University of New South Wales (UNSW)

There are a huge number of classes offered at UNSW, but you must make sure when choosing classes that they are offered during the semester you will be there. The study abroad office is EXCELLENT, they will do anything they can to help you get the classes you need and anything else you would need. I suggest GENS 0501 The Marine Enviornment, very easy but at the same time interesting and you get to take field trips for some hands on learning.

Out of 4 classes I only had one final. The rest of the classes were either an in class test or final papers. The final either paper or exam is worth a significant percentage of the grade and can be very difficult. (My Economics final exam was worth 60% of my final grade in the class and most papers are worth 30-50% of your final grade)

Everything is very expensive in Australia. The telephone service I used the entire time was a pre-paid mobile phone, which cost 25 cents per minute for a local call, and calling cards which you could use from a pay phone and would cost you approximately 2 cents per minute (to call the US) I strongly recommend getting Skype as you can use it at internet cafes or if you get the internet in your residence. The housing was expensive but definitely worth it, it was $200 AUD per week for our house per person, but it was very nice and only 2 blocks from the ocean. Nightlife is very expensive compared to the normal University town in America, for a mixed drink (ie. Bourbon and Coke) you will pay between 6 and 9 AUD and for a pint of beer it will be between 4 and 8 AUD. The travel is expensive but well worth it, try to use Jetstar and Virgin Blue as they are much cheaper than flying Qantas. For the food, you should look out for bars that offer $5 steak night (Five-0 in Coogee offers very moderately priced meals 5-9 AUD) these aren't the best steaks but they are good and the portions are large.

I went not knowing a thing, and I feel that going in with no expectations made me enjoy the trip even more.

I would recommend this University over the other Sydney universities as the location is very good and the campus life and activity is excellent.

If I were to return I would again live in a house in Coogee. The university owns many properties in this area and it is absolutely gorgeous. My house was with 6 other students and we lived within 2 blocks of the beach and a 15 minute walk to campus. Living on campus would not be a bad option at all and you would meet the most Australian students there and it is a very fun atmosphere, but I enjoyed living on my own in a house and I feel I gained a lot from doing that as well. There isn't a bad choice between on-campus and off campus but if going off campus Coogee is definitely the place to be.