<p>I am a recent US high school graduate and I'm now spending an academic year as an exchange student in Austria. I am very interested in getting a degree in History from a school down under. Do any of you have experience with Australian Universities? I am specifically interested in the U. of Queensland. I'm not really looking for the BEST university... I'm more interested in atmosphere and a nice, low, living cost. </p>
<p>I am also open to universities outside of Australia, but they have to use English and the main language of instruction. Once again, reasonable cost and a good atmosphere are the most important to me. Does anyone know of universities (other than in the UK) that fit this bill? I was looking into some Middle Eastern colleges, but I'm having some difficulty finding what I'm looking for.</p>
<p>Can't go wrong with Melbourne University...
Melbourne = voted the best city in the world every year for quite some time now hehe</p>
<p>I haven't really heard of University of Queensland, but if you aren't really interested in going to the BEST university, then I guess that would be fine</p>
<p>I've looked at Central Queensland U and U of the Sunshine Coast. Both seemed worse than the community college in my hometown. I decided to stay in the US for education, but Australia really is awesome. I also looked at the University of Sydney, which I was indifferent about. I didn't bother applying to Melbourne because my SATs (the old version) were not as high as the requirement.</p>
<p>Whatever happens- do not apply for the University of Tasmania. It really is a joke! Anyone would get in and I know it personally to be .... crap!</p>
<p>Have you looked at Monash University and the Australian National Uni?</p>
<p>monash and ANU are great ....... and their requirement is also comp. low . As per their recent global rankings, they figure in top 50 of the world</p>
<p>I haven't looked into those, but I'll get right on it. Thanks for the warning about U. of Tasmania... I was interested in it because it is the cheapest I found and cost is kind of an important factor.</p>
<p>I live in Tasmania. I'm using uni-melb as a safety next year because I have the scores for entry. I live next to Utas and its relatively cheap compared to other uni's but it really depends on what your after. The nightlife isn't too good but people are soo nice and the place is just peaceful and sexy. I think the UK rankings guide ranked it 180 or something in world which is quite dodgy. Most people who can go somewhere else go somewhere else. Like almost all of your 99+ TER score students are on the mainland. The atmosphere is way beyond relaxed- almost non existent. Many people turn up only for only for assignment dates, tests and exams. Having said that- it is quite easy to get top honours here so that could be an advantage.
If you need anything else just pm me. </p>
<p>Oh and smartmind- rankings are misleading- I know some will disagree with me but with the UK rankings- there is no way Uni Melb is as good as Cornell uni.</p>
<p>I'm at Uni Melb, and just thought if your looking for atmosphere its probably the second best in Melbourne with Monash University having a very active student life. Unfortunately Australian university clubs are about to lose much of their funding with VSU. However for atmosphere off campus, Queensland is the way to go imo, its the beach party state, and people are relaxed and fun. Depends what sort of person you are however, for atmosphere though I can say that ANU has gotta be one of the WORST in the world. Canberra the city in which it is located is really ****ty, stay away! Anyways all the best and hope you end up at the funnest university.... haha.</p>
<p>This is simple. Check out Bond University in the Gold Coast of Australia. It boasts a top-notch academic reputation and the best surfing in the world.</p>
<p>I agree with Kjoodles... the UK ranking is not a good reflection at all... I mean, what?! NUS is better than some of the ivy-league colleges? You got to be kidding me... But then, Tasmania is such an awesome place. I've seen pictures of it... and how I wish I was born there.</p>
<p>I've got a classmate who've been to Tasmania before for an education and he said that he literally wasted thousands and thousands of dollars on the nightlife alone... GOSH!!</p>
<p>To the original poster: perhaps you may want to check out Singapore... I think it's pretty interesting for foreigners, albeit definitely not for Singaporeans/Malaysians... bah. Singapore is pretty diverse and you can pretty much find major ethnic groups in Singapore, when it is sooo small... around 630 km sq if I am not wrong.</p>
<p>Cmon Kenyon your not giving a foreigner good advice here, I'd say that Hobart nightlife is a step down from Canberra nightlife. It may be good by some standards but its nothing on Melb, Syd or Brisb. Yeah I'd second Bond University that would probably be one of the most fun Unis in Aust oww and is it Macquaire thats near Northern beaches in Sydney?</p>
<p>Perhaps, but I wasnt saying that Hobart's nightlife is better than Canberra's nightlife because I have no idea on how it's like. :p Just that my friend told me he sort of spent a LOT of money while studying at Tasmania.</p>
<p>This thread is quite old so i dont know if we are of any use to you now. Queensland is not a bad university, it has pretty buildings and is set on the river. Brisbane is much cheaper than sydney of melbourne as far as living costs go. Tropical climate with mountains and beach nearby.</p>
<p>I am located in Sydney (and majoring in History) so feel free to ask about sydney uni's.
For history majors i would deffinately back up the Melbourne Uni suggestion. Sydney uni is great for history too, as is Macquarie University. You could also look into the University of Western Australia, i have never been there but i know perth is cheaper than other cities and it has beautiful beaches.</p>