My Exchange at The University of Sydney
I found out about the 360 international exchange program at the introduction seminar back in 2021, after hearing about the experiences of previous students and having my questions answered I was on board. I arrived just before semester 2 of the following year started, as I lived in the east, I had to travel a fair amount of time from the airport. I was impressed by the efficiency of airport public transport as well as the size of the city.
I originally had short-term accommodation at the east coast while I was looking for longer-term accommodation options. I eventually found a flat in central, only 15 minutes walking distance from the university. The location was much more convenient, and it had a gym and swimming pool. The cost of living was the same for both accommodations, I would say it was slightly more expensive than living in Auckland, if I compared it to my friends the rent would be roughly $50 – 100 more. I had a budget set out so I didn’t eat out as much as I would in Auckland and cooked almost all my meals. That being said, there were so many food options, be it Thai, Chinese, Japanese, or Mexican, there were always places I wanted to try out.
The courses there were run very similarly to the University of Auckland. There were weekly lectures and tutorials. The assignments were more lenient than I was used to, they were quite lenient with due dates as 5-day extensions were able to be requested without question. One lecturer was happy to give us more time for our final group report, and it was very helpful as all my courses had assignments due that week and my other group members were in the same boat.
Extracurricular activities were very available and welcoming, in the orientation week there was a range of clubs, even more than UoA offers, a few interesting ones such as Cat Cafe Club and Quidditch Club. There was a Civil Engineering Club that I joined and went to a few events. My highlight was everyone I talked to commenting on my accent and even meeting people who have lived in Auckland. I also did join the Mahjong Club in UTS, this was probably my favourite club as everyone there was so welcoming, and as I have a lot of Hong Kong friends I had always wanted to learn more about Mahjong.
My advice to any students looking to do an exchange is to attend all the orientation seminars and at least one club. It’s a good way to meet other exchange students and they’ll also be like you, eager to meet new people as they’re in a new place.
Q&A
What were some of the highlights of the academic experience at your host university?
A notable highlight for me was taking naps in the sleeping pods inside the library.
Would you recommend any particular activity/activities unique to your host country or university?
I would recommend visiting the beaches, Sydney is filled with them!
What are your top 3 tips for future students attending your host university or going on exchange to your host country?
1) Explore the city before university starts
2) Join university clubs
3) Connect with other exchange students
How much did you budget for your exchange? Was this enough? Were there any lessons learned that would help future students budget for their own exchange?
I budgeted around 325 for weekly rent and 100 for weekly food. This was enough for the necessities and I learned that you can eat cheap and healthy by buying in bulk and meal prepping in advance.
What are your most significant takeaways from your experience abroad?
It was my first time living overseas alone so there were challenges and responsibilities, definitely taking care of myself is a big takeaway.
Tags: 2022, Engineering, Report