IFSA: University of Melbourne Partnership

My semester in Australia with IFSA's program at the University of Melbourne was one of the best of my life. IFSA's staff is incredibly helpful in ensuring that we have all the support we need, whenever we might need it. I tend to be a pretty independent person and didn't rely too much on their help, but it was always extremely comforting to know that our advisors in the city would be there if anything did come up. IFSA also facilitates a lot of fun excursions and trips for those who want to get to know the cohort a bit better.

While Sydney is the most famous Australian city to global audiences, there are numerous reasons to pick Melbourne. Sydney is beautiful (it has its harbor, the opera house, the bridge), but Melbourne is (in my opinion) the better city to live in. Melbourne has been ranked the most livable city in the world by The Economist for seven years in a row--and for good reason. The transit options are fantastic, the nightlife is vibrant (with none of the lock-out laws that inhibit Sydney's nightlife), and the arts and culture are endless. Sydney is Australia's financial hub, but Melbourne is known for its artistic side. It is phenomenally easy to get around, including by foot, and also has more to offer in terms of good food and music.

The University of Melbourne is a great place to study as an exchange student. The university has several support systems in place for students from abroad, including a course registration help center that is extremely easy to use. There is also an exchange student club on campus called MUSEx, which organizes a lot of pub crawls, parties, and trips that are all really fun. I enjoyed getting to know students from all over the world through such programming.

In terms of academics, I found the coursework at UniMelb to be engaging, but far less stressful than my classes back home. You are only allowed to take up to four classes, and I chose two in urban design/architecture and two in Indigenous Studies. I got to know 3 of my 4 professors very well and still keep in touch with them regularly! I also interned at a small urban design consultancy in Melbourne, through which I got to know a lot about Australian governance, culture, and design. I loved working with local colleagues and partaking in office activities a few times per week!

Beyond that, my semester in Melbourne afforded my many opportunities to travel, and I ended up having many of the most amazing travel experiences of my life, including skydiving over the Whitsundays, scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, biking around Uluru and Rottnest Island, driving the Great Ocean Road, and many more! I could not more highly recommend a semester in Melbourne!

The IFSA program at the University of Melbourne was an incredible experience. We had a pre-orientation in Sydney where we were able to meet other students studying through IFSA and our IFSA staff member who would be with us in Melbourne. This was an amazing way to start my study abroad experience. I was able to feel more comfortable meeting new people and exploring a new place. Though I only lived with a few of the IFSA students I became friendly with a handful of them and would often meet up with them to get dinner. The IFSA staff member, Lindsay, was also an amazing resource to have. It was nice to know that I had someone who I could go to with questions or if I needed support. I remember taking a really hard Linear Algebra final and immediately meeting Lindsay and a few other IFSA students after at a cafe and having coffee. It was a nice way to de stress. Overall, the program was incredibly supportive and it enhanced my Melbourne experience!

Although what I am about to say is the most cliché saying associated with study abroad, I cannot stress enough how much important study abroad was to me - it truly did change me. In Australia, I was able to foster a way of life that is most appealing and satisfying to me, a way of life that is very different from the American lifestyle. It was validating for me to leave America and see people living their lives in ways I more closely identify with because not identifying with the American lifestyle can be extremely disheartening, especially when we are made to believe that a certain way of life is the only option. Living overseas taught me about my priorities, my flexibility, my work ethic, and so much more. IFSA-Butler's program in Melbourne was supportive yet offered space for student discretion. My goal for study abroad was to become as immersed in Melbourne's community and culture as possible, so I appreciated and utilized the freedom IFSA provided. However, this means that students who attend this program must be proactive, adventurous, and flexible because the experience is truly what you make of it. Students who do not plan to explore beyond the resources provided by IFSA will have a less plentiful experience because the most organic, enjoyable adventures I had in Melbourne took some digging to uncover. One thing I did abroad that helped me with my immersion was work in a local cafe. Working helped me make Aussie friends and really get to know Melbourne's community. I know it sounds silly to say that getting a job was one of the best things I did during my study away, but it really was because I was able to feel like a true Melbournian.