TEAN: Study Abroad in Newcastle, Australia

The Education Abroad Network made preparing to study abroad easy! They were always just an email or phone call away before and during my semester abroad. At the University of Newcastle I joined two student organizations that really defined my experience and made it unforgettable. In the Newcastle University Mountaineering Club I met a bunch of really cool Australians that were welcoming and willing to teach others. The University of Newcastle Exchange Student Network was great for meeting students from Australia and all over the world.

The Education Abroad Network provided great support and made it easy to get adjusted to a new city, new housing and everything else that comes with studying abroad! My favorite part about my study abroad experience was the university clubs and student organizations that I joined. The Newcastle University Mountaineering Club offered great, cheap, beginner trips that were easy to sign up for! They were super welcoming and usually had new international students joining every semester! It was a great way to get outside and see more of the Australian countryside that I otherwise wouldn't have had the chance to see. I also joined the University of Newcastle Exchange Student Network where I met students from around the world and attended local events like a boat tour, beach days, winery tour and hiking trips!

Studying abroad through TEAN was the best experience of my life. The University of Newcastle was so welcoming and the campus is absolutely beautiful. The Samdon St Housing made it so easy to make local friends. The housing was also super close to cafes, shops, the grocery store, and public transportation. It was a prime location.

TEAN also did a good job of planning excursions such as Bondi Surf Lessons and a night at the Sydney Opera house.

Newcastle, Australia is my new home away from home. Between the people I lived with and the places to go it has everything I need to be happy in life. I loved spending time going to Nobby's beach and walking down the break-wall to the light house. Not only is there so much fun to be in had in Newcastle but the surrounding areas as well. Port Stephens is a great area. There are some incredibly beautiful beaches and hikes. But, if you are looking for a really cool day trip in the area Caves beach is the place to go.

One of the wonderful experiences I have enjoyed while abroad in Newcastle, was on a Saturday that a local market was open. This market allowed me to access Newcastle's local culture in design & style as well as listening to local musicians and eating local foods. I attended this market with a few of my housemates both Australians and Americans. They were able to inform me on some of Newcastle's very interesting facts and some of their personal interesting facts. I felt very connected with Newcastle cultural and socially.

Study abroad in Newcastle, Australia was the best decision of my life! From the food, to the people, to my classes, to the beaches-- there isn't a single complaint I have about my time abroad.

I loved attending the University of Newcastle! The classes were interesting and challenging, but not at all overwhelming, which allowed for time to explore such a beautiful part of the country. There are organizations on campus for international students, too, that allow students to meet other students and explore the country. One of these organizations brought us on a wine tour in the Hunter Valley.The region is so incredibly beautiful and I was thankful for the opportunity to do something so fun! The campus was beautiful, as well, with lots of trees and wildlife. I was able to live on campus in a dorm, with 5 other Australians, and it was a blast! I truly was able to learn about and immerse myself in Australian culture.

Going through TEAN was also the best decision I could have made. The staff are super, super supportive and helpful through the entire process, before you leave, when you're abroad, and even once you return! They made the process of studying abroad a lot less stressful and made sure that everyone had an incredible experience!

My biggest piece of advice is to just GO FOR IT! Study abroad, and go to Newy! It will be the best time of your life, I promise. I didn't believe it when people would tell me study abroad changed their life. But I can say for certain now, it absolutely changed my whole outlook on life, and it's worth it to go abroad!

During my time abroad I became a more independent and confident person. I believe that going to Australia on my own was a huge factor in this. It forced me to really put myself out there in meeting new people and being adventurous. The entire experience abroad was absolutely worthwhile and I would recommend doing it through the Education Abroad Network to anyone. They made the entire process simple and painless. Living in Australia for 5 months was truly life changing. I am so thankful I took advantage of the oppourtunity to do it during my college education!

The Education Abroad Network was immensely thoughtful in the way everything was organized from the time I applied to the program to this day. Choosing Newcastle as my location was a great decision. It was more affordable than living in some of the bigger cities, allowed me to befriend locals, and it was conveniently located near the city, the beach, and campus. My favorite three pieces to my time abroad were the pre-semester trips (orientation in Sydney and the pre-semester excursion in Cairns), the Uni soccer team that I joined, and living with Australians which provided me with a cultural experience I feel some of my friends that studied elsewhere did not have the opportunity to meet as many locals on a personal level.