney students?
Natalie: Get involved with everything Sydney has to offer; whether it is through your University, through a part time job or through community events. Not only is it a great way to meet locals, you can sometimes add it to your resume. The best part is, it's fun! I attended local Sydney festivals, such as a Mardi Gras fair at Victoria Park on campus. (Did you know Sydney has one of the biggest Mardi Gras celebrations in the world? Including a huge parade?) I saw the Australian comedy group Axis of Awesome perform at a venue in my neighborhood. I went to Creamfields for my first live electronic music experience. I went to a weekend surf camp (Mojo Surf) for my 21st birthday. The possibilities are endless and all encompassing. All you have to do is glance around and keep an open mind.
What are some interesting cultural tidbits you noticed about your host country?
Natalie: What I noticed about Australia was how the culture was a fusion of European, American and Asian influences. The people I met were from all over the world and many my age had already done an extensive amount of traveling during "gap years". I still find myself using some of the lingo, such as "sunnies" for sunglasses and "brekkie" for breakfast (but there is a lot more than that). It's true that the culture is more laid back than in the U.S. and possibly even more sarcastic. While it is considered normal in the U.S. to go away to college and live in dorms or houses off campus, with Sydney being so expensive its much more common for Uni students to live with their parents while completing their degree. Some even commuted for 2+ hours to get to school everyday, with another 2+ hours back.
Interview with Elyse Bongiovanni, GlobaLinks alum
GO: Why did you study abroad with GlobaLinks at the University of Sydney?
Elyse: I had heard good reviews of AustraLearn from other people who were planning on studying abroad. It was really difficult to commit to one university out of all the options across a whole country, but I went with University of Sydney. Sydney is a great jumping off point for visiting other parts of Australia. University of Sydney is also world renowned university- I knew the name would count when I was job hunting or applying to graduate school later on.
I also was particular about the location of the University it's self. I didn't want to live in the suburban areas of Australia, but I also didn't want to attend a city school. University of Sydney is in a fantastic neighborhood of Sydney, but has a traditional college campus feel. The school isn't just buildings dispersed around Sydney, but an enclosed campus that doesn't leave you feeling lost or overwhelmed.
GO: What made your study abroad experience unique and special?
Elyse: Within the first 48 hours I met the people who would become my best friends while in Sydney. I still keep in touch with these people, and believe the friendships will last a lifetime. The friends I made are one of the best side effects of studying abroad.
Nearly everything I did in Australia was a unique and special experience. Some of my favorite events seem the smallest, such as doing weekly shopping; I paid a visit to the deli, the bakery, the fruit and vegetable market, and a grocer to buy all I needed. I loved grocery shopping in Australia- it is so much more quaint than visiting a WalMart superstore like we do in America. I also loved using a ferry to commute around the city-- who wouldn't mind a 20 minute commute if it included a ferry ride past the Sydney Opera House!?
Some other favorite, unique events include:
* Climbing Uluru (Climb at your own risk though! Some people say climbing it brings you bad luck!)
* Playing BINGO at the University of Sydney pub (What a fun way to meet some locals!
* Visiting all the markets in Sydney (Check out the Glebe Market!)
* Diving the Great Barrier Reef (Diving the reef was magical. I can't describe how beautiful it is, you just need to see it for yourself!)
GO: How has this experience impacted your future?
Elyse: Traveling to Australia was the most confidence building activity in my life. That boost in confidence has improved every aspect of my life. I left Australia with new best friends, a more optimistic attitude, and a permanent itch to keep traveling! Studying abroad played at least some role in securing me a job today- it was at least a great talking point in the interview. Spending a semester in Australia also opened me up to the possibility of going abroad for graduate school, or going on a working holiday in another country. It sounds extreme, but I don't regret going to Australia in any way- the experience left every aspect of my life improved.
Elyse is open to help out students looking to study abroad with GlobaLinks at the University of Sydney! For any questions you might have, feel free to contact her!
Interview with Kristin Sargeant, GlobaLinks alum
GO: Why did you decide to study abroad with GlobaLinks in Sydney, Australia?
Kristin: I had known for a long time that I wanted to study abroad in Australia - I'm a history major, and the idea of an entire nation founded as a convict colony fascinated me. Plus, it's a country that's also a continent, it's far enough away that I might never have otherwise gotten there, and it's full of animals, plants and landscapes that you can't see anywhere else in the world.
As I started to look into different study abroad programs, AustraLearn really stood out in the level of support they provided before and at the start of the study abroad experience. As part of this, they have a week-long culture and adventure orientation program that takes place in Cairns, which was a blast and allowed me to begin making friends. When I learned that they also provided housing, I was sold.
I decided on Sydney for a few reasons - I normally go to a small school in rural Ohio, so I wanted to expand my horizons by going to a large university in a vibrant city. The University of Sydney has a strong academic reputation as well as an active student union - while I was there, I joined a student madrigal society and attended the weekly improv shows at the student center. It was also centrally located, which made it easy to explore the city and take full advantage of the public transportation.
GO: What made your study abroad experience unique and special?
Kristin: I only had classes three days per week, so every weekend I made sure to travel somewhere. Most of the time it was just a day trip somewhere within New South Wales, but I also got to visit each state and major territory over the course of six months. Airplane flights are really cheap (for example, I could get from Sydney to Melbourne and back for $50), which made weekend trips really affordable.
I also spent spring break road-tripping and camping through the outback - this was amazing to see a part of Australia outside the cities, meet other young travelers, and experience a totally foreign landscape. The ability and ease to travel to so many different locations and stay with local families or in a hostel, meeting people from various backgrounds and hearing their stories, this is what really made my time in Australia special.
GO: How has this experience impacted your future?
Kristin: First of all, it makes me want to go back to Australia, and to travel more! Beyond this, though, I have become very interested in global, intercultural education. I want to be a teacher, and I hope to institute exchange trips, global studies clubs, or the like into school children's curriculum. The US is a wonderful place to live, but there is so much more out there, and I want everyone to be able to experience it!
Danielle Lamoureaux Interview, GlobaLinks alum in Sydney
GO: Why did you decide to study abroad with GlobaLinks in Sydney, Australia?
Danielle: My decision to study abroad in Australia came very easy. I had a number of reasons why I didn't want to go to Europe. I felt that majority of students chose that as their destination because of the sheer number of countries one could visit in a relatively short amount of time. Compared to other places around the world, it really isn't all that far from America - just a quick hop over the Atlantic Ocean with a not-that-big-of-a-deal time difference. Also, I honestly felt that I'd have my entire life to go to Europe and truly divulge into the culture; I could appreciate the history much more when I was older. Not to mention, with the easy access to other countries, there is a guaranteed language barrier.
I didn't want to get just a glimpse of where I'd be studying, jumping around from country to country on the weekends; I wanted to embrace it, travel as much as possible in one place and make the most of my time there. Lastly, I learned that most European study abroad programs (that I researched, at least) were a mere three months long. This program let me stay in Australia for nearly five months - almost twice as long as the others!
Because my dad travels extensively for his profession, he'd been to both Australia and New Zealand many times and knew that I would love both countries. I chose Australia because I knew how small New Zealand was, and I could spend a couple weeks seeing a lot of that country after my studying abroad ended. Australia is roughly the size of the United States, and if I were to go there on my own time when I was older, I'd have to take quite an extensive leave from my work if I wanted to see the country in a non-tourist-y fashion.
After that, choosing Sydney was a no-brainer. I'd done some research on a few locations around Australia - namely Brisbane, Sydney, and Melbourne, but ultimately chose Sydney; It's a major hub for the country, and I learned that the airport and train station were real close to Uni. The University campus was absolutely stunning from the pictures. Not to mention the Opera House and Harbour Bridge were a quick ten-minute bus ride away. Who wouldn't want to hop on a bus and do their homework while lounging in the Botanic Gardens looking out at Opera House?
I had a few different companies to choose to study abroad through. After going on each of the companies' websites, AustraLearn had me hooked. Their site was so detailed, and they were more than happy to answer any questions you might have had about studying abroad. I immediately requested an info booklet detailing each of the schools; although I knew where I wanted to go, I still read each and every page about three hundred times.
I am being completely honest when I tell people that I have yet to have another experience where everything - between the planning, traveling, and overall study abroad experience - went as smoothly as it did. The weeklong orientation in Cairns was absolutely wonderful - the program leaders that met us there were incredibly friendly. Literally I had no problems at all.
GO: What made studying abroad a unique and special experience?
Danielle: I really had the time of my life while in Sydney. I still can't believe that the three-year anniversary of my return home is just around the corner. My time spent in Australia is engraved in my memory, and it really does feel like I just came back. I've met some of the best friends I could ask for, and although they're scattered throughout North America, I have been fortunate and have gotten to see a few of them. We continue to make plans to visit each other, and try to keep in touch as best we can.
We thought out of the box while traveling, especially when it came to the extended weekends and school breaks - everyone in our program making plans to go north? Okay then we'll go south. Everyone spending quite a big chunk of their travel money on plane tickets? We're going to travel via train - sure it'll take longer, but there's an adventure everywhere (and you can guarantee that my best friend and I were the only two to travel over seventy hours on a train throughout our many excursions).
I never got homesick...used Skype once. I called my family once a week and filled them in on what we had planned or what we did that week. I missed them, sure, but I had so many adventures and they knew how much I loved it, so being so far away didn't really matter. I was actually crossing my fingers that my flights home would be cancelled so I could stay just a little bit longer.
I just had so many incredible experiences - watching the 2008 Beijing Olympics from an Australian point-of-view is vastly different from an American one! Or getting tickets to see the Rugby World Cup, seeing a performance at the Opera House, skydiving in North Wollongong, the first time I arrived at Circular Quay - they're all memories that I wouldn't trade for anything.
GO: How has this experience impacted your future?
Danielle: This experience has made me even more conscious of other cultures. Prior to studying abroad, I always knew that when you travel, you should try to blend with the people, not stand out like a tourist; go off the beaten trail, talk with the locals, embrace their traditions. Going to Australia gave me the opportunity to act on this. There were a few times when Sydneysiders asked where in Australia was I from, and thought I had moved there from the States! (...that was a beyond excellent feeling)
I have no qualms about traveling whatsoever. I have learned that my travel style is more on the "we'll-sort-of-make-an-itinerary-but-really-we'll-just-wing-it" side. Studying abroad was the piece of my life that was missing. I have always loved to travel, but that was the first "real" international experience of mine. I've been hooked since. I'm also much more comfortable talking to other people. I was always quiet in high school, and working in customer service has definitely been great in terms of helping me open up, but being in Australia made me finally feel comfortable making conversation or planning and asking for traveling advice.
There were numerous times my friends and I would go to the train station or travel agency and say, "It's supposed to be nice out this weekend and we'd like to go somewhere...we really don't care where...do you have any thoughts on where we should go?" There was never a time when someone wasn't helpful or friendly.
My college degree deals with Information Technology. I chose this mainly because of the fact that it had the potential to open many doors to international travel. From the moment the plane touched down back in the United States, I knew I would have to return to Australia. It is a goal of mine to either live there or in New Zealand for a few years at some point. There is nothing more I would love right now than to get a job overseas - really get the Australian experience and completely submerge my life into it.
Probably one of the most important things about going to Australia was the fact that I went without knowing anyone. I'm from a pretty small town, and everyone has known everyone since elementary school. Leaving that behind and going halfway around the world is exhilarating - and add to that not a single person has any idea who you are - you can be your complete and honest self - and everyone else is in the same boat you are. I grew as an individual. My friends in my town never expected me to skydive or bungee jump, even though it is something I had always wanted to do. I was always fearless, but because I was more quiet than outgoing, no one knew. Now, I'm more outspoken.
My friends and I have what we call "Australia withdrawals"...and we just wish we could turn back time and do it all again. My experience was truly memorable, and I'm so thankful I made the decision to go to the University of Sydney when I did.
Further Info
About GlobaLinks
GlobaLinks Learning Abroad, originally titled AustraLearn, was created by Cynthia Banks in direct response to requests from an Australian university to assist U.S. students who wanted to study abroad in Australia. They have been in operation since 1987. Since then, AustraLearn became the largest provider of study abroad programs to more than 25 universities in Australia and added new partner institutions in New Zealand and Fiji.
In 2008, AustraLearn expanded its reach to more regions of the world. EuroLearn and AsiaLearn were created as additional programs of GlobaLinks Learning Abroad to accommodate an increasing demand from students and advisors for structured, well supported, and affordable programs in destinations worldwide.
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Studying abroad in Sydney is everything I dreamed it would be. I loved the laidback attitude of the Aussies. I still hope to move back someday.
I recommend taking advantage of everything there is to do. Get involved, just like when you were a freshmen at your home Uni. Join a few clubs at the involvement fair. Go to trivia night at Sydney University Village (student housing). Go on one of the abundance of harbour cruises offered at the beginning of the semester. Go to the free concerts offered by University of Sydney.
Before your trip, get an idea of where you want to travel when you are there. Once you arrive, time flies and it can be hard to leave your home base city. I knew I wanted to do a trip to New Zealand and when my friends bailed on the idea I went by myself. I met people from all over the world and still had an amazing time.
If your into being active/outdoorsy I recommend going to a weekend long surf camp. There's also camping and hiking in the Blue Mountains. I joined the Sydney Uni Waterski/Wakeboard Club and got to go on weekend trips with them to wakeboard on the Hawkesbury River. Some cool hikes in the city are the Manly Scenic hike and the oceanside hike from Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach. The Sydney Bridge Climb is a must-do as well.
If your more of a city dweller, explore the neighborhoods of Sydney like Newtown and Surry Hills. Walk down George Street. Visit the malls at Darling Harbour and Bondi. Check out the nightlife at King's Cross.
Overall, just make sure your making the most of your experience. There are endless things to do and see and you won't regret draining your bank account as you watch the sunrise over Uluru in the Outback. Cheers.
Critical Feedback:
In retrospect I would have liked to know more about the differences in the grading system compared to the U.S. It would also have been helpful to know that every exam in every class was essay style. I work very hard in school and I felt as if my hard work was not paying off at the University of Sydney like it did at my home Uni. I was in a rare situation where my grades transferred back verbatim rather than as pass/fail (the more common method).