Western Sydney University

Western Sydney University

Why choose Western Sydney University?

Western Sydney University is a dynamic and fresh Australian university, ranked in the top 2% worldwide, that believes in a world of unlimited opportunity for those with talent, drive, confidence and ambition.

The University has five campuses hosting the study abroad program located in Greater Western Sydney, Australia’s third largest and fastest growing regional economy. With world-class research and teaching across 100 study areas and expanding international recognition, the University’s 44,000 students are well-positioned to succeed in an increasingly connected world.

As a Western Sydney University student, you’ll become part of a dynamic community with opportunities to immerse yourself in numerous cultural, course-related and sporting activities. Our services include advice on learning skills, counselling, health, accommodation, disability support, airport pickup, social program, comprehensive orientation and peer-assisted learning.

Founded
1989

Reviews

Hermann
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Semester Abroad at Western Sydney University

I did a semester abroad at the Western Sydney University (WSU) and had the time of my life. From the very beginning of my semester people made me feel welcome and I really appreciated that. Especially, the university staff is really helpful and provides you with any kind of support. Furthermore, the university offers a variety of units which allows an individual selection for any international student from any study program. Moreover, a lot of other activities like sports events, job application trainings etc. are offered. While I studied at WSU I lived on campus in Parramatta and made a lot of great friends from all over the world. The student's dormitory is called WSU village and it was truly a village because we had our own little community there. Besides studying at WSU I also had the great opportunity to live in Sydney for a certain amount of time. Therefore I could experience and explore an exciting city with my friends. All in all, I can definitely recommend studying at WSU. It was an amazing time and I am really thankful for that!

Laura
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

WSU Review

I appreciated how tight-knit the campus residences and classes were. The teaching style of the university was very engaging and was oriented around discussion and exercises which gave me opportunities and confidence to meet many new friends!
The support from the Go Global Office and on campus staff among others were very helpful, and I found that generally their systems for processing things like inquiries and applications at the university were very efficient. Overall, I felt valued by the university committee and this helped me transition to the uni while away from home, making the very most of my studies and travels!

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Katsuyuki
3/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Good experience

I highly recommend future students to join this study-abroad program at Western Sydney University because I have learnt and experienced so many things.

For example, before I came here, I did not know much about Asian coutries, such as Malaysia, Vietnam and Cambodia. However, through this study-abroad experience, I made a lot of friends who are from these coutries and got to know more about Asia.

What would you improve about this program?
The dormitory was not as good as I expected.
Response from Western Sydney University

We appreciate your feedback, Katsuyuki! Thanks also for your comment about the student accommodation. We do take this feedback seriously and are in regular contact with Western Sydney University Village in order to refine that part of the experience!

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Nisrina
4/5
Yes, I recommend this program

One Semester Exchange to Western Sydney University

My exchange experience to Western Sydney University really opens up my mind as well as many doors of learning opportunities. The academic system and support provided in the university really helped me with my learning and development of understanding. I particularly like the study smart support they have in their library and online, it is something I cannot find here in my home university in Indonesia. I made several memorable friendships with the students and my roommates. The campus environment and facilities are suitable for studying as I mostly find the campus area relatively quiet and reserved. As an international student there, I found it pretty surprising how there were not many student organisations that are engaging. Some of my friends particularly found it hard to make good friends in the university but the solution to this in my opinion is to open up and have a courage to start a conversation with anyone in class without worrying about how they will react.

What would you improve about this program?
Perhaps for a broader scope of engagement, the university should provide a program or activities that are held routinely to engage the international students and help them make friends.
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Jana
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Study abroad at Western Sydney

I am an exchange student from Slovakia, who came to study to Western Sydney for a semester. I have to say that from a beginning it was just an amazing experience. I learned so much, met inspiring people, gain a new perspective, had so much fun and enjoyed a beautiful campus of this university. the Go Global Team arrange everything for me and they were so incredibly kind and supportive. I am thankful to them because I will remember this forever. Thank you for making a significant this semester so special.

Read my full story

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

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

Why did you choose this program?

I believe that there is no better investment for your future than going to study abroad. I spent a year in the USA when I was in high school and that decision changed me so much that I knew I wanted to go overseas again.

Western Sydney University was the right choice. They offer high-quality programs and they are located in the most beautiful city in Australia. I wanted to explore another part of the world and grow academically.

What did your university assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

I had to prepare all the required paperwork and pass an official test proving my English language ability. My university helped me to connect with Western Sydney University and communicate with my teachers who had to provide an approval for me to go.

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

I had to be at university three days per week. From Monday to Wednesday I had to attend lectures and tutorials. I loved it. The time spent at the campus and in our library was very enjoyable for me.

The next two days I spent preparing all of the schoolwork for next week and being with my friends in our student village. We used to have BBQ every week or have fitness sessions in our common areas.

After all the studying and writing essays, weekends were reserved for fun. I used to travel around Sydney, spend time at the beach, or around the Opera house.

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

Coming to study to a new university was definitely the most challenging part. Australian universities have a completely different system than my home university has. It was very overwhelming at first, but I took some time to get oriented and understand everything. After that it was easy.

All of the international students were in the same situation and we helped each other by sharing tips with one another. Moreover, the university was ready to help us anytime we needed it.

How did you grow personally during your time abroad?

I think I grew up a lot in those six months. Not only intellectually, but also personally.

This semester opened many doors for me, showed me new opportunities. and significantly widened my perspective. I now have many new friends from all around the world and I have also gained many skills that are going to be beneficial for my future career.

Staff Interviews

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

Rohan McCarthy-Gill

Job Title
Manager, International Mobility
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Tell us about yourself, Rohan.

I have worked in the international education sector for 15 years in roles covering learning abroad, student recruitment, marketing and transnational education, and student services and advising. I am currently the learning abroad manager at Western Sydney University, where I oversee the inbound and outbound exchange and study abroad program.

Some of my areas of passion include the development of first-year learning abroad opportunities, removing barriers to participation for students, establishing student-centered programming and the development of improved systems and procedures to enhance the student experience.

I am a graduate of The Australian National University with a Bachelor of Asian Studies focusing on Asian politics, history, and religion, and Arabic. During my bachelor studies, I received a Kuwait Government scholarship to participate in a semester-based, immersive in-country Arabic language learning abroad program at Kuwait University.

What is your favorite travel memory?

It's especially hard to pick just one! But a favorite travel memory that comes to my mind is taking almost three months of long service leave from my job and traveling around Canada during the hot summer of 2014!

I visited dozens of towns and cities along the way, from Vancouver Island in the west to Prince Edward Island in the east. I loved this trip especially since I got to experience the many 'cultures within cultures' that Canada has to offer, catch up with old friends and meet new friends on what was one of the few extended vacations in my life.

Experiencing this time in Canada shaped a lot about how I feel we should be designing our own study abroad programs for students.

How have you changed/grown since working for your current company?

After a number of years at my previous university, I was eager for a change to a new and different environment, but one I could feel sure I would feel comfortable working within.

Working at Western has fuelled my passion for removing barriers to study abroad - and working to ensure that any students who want to go abroad CAN go abroad as part of their studies, whether this is our students going out or students from abroad coming to Western!

I think working here - and working in the field generally - has made me more creative, able to explore out of the box solutions more, and remember to always put the student first and at the center of everything we do. We're that kind of university and now I'm that kind of person!

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

A former student who returned from the program to his home in the United Kingdom wrote to me a couple of years down the track to say that, while he didn't have an appreciation for it necessarily at the time, he is blown away by what the opportunity of going on exchange to Australia did for him - academically, socially/personally and for his employability.

He said that now he can't help but divide his life into 'before exchange' and 'after exchange' - and he's become a zealot for global study among his friends and family members! I really loved this story because in its simplicity it embodies everything we know to be true about studying abroad.

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

Western Sydney University is unique in that it offers students an authentic Australian experience they can't find in many other places. We are the heart of multi-cultural Australia, with over 140 national and cultural backgrounds represented in Greater Western Sydney.

I am especially proud of my team-members' multicultural heritage - which includes team members from Cantonese, Brazilian and Australian Aboriginal backgrounds - and how global we are in our outlook!