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East Coast Australia with My Adventure Project (MAP)
By Emma Pitcher, University of Western Australia Perth, Australia In my summer holidays in Australia, I decided to use MAP to travel the east coast. You’ll find that there are so many different options for travel agencies but I recommend that you consider budget, the itinerary, and reviews. Some tours offer guided tours (you’re in a group with a tour guide the whole time), which is more expensive. This might be ideal if you are solo and particularly nervous about travelling alone. Personally, I don’t consider a tour guide necessary which is one of the reasons I chose MAP. It has group tours that usually run cheaper than most “guided”…
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Academic Life at UWA
By Emma Pitcher, University of Western Australia Perth, Australia Compared to the University of Manchester, UWA is pretty similar in terms of academic life. You pick 4 units per semester. As an international student, you have to submit your unit choices to have them approved (choose units related to your degree and that have prerequisites you have). Make sure to discuss with your academic advisor as to what level units you should be picking. Each semester I chose two level 3 units, one level 2 unit, and one level 1 unit. My level 1 unit I treated as my “elective”, aka I did an intro level unit on anything that…
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Souvenirs from Sydney: Lessons from a Year Abroad
By Valentina Calcagni, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia About a year ago, I was anxiously scrolling through this very blog page looking for advice on being in Australia for a year – or perhaps something to convince me that signing up to leaving the continent was in fact a good idea. I remember coming across one blog post in particular. It was written by a girl looking back on her time in Sydney, which was coming to an end. In every photo, she was smiling; every other sentence, a classic blog-post line— “it’s gone so fast,” “it’s been the best year of my life.” As I read through her adventures,…
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Perth to Exmouth Road trip
By Emma Pitcher, University of Western Australia Perth, Australia In the September break, a group of us decided to road trip from Perth to Exmouth. This was one of the best experiences in my life so if you’re heading to WA, I highly recommend it! Go outside of Aussie summer as it gets very hot up north! This blog covers our itinerary, plus any recommendations 🙂 We hired a Britz van for 9 days which fit four people, but we were also travelling as a part of a larger group of about 20 people. Day 1 – Perth & Jurien Bay The first day involved getting to the van hire…
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Sydney: A Year Abroad in Review
By Joe Ashby, University of Sydney, Australia It’s difficult to put into words how incredible my year abroad experience in Australia was. It is also a near impossible task to succinctly encapsulate this adventure in a mere 500 words; however, this blog will attempt to do so.
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Residential Life at the University of Western Australia
By Emma Pitcher, University of Western Australia Perth, Australia Similarly to universities at home in the UK, UWA offers several accommodation options that are near the campus grounds. Obviously, which one you pick depends on your preferences, budget, etc… however, after my first semester I can provide my own recommendations! Something I found to be severely lacking when I initially began my UWA research. First off, there are 5 different colleges to choose from: University Hall, Trinity Residential College, St Thomas More College, St George’s College and St Catherine’s College. All the details on costs and what services they provide can be found on their respective websites but in this…
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How to Pack for a Year at ANU
by Alex Moore, Australian National University, Australia When it comes to packing, I definitely got caught up in thinking about Australia in the summer. However, as I have learnt, Canberra winters are no joke. When you arrive in July, it will be around 10-15 degrees, so you may want to reconsider packing your puffer. It may not sound as cold as the UK, but for some reason, the cold just hits differently out here (and their buildings aren’t as insulated as they are at home, which doesn’t help). The saving grace of winter is that it does not rain to the extent it does in Manchester (thankfully), and the showers…
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Packing for your year abroad
By Emma Pitcher, University of Western Australia Perth, Australia Now that I am approaching the end of my year abroad and am faced with the daunting task of packing… Here’s what you should and shouldn’t bring. I brought too much. In all fairness, when I was packing, I did have to consider if I would have enough for the whole year. But don’t overcomplicate it. Only bring what you need and actually wear. None of that “I’ll definitely wear this *insert item you’ve kept in the back of your wardrobe and never worn*.” And in terms what you need, make sure to include a coat, i.e., a raincoat (it doesn’t…
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A Wholesome Wine Tasting Day at Brindabella Hills
By Nina Vincent, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia If you’ve been in Canberra for more than a few months, you’ve probably had that feeling: you’ve been to the same brunch spots, walked around Lake Burley Griffin a few too many times, and you’re wondering what else there is to do that’s actually different. Cue: Brindabella Hills Winery. About a 30-minute drive from the city centre, this spot feels like a complete escape. Nestled in the foothills of the Brindabellas, the views alone are worth the trip — rolling vineyards, soft autumn light, and sweeping mountain ranges in every direction. It’s the perfect mix of peaceful, a little bit fancy, and still…
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Surviving in Sydney: Jobs, Budgets, and Expenses
By Joe Ashby, University of Sydney, Australia Sydney is an expensive place to live. There is no way around that. So, if you are considering going to Sydney for your year abroad, the best thing you can do is prepare and accept the fact you are going to take on some significant financial burdens during your time here.
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A love letter to Sydney 💌
By Nina Vincent, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia As my time in Australia comes to a close, one city stays with me more than any other: Sydney. It’s not just the harbour views or postcard-perfect beaches. It’s something harder to pin down a particular pace, a way of being. Sydney offers an ease that’s difficult to describe until you’ve lived inside it for a while.
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What It’s Really Like Going to a Festival in Australia ?
By Nina Vincent, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia If you’re a music lover, festival goer, or simply curious about what it’s like to party under the Aussie sun – this one’s for you. After spending nearly a year living in Australia as a UK exchange student, I’ve had the chance to experience a few festivals that honestly changed how I see live music events. Here’s what sets Aussie festivals apart, plus a few tips to help you make the most of the experience while you’re here. The Vibe: More Chilled, More Clean, More Respectful The first thing that struck me was the overall vibe. Australian festivals are much more chilled out.…
A study abroad journal by students, for students.
