IFSA - Study Abroad Programs in Australia

First and foremost, I would tell ANYONE signing up for study abroad to enroll ALONE. Do not go with your group of friends from home, or even your best friend from the same/another school for a multitude of reasons: conflict might arise and affect your relationship during and after the program, and sticking with people you already know eliminates the healthy social challenge of making NEW friends (both within IFSA and in Australia), the needs of one friend might limit those of the other(s), and going with people from home will likely enable you to reminisce about your home friends/home Uni and prevent you from full immersion abroad. I went entirely alone, and thankfully 95% of my program did, too. (Let’s just say, we had a much richer, bolder time abroad compared to those who came with a partner or two... or six...)

In orientation, we wake up in a hostile, eat breakfast, and begin the day with either a discussion about culture or a lecture on document/administrative-related tasks pertaining to IFSA and/or Uni Melbourne and/or UniLodge. Then, the rest of the day is spent touring Sydney and going to fun entertainment and/or the beach, or a even a walking tour! (While Sydney is BEAUTIFUL, don’t be dejected about signing up for MELBOURNE! The best is yet to come!)

After four days or so of orientation, we arrive at UniLodge in Melbourne. Then, we are briefed by the staff of the apartment building on rules/regulations, given our key, assigned roommates (which WILL work out, I promise!), and given the rest of the day to pack. Then, Uni Melb orientation begins, and we are given a tour of the campus and an opportunity to visit the outer-boroughs and city of Melbourne with our orientation group. This, of course, is led by a student one-year older from Uni Melbourne. It is important to join MUSEX for the free bar-crawl and invitations to events on campus with other international students of the Uni! After the first two weeks or so in Melbourne, the rest is really left to us!!

My biggest fear abroad was actually whether other people would come as friends already, as this happened to my cousin who toured with another university in Europe. Luckily, this was not the case, as everyone pretty much came independently of their friends from USA uni’s. I realized soon after landing in Australia that everyone had the SAME concerns!! The other members of the program are in the exact same boat, that is, in a new country, eager to solidify friendships... No one has an advantage over anyone else socially.

This question has an optimistic, but also cautious answer. Simply put, DO NOT LIMIT YOURSELF TO WHOM YOU SPEAK/BEFRIEND!! As for IFSA, befriend the people you might otherwise not have met had you not studied abroad... for instance, my friends are from all over the country... not a single one is from my home city! Respect others’ interests, as they will surely open you up to new bold experiences abroad! EVERYONE wants to stir a conversation, especially after hearing your American accent, so engage them, whether it be the barista, a fellow customer or concert-goer, or more! Feel free to make friendships with locals, but have your wits about you— don’t try anything that puts you or your health at risk... and always make arrangements with another IFSA buddy!

Best experience of my life!! I’ve grown so much— I’ve not only become a better listener (as I encountered many people who love to share their stories as much as I do!!), but I also learned to incorporate a variety of different people into my life— who expand my interests to things I might otherwise not pursue on my own!!

Several years ago, we had a Marine Science student who studied at James Cook University in Australia. The program did not offer any internship or research opportunities, but the student was looking for some kind of hands-on experience.

During her time abroad, our resident staff helped connect her with researchers studying flatback sea turtles. The student was able to participate in some groundbreaking research and even contributed to a paper that was accepted for a scientific journal. It was one of the first major student success stories I had heard after I started at IFSA and I was so impressed to see that our students could actually play a role in shaping the research future students would read.

I would, hands down, study on our University of Otago program in Dunedin, New Zealand. I was an English Literature major in college and Otago offers a fascinating array of Literature papers, and I'm always a little jealous of my students who get to sign up for classes like "Tartan Noir: Scottish Crime Fiction".

Our New Zealand resident staff also host some truly excellent excursions and co-curricular activities, like an overnight stay at a Māori marae during orientation, a visit to the Orokonui Ecosanctuary, and an overnight cruise on the Doubtful Sound. I'm not sure it gets much better than that!

I think IFSA's future-focused approach is what makes us unique. We aim to offer programming and support that sets students up to truly understand how their experiences can shape what they do beyond study abroad. And through our Exploring Community & Culture Class, and the introduction of our Global Flagships, we provide students with opportunities to consider their study experience in a global context. It's not just about having a successful semester in one location, but it's considering how that experience fits into the bigger picture.

I'm so proud to be a part of a team that not only creates these kinds of intercultural opportunities for students but also ensures to meet each student where they are in order to take advantage of the opportunities in front of them. Success looks different for every student!

Communication. In order to be successful, we need to be prepared to listen to each other and listen to our students. We need to engage in discourse, consider conflicting opinions, and be prepared to try new things when necessary. If the lines of communication are open and we are willing to listen to what others have to say, everyone benefits in the long run.