WorldStrides Reviews

This study abroad program, the University of Queensland, and Brisbane itself completely changed my life. I could not imagine my study abroad experience being any better than the one I had during Spring semester 2011. Everyone at AustraLearn, especially my advisor, Andria Lipkin, were flawless in supporting me in my study abroad endeavors. Bring someone that has a lot of questions about everything, they were patient, helpful, and efficient in every inquiry. I would travel with AustraLearn again and I definitely have and will continue to recommend this program to everyone that I know.
Everything about Australia is different than the USA, and AustraLearn and their one week orientation truly prepares you for that culture shock. The coordinators that are with you for that week help answer every question and give tips and suggestions regarding your entire experience in Australia. For example, my coordinator Jake, played rugby when he studied abroad in Australia. Being a rugby player in Washington, DC, I was interested in maybe joining a club in Brisbane. He showed me how the rugby clubs and programs were different and convinced me to play. And it was the best decision I made abroad! I played rugby for the University of Queensland Women's Rugby Club. I traveled to tournaments with them and met some amazing rugby players. I still talk to most of the team on a daily basis and am planning on playing with them again once I graduate!
The University of Queensland itself was incredible. The campus is stunning and the student body is thriving. The classes were challenging and it really tested my ability to adapt as a student. This taught me that I can overcome any kind of challenges, whether it was the different teaching techniques or the longer classes, I learned to grow and thrive at the University, joined the UQ Union and made some amazing friends along the way. Specifically, my experience in my International Business class has helped me have insight into global business strategy that has been a key asset in my interviews for internships and jobs in the DC area.
Along with my rugby team and Uni, Brisbane was beyond my wildest dreams. We had the ability to feel safe and secure at any hour throughout the city because of the helpful police force and kindness of the community of people. I lived in an apartment building on Tribune Street called Urbanest. It was about a mile outside of the heart of Brisbane but was secluded enough to enjoy the parks and lagoon on a quiet, sunny afternoon. I would not change one thing about my experience at Urbanest. I lived with the most incredible people, many of which I knew from the Australearn program but I also met many Australian students who took me under their wing and showed me the ropes. By the second month, I had made international friends! I had the most amazing time in South Bank, with their friday markets and booming night life, there was never a dull moment.
On terms of what I brought, I think I packed pretty reasonably. Maybe I could have left a few sweatshirts home, or maybe I could have brought more summer clothes. The weather was beautiful every single day, with maybe one or two rainy days in each month. Besides that, AustraLearn really helps guide you in each aspect of the trip, including packing.
I made some of my best friends while studying abroad in Australia. One of which, from England, is coming to live with me this summer in New Jersey before she studies abroad at UMass. Studying abroad was the most incredible decision I had ever made. My experience was extraordinary and every single day was an adventure, and I wouldn't have changed one minute of it.

My time at ICMS is priceless. The school is small enough that class sizes are small and you get the opportunity to really get to know your instructors. The instructors are highly knowledgeable, because they are working in the industry that they teach on. As a school of management, they are focused on the special programs and degrees they offer, and that focus is reflected in the quality of education. I participated in the Event Management program and got more hands-on experience in one term there than I got in 3+ years at my home university in America.

This particular school requires a uniform of business attire, provided through the school. If you have never been required to wear a uniform, you may be wary of this, but I found it to be a wonderful benefit. Everyone knows exactly what they will wear to class and what is expected of them. The goal of the uniform is to help you achieve a high degree of professionalism in your appearance to prepare you for the business world.

The student population in very diverse, with students from over 60 countries. While being immersed in the Australian culture, I got to experience other cultures on a daily basis through fellow students. The staff at AustraLearn and ICMS did a fantastic job with orientation and getting students acclimated to life abroad.

The living situation is quite good on campus. Room furniture is provided, along with housekeeping, bed linens, and laundry service for the provided bed linens, and a phone. Each floor has community bathrooms, which were kept clean. I happened to have a room at the top front of the castle, overlooking the ocean, which was breathtaking. Computer labs are conveniently located throughout the school to easily complete school work, or wireless is offered for use with personal laptops. Internet access is limited and must be paid for, if you go over your allowance. I had not trouble with this. I was able to complete my work and keep in touch with friends and family. I preferred spending time out and about. The food was also very good and the chefs did a great job catering to the diverse tastes of the international students. Eating everyday outside in the sunny weather was just lovely.

The fun never ends. Manly Beach is just a short walk down the hill. I went almost everyday to relax, swim, and surf. ICMS provides some sporting equipment, including surf boards, for students to use, and they offer a surfing lesson at orientation. Right by the beach is the Courso, filled with shops, restaurants, and bars. At the other end is the wharf, where you can catch the ferry to the heart of Sydney. Once there, you can walk or catch a bus or train to anywhere in Sydney, or take the train further for a weekend trip. The public transportation is excellent. It is clean, safe, and reliable. ICMS also has something going on almost every weekend in the way of excursions, for an extra fee, such as sky diving or surf safari. I went on the surf safari, where we went down the coast for the weekend to catch some great waves and get more surfing lessons. It was a great price and we had a great time.

Studying abroad anywhere is definitely different and comes with its own difficulties, but the overall experience is worth every penny and every moment. I had a little trouble adjusting to the grading in the classes. The grading scale is different and most classes offer grades for a minor project, major project, and a comprehensive final exam. They don't have all the busy work and quizzes and mid-term exams like American universities do. It is nice because it is less busy work, but difficult because there is less room for error on the few graded assignments. However, I found my professors were incredibly helpful and quite available to me if I had questions or needed help completing an assignment or studying for exams.

In the end, I ended up with memories and friends for a lifetime.

From September to December I felt like I was living in paradise. I lived in the Meriton Apartments at Broadbeach which I would 100% recommend. Living just a block from the beach and surrounded by shops, restaurants, and nightlife, one may not think it could get any better. But it did. Having two pools and two hot tubs, a gym right downstairs, and a cleaning service every Saturday made the accommodations more than I could ever have asked for. And lets not forget about school, there was conveniently located public transportation right next to the Meriton that would take us to Bond Uni in about fifteen minutes.

The TEAN Orientation was jam packed with exciting things to do that allowed us to explore all around Sydney. Between climbing the Sydney Harbor Bridge, seeing breathtaking views from the coastal walk to Bondi Beach, and landing at the Opera House at the end of the Amazing Race, I have memories that will never fade. My favorite part of Orientation was the Amazing Race. It forced us to get out of our comfort zone in a foreign place, talk to people, find our way around, use all different types of transportation we were not use to, bond as a team, and unfortunately, try Vegemite.

The TEAN staff was helpful from the start. From the moment I decided to study abroad, the TEAN number quickly landed on my speed dial. Once I was in Australia I was relieved that there were Resident Directors to guide us. They always had the answers to questions, were knowledgeable about the area, suggested great activities, and encouraged us to have the best experience possible.

My study abroad experience through TEAN bettered me as a friend, a traveler, a leader, and a student. I fully recommend every student to take advantage of the opportunities that lay right before their eyes.

I would highly recommend any other student to study in Shanghai through The Education Abroad Network (TEAN). I chose TEAN as my program provider for several reasons; namely, the amazing orientation in Beijing, the internship component and the fact we got to live in apartments. Let me tell you about the orientation in Beijing. We got to stay at the lavish Marriott hotel, with a pool and gym—basically it was a great way to meet everybody. A native tour guide showed us all the amazing sights Beijing has to offer—the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square, the Great Wall, etc. We also got to eat amazing food at the most well-known Beijing restaurants. After a five day orientation, we flew out to Shanghai, literally my favorite city in the world. Shanghai is a blend of so many cultures. There is every type of restaurant, clothing store, electronic center, and what not available. The city is so fast paced—it never gets boring! TEAN, unlike many other programs, offers an internship opportunity. Having work experience in China has improved my resume drastically. It also opened up my eyes to the many opportunities out there. Aside from my internship, I got to also take classes at Fudan, one of China’s top universities. Having the chance to sit in a classroom with China’s top students is absolutely invaluable. Overall—my trip to Shanghai was life changing. I would recommend anyone to travel with TEAN, whether to China or one of their other locations!

The International College of Management in Sydney is one of the best schools in the New South Wales area. Not only is the staff and faculty friendly and helpful, but the student body and its diversity in students and personalities guided me to some life's most important decisions: how to have fun! The academics are rigorous, but well worth it. In today's competitive work environment, I still mention projects and learnings from my class time at ICMS. The social scene is awesome since the college offers many extracurricular activities and school-wide outings. I would recommend this school to anyone who is looking for an academic and social challenge. Did I mention the housing overlooks Manly Beach?

I had a fantastic experience studying abroad at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia through the great help of AustraLearn. AustraLearn was very supportive throughout my time abroad as well as organized prior to my trip. They also helped transfer my credits smoothly from uni to uni post studying abroad. I had a really wonderful time studying at QUT. My dance classes and rehearsals were very challenging both physically and mentally. I loved having the opportunity to perform in Brisbane through QUT. I'm really glad I had the chance to travel throughout Australia as well as surrounding countries such as Fiji and New Zealand. I meet some really wonderful people as well which made my study abroad experience unforgettable.

This was a wonderful experience! I met so many lifelong friends and had a great cultural experience. From the week-long orientation to the planned trips throughout the semester, I never felt alone and always had something to do!

Everything about my study abroad was WONDERFUL! The school and location perfectly fit my needs. If I ever needed help, someone was always there to guide me. Orientation was amazing and it helped me find comfort in my surroundings. The people you meet at orientation are your support system! Make sure to take advantage of them because they are there to help you make the best of your study abroad opportunity! If you start to feel homesick, don't worry! Keep in touch with your family back home and make a new family abroad! Everyone is extremely friendly and would love to talk to you. I would not have done anything different (except maybe stay another semester)! I enjoyed every moment of my time in Australia. Make sure to take advantage of EVERY opportunity that is presented to you! Even if you are afraid, remember that the things you are most scared of are usually the ones that are most worth while!

If I could give a piece of advice, it would be to PACK LIGHT and ENJOY!

I would definitely recommend studying at USP in Suva, Fiji. The people are so nice and welcoming and the culture is so unique and fun to experience. Not to mention the islands are beautiful, pictures do not even do it justice. Suva City is a very easy city to navigate, with bus systems at just 70 Fijian cents a bus ride. You meet people from many surrounding islands. It is overall a very eye opening experience and I miss it soooooooooo much. STUDY IN FIJI!

My time at UQ was amazing. I took four classes, but only had class Monday to Thursday. Because the Australian academic system is different, there was much less "homework" time, and I therefore had more free time to explore Brisbane and travel. My living experience at Urbanest in Brisbane really enhanced the international experience, which was set up by AustraLearn, too. The general friendliness of everyone involved, both with the program and on campus, really completed the experience.