<p>I'm looking to study abroad in Australia but cannot decide where to go within the country. Could someone compare the different regions and/or Universities?</p>
<p>As an Australian student I let you know that your best bet is probably looking towards the two major cities, Melbourne and Sydney. Whilst our national capital Canberra has Australian National University which is highly regarded and is generally ranked in the top 3 universities in aus, it’s hard to pass up on what Sydney and in particular Melbourne have to offer. </p>
<p>University of New South Wales is a sure bet in Sydney, large campus and not too far from the cbd. However as a Melbourne boy myself I can’t help but have a bit of bias (even though I think it is justified) in saying that in terms of liveability, education and the overall experience Melbourne has it. </p>
<p>Your 3 best bets in Melbourne are;</p>
<p>University of Melbourne - Often takes no. 1 spot on the Australian rankings list, sensational arts subjects and college halls. Right near the CBD but also surrounded by parks.</p>
<p>Monash University - A newer university in comparison to Uni Melb, however it has been on the rise since it’s inception. Highly acclaimed for it’s international programs and job prospects not to mention sensational on campus lifestyle and a true college campus feeling. One of the top ranked universities.</p>
<p>Deakin University - In melbourne and, if your looking for a quieter town to reside in, Geelong which is a city by the bay one hour from Melbourne. A well organised international study program and modern facilities with a growing rapport amongst academics and a student body increasing rapidly. </p>
<p>Have a look at those, let me know what you think I’d be interested to hear.</p>
<p>djamieson - do happen to know which, if any of these are better, for engineering/physics/ math studies. We’re looking for a semester abroad and would like to keep on track.</p>
<p>socal2bama - </p>
<p>If you’re looking at engineering/physics/maths I would recommend you to have a look at Melbourne University. Melbourne uni has always been considered one of the best for those disciplines and their university structure will most likely to make it easier for an exchange student.</p>
<p>As opposed to nearly all other Australian universities, Melb Uni offers just 6 generalist undergrad options (arts, biodmedicine, science etc.) whilst nearly all other universities in Australia offer hundreds of specific entry level degrees. Because of this generalist style you should be able to find the subjects you want to study alot easier, i’ve heard from exchange students that the Melbourne model makes it much easier to set up your subjects.</p>
<p>You should also have a look at RMIT university in Melbourne. It is right in the city centre and is well known for its credibility with employers. Its very much career orientated and doesn’t encompass the normal campus/college lifestyle, however would look very impressive on your CV.</p>
<p>I’m an Australian as well, and here’s my two cents.</p>
<p>It doesn’t really matter which university you attend for a study abroad in terms of academic rigor - I’m guessing that you’re coming to Australia to experience a different culture and perhaps to explore the environment. I could be wrong, but none of the universities in Australia really measure up to HYPMS academically for undergraduate (and all of those would offer programs closer to home). That said, the most rigorous universities in Australia are the Group of 8 Universities. These are scattered across the country, but most are in the south east. I’d say that Melbourne, Sydney and ANU have the strongest reputations academically out of all of the universities - some of the assessment that I’ve seen at other universities is questionable. </p>
<p>Go for the city or region of Australia that feels right for you and matches your interests. The northern end of Australia is very tropical, but if you study up there, you’ll probably be in a small town and you’ll be a long way away from any major cities. The centre of Australia is desert, and that’s probably most accessible from Adelaide or Perth, but you can always get a flight somewhere if you want to go exploring. Canberra is small, and the nightlife isn’t as varied as what you’d find in Melbourne or Sydney, but it’s very much so a bush capital. The ANU’s right next to a mountain and the national botanic gardens, and if you have access to a car, it’s very easy to escape into the countryside (this is much harder in Melbourne or Sydney). Canberra also has a lot of national institutions, like parliament…</p>
<p>I can’t tell you much about Sydney aside from the fact that the harbour’s beautiful, but you can probably find a lot out about it on wikipedia or something. Although Sydney’s the largest city in Australia, Melbourne’s not far behind, and Melbourne has a much more european/artsy/athletic culture. If you like clubbing, laneways, good food and the performing arts, Melbourne will probably match your interests. Melburnians are also fanatics about sport - try getting anything done on the Grand Final weekend or on Melbourne Cup Day. </p>
<p>In terms of the universities, all of the G8 universities are huge (Monash has 50,000 students or something) except for ANU, which is a bit larger than somewhere like Yale (it has about 8,000 undergraduates and a similar number of postgrads). If you want to go out and about often, I’d advise against somewhere like Monash, as it’s so far away from the city and you’d have to get several modes of public transport to get in there. UNSW, ANU, UniMelb and USyd are all pretty close to their respective city centres. UNSW isn’t well known for pure science though, but it’s probably the best university in Australia for engineering.</p>
<p>Thank you all so very much. I am leaning towards Melbourne but I still need to do more research.</p>
<p>Good idea to keep up the research rdh1991, however I think I can say with confidence that you won’t regret Melbourne Uni.</p>
<p>How about University of Queensland/QUT or schools in the Gold Coast?</p>
<p>Bump this topic for QUT.
Interested in Film productions study there</p>
<p>Must add a little bit of love for the University of Sydney (USYD)! It’s a fabulous uni, great campus life, beautiful buildings (especially if you love harry potter!) and lots of leafy, green lawns to hang out with friends. Not to mention the great academic opportunities on offer as well.</p>
<p>Sydney itself is a fantastic city with plenty of events on. Plus USYD is pretty much 2 minutes from the city centre, if not already there. Darling Harbour and Circular Quay are of course the great tourist spots and they’re only a short train trip away from the campus. It’s worthwhile to consider!</p>
<p>Can you tell me anything about Wollongong and it’s University?</p>
<p>I studied abroad in Sydney Australia and I must say it was amazing. So great It made me decide to create a blog on the studying abroad experience and a few articles about things I learned while in Australia to promote the experience of studying abroad in Australia. </p>
<p>I would second the idea of staying in the two major cities Melbourne and Sydney when it comes to finding a uni. In my option the two cities offer a great wealth of contracting experiences. If I had to give it a comparison it would be Sydney is the New York of while Melbourne is more of a San Francisco vibe.</p>
<p>This is a question for those with a knowledge of how the educational systems in the US and Australia compare. DD, a senior in HS, is seriously considering applying to vet schools in Australia, specifically Sydney and Murdoch/Perth. Academically she isn’t at the US elite university level, but will do well in most state Universities - SAT 1900s, a few APs 3-4. We are trying to assess if she will be a good fit there with these credentials. Does anyone know if there are any prep materials for ISAT, and what a decent score is to qualify for these schools?</p>
<p>She plans to go to a US university this coming fall, but with an eye on getting to Sydney/Murdoch in Feb 2013 at the start of their year if she gets admitted, and we would like to know if there are differences in teaching and grading that would be significant for a US HS educated student.</p>
<p>Can someone who knows about these schools please comment?</p>
<p>@ dad of 3 . I think your daughter will do fine. As long as she has the work ethic she will be okay. The Australian school system is very similar to the american school system. With those qualification of taking AP classes she has proven she can take on a heavy workload. The first few year of college are a repeat of what you learned in high school anyway by this time she would have been able to adapt.</p>
<p>Does anyone know of someone that is first hand living and studying in Australia currently?</p>
<p>I am looking to get more information about the Universities from a current student. Maybe even a guide for a tour when I arrive?</p>
<p>Thanks</p>