ISA Study Abroad in Brisbane, Australia

As a research university, UQ offers some pretty neat topics. I chose UQ to be a part of the world-leading hypersonics research and it's been a great experience! The people of Queensland are very welcoming and lovely, always there to offer assistance if you're lost or just to say hi! Outside of school, there are enough activities to keep you busy for quite some time! My program was 10 months and I'm already dreading leaving and wondering why I chose such a quick program. In my time here, I've been to the Great Barrier Reef, Whitsunday Islands, Surfers Paradise, Sunshine Coast, Lamington National Forest...saw some glow worms, plenty of kangaroo, and can't get enough of the koalas. Don't be afraid of the spiders - they eat the pesky gnats ;) I'd suggest this place to anyone looking to further studies, especially in UQ's research backgrounds! Cheers! And thank you, Australearn, for making my first study-abroad program so easy :)

When I left my hometown to experience a new culture and country I never felt scared or worried about how I would settle once I arrived. The AustraLearn Program made me feel at home before I even left the States. By having a group flight leave to Australia from Los Angeles, I immediately met students from all over the country who were ready for the adventure like me. I was able to share my thoughts, dreams, and goals with the people who were feeling the same way.

Of course when you first think of Australia, the first things that pop into most peoples minds are kangaroos, the Great Barrier Reef, and adventure. The support staff was there 110% and I was able to understand exactly what I was going to expect during my first week at Orientation in Cairns, Queensland. With the help of AustraLearn, I was able to do all the typical tourist “Aussie” things within my first 5 days of being there! By having orientation in a different place than our planned city, I was able to experience a different part of Australia that I would have had to travel to on a different date. The first week was full of adventure including a day trip to snorkel/dive the Great Barrier Reef, pet Kangaroos, view the Rainforest at Rainforest Station, and I even was able to give back to the land by spending an afternoon replenishing trees in the tropics.

Once the week of Orientation was said and done, we were finally flown to our new homes for the semester. I instantly fell in love with my new apartment in an area in Brisbane known as South Bank. I lived with a few American students from my program, which made the transition to life in Australia much easier. I was a half a block away from all the city transportation which made my journey to school quite easy every day. The 109 Bus took a 15 min ride right into the University of Queensland, the most beautiful campus in all seasons.

My schooling was different than the American system but I loved it just the same. The campus is quite large but the Great Court is absolutely stunning. When I arrived on campus I immediately felt at home. There was always something to do and there are so many student run groups that no matter what your hobby is, UQ will welcome you with open arms. My biggest regret of studying abroad? Not doing it for a full year. When my time was up, I wasn’t ready to leave. The city, the schooling, the people. They were fantastic and I wouldn’t change a thing.

The thing that I love most about QUT is how hands on my courses are. At my home university, my course meets 2 or 3 times a week for lectures, but at QUT, we meet once a week for an hour lecture, and then another time for a 2 to 3 hour tutorial/workshop. It gives me an opportunity to really master the skills that I'm learning in my lectures, and challenges me to broaden my knowledge on the subject. It's a great setting to be in being a Graphic Design major.

I enjoyed living in the city and walking to QUT everyday. The campus sits right on the edge of a HUGE botanical garden... absolutely beautiful. I would sit out there for lunch breaks and stroll through after class. Almost everyday I would walk through the Queen Street Mall just down the street from campus. It was always bustling with street performers, cute cafes, and lovely boutiques.

I had a great time in my classes, the teachers were helpful and supportive when I had questions. The facilities were always clean and up to date. The library has a ton of computers and printing capabilities which was helpful.

I loved my experience at QUT, I met a ton of super nice people that I will stay friends with for the rest of my life. The Australian community is welcoming and friendly.