study abroad experience - Australia

My study abroad
experience
Australien – Gold Coast
Who:
Where:
Stefanie Strauß
Southern Cross University
When: 25. 02. – 14. 06. 2019

Why study on the other side of the world?
If you want to be the furthest away from your home University, Australia would be the
country you have to choose to study, but seriously, of course, there are many other
reasons to study in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. For me, it was
primarily important to study in a country in which my previous poor English would
improve through speaking with the locals. Also, traveling and discovering has always
been a part of my life. So, it didn´t take long for me to make my decision to go to
Australia, one of the most gorgeous countries I have traveled so far.
Travel preparations
As it was not until late November 2018 that I decided to start my study abroad
program which began in February 2019, I can only describe my preparations as
chaotic, hectic and stressful. I can only recommend to anyone who wants to start this
little adventure, don’t do it like I did and get started as soon as you can with your
preparations, unless you like stress. Besides, there wasn't much time between
departure and the start of my new studying period in Australia, because the
Australian trimester (4 months) overlaps with the German semester (6 months).
A big help for me was Gostralia! https://www.gostralia.de/, they supported me in
choosing my university and made the first contact with my final university. They also
informed me about all relevant processes and were only a phone call away for any
question. There was also a lot of support from Professor Kolev and the international
offices from my home and partner university. The financial support from the
PROMOS scholarship made my stay a lot easier as well. Thanks a lot for this!

In the beginning, I had some doubts if and when my visa would be confirmed. The
application was quite extensive, but after only 3 days of waiting, $AU 580 less in my
bank account and an incredibly cheap flight for €380, I was one step closer to my
dream. For the duration of my studies, I was insured through BUPA health insurance
(cost: $AU 252).
In comparison to Germany, Australia is technically far ahead of us. Thus, for
example, payment transactions in Australia are carried out almost exclusively by
credit card. Even at the little street markets, I could easily pay via pay wave for my
ice cream, without having to listen to “card only from € 10”. Fortunately, one of my
friends recommended me the free credit card by DKB before I flew out. To be on the
safe side, I applied for an international driver's license, but no one wanted to see my
cute face in the document so far .
So far, so good – in the end, everything worked out perfectly for me and I started 4
days after my last exams in mid-February with a little celebration and tearful
goodbye. Of course, those were just tears of joy . Thereby my passport, cell phone,
and credit card became the most important travel companions for me.
Country life and people
What is to say – it was a uniquely great experience. I love to travel, but living, working
and studying abroad for a longer time is just another completely different experience.
I met an incredible number of great people in such a short time. I had a great time
especially with my friends from university, whom I met in the first week and stayed
friends until the end. We didn’t miss any parties. My Aussi flatmates were also the

best you could have wished for in a foreign country. For example, one of them loaned
me his VAN during his two-month vacation. From that point on, traveling on the
weekends was a lot easier.
In general, I have seen the people on the Gold Coast /Australia much more open,
more relaxed and friendlier compared to people in Germany. I especially noticed this
when I arrived back in Berlin. People literally looked unhappy in Germany and every
question I asked seemed to be too much.
In Australia, I wasn't even able to walk on my own on the beach or do shopping
without people starting a conversation with me. Often it was just talking about
nothing, but these little things made me smile. There was another story when I tried
to buy a go-card (electronic payment system in local transporting) in the wrong shop.
Immediately a young man offered me his help and drop me off to the next 7-Eleven
shop, helped me to buy the go-card and drove me all the way back – that was
awesome.
Australia, which is almost as large as the whole of Europe, but at the same time only
makes up third of the German population, has many various facets to offer. So far,
as with some Europeans, my idea of Australia was limited to the typical image of the
Outback – Ayers Rock (Uluru), Sydney with its great Opera house, heaps of
kangaroos and koalas. As soon as I arrived I noticed there is much more to see. I
also thought the weather would be always sunshine with stinking hot temperatures.
But right in the beginning, I was welcomed by clouds, heavy rain, and cyclones.
Because of Australia’s hundreds of hundreds of landscapes, with their remarkable
variety and beauty, everyone will find what they are looking for. Beaches are in
abundance due to the fact that Australia is surrounded entirely by the ocean, but no
two beaches alike. Then on the other hand, only a few kilometers away, are the
mountains. They aren't the highest in the world, but some offer dazzling snowfields
for winter sports enthusiasts and perspectives over exquisite natural landscapes. The
Australian humid rainforests and the great barrier reef are today among the greatest
treasure of the world and are largely part of the world heritage. Also, you can find
opportunities to try sandboarding or for whom this isn’t the ritght thing for, you can
just go for a spin in your 4WD on Australia’s sandy road.

On my days off, I used every single minute to explore the country. I´m in love with
camping. Unfortunately, it is not easy to camp anywhere in Australia. It is punished
with fines from $AU 200.
“G´ day, how are you? Wanna come over this arvo, ey? I’ll slip an extra shrimp on the
barbie for you mate. No dramas mate. Grab us a stubbie from the esky can ya?”
Me: “Arvo? – Avocado, emmm yes, call me in!
Admittedly my English skills weren’t the best when I first arrived in Australia. However
it's far from easy to follow a proper Aussi conversation – Jesus! Sometimes I was just
lost. As it is well known, the Australian life is “easy-going”. There for the way they
speak is more relaxed, which results in words and entire phrases be mercilessly
shortened. This ables them to say even more in an even shorter amount time.
"Everything wants to kill you in Australia!" When I first arrived, I wasn't sure how
seriously I should take this advance. Now, I’m pretty relaxed. So far I've only seen a
few snakes in wildlife and they were definitely more afraid of me than I was of them.
A Cassowary tried to chase me when I was on my own on my way to the waterfalls
and yes, they are fucking fast. I think when I first met her, I did everything wrong that
you could possibly do wrong. As the third-tallest and second-heaviest living bird in
the world, you shouldn’t mess with the mummy bird. That was a bit scary, but I’m still
alive. That’s why I can laugh about it now.
Unfortunately, the current bush fire situation in Australia also remains a bitter taste of
my travel adventure. It's hard breaking to see how much nature has been destroyed
so far by the ongoing fires. Many animals have died, their habitat has been
destroyed, and they talk about an entire extinction of certain species. It will take ages
for the nature to recover. I’m glad to have seen Australia before, in all its beauty.

After Arriving I spent my first week in the YHA hostel right next to the university and
the Gold Coast Airport. Unfortunately, the Campus itself doesn't provide dorms for
the student. But after short researches and a little luck, a week later I found a room in
a shared apartment right next to my uni and even closer to the beach. Prices for a
small room are $AU 200 – 250 weekly, thus they are somewhat more expensive than
my previous room in Zwickau.
How to study in Australia?
To study in Australia was one of the best decisions I have ever made. In the first
week, the o-week, there were various introductory events along the campus for all
students. In which people explained to us nearly every important fact. I have heard
the sentence "Ask questions if you have any!" quite a few times, in fact, I got help on
every stupid question.
"Don't fall behind." That's likewise the next sentence which manifests in my mind like
a prayer. And after a few weeks, I realized why. The study system in Australia is quite
different from the German one. The 14week courses take place mostly in online
lectures (depending on the module) and people only meet once a week for a kind of
tutorial to check if we did our readings for homework. So you need a high degree of
self-discipline to not be too distracted by the sunshine and beaches – so pretty much
the opposite of me.
Unfortunately, the teaching material is quite expensive in Australia. Necessarily
needed books are available from $AU 100-200. Throughout the semester there are 3

to 6 assessments to pass. That can be an essay, attendance, case study,
presentations and they are part of the module grade. Not every module requires a
final exam at the end of the studying period.
The hardest part for me was to meet all the formal requirements in my essays. In the
beginning, I had a bit of trouble with the correct referencing, but there was help
everywhere in the university, last but not least it was a good exercise for my
upcoming diploma thesis. Moreover, I struggled a bit with my English skills. That's
why my roommates often read over my texts, but being surrounded by English being
spoken 24/7 my results quickly improved.
Southern Cross University
Around 18,000 students study at Southern Cross University (SCU), which is based in
Lismore, Gold Coast, and Coffs Habour. You can choose between a wide variety of
under and post-graduate courses. My campus on the Gold Coast was only opened in
2010 so is very modern and is only a few meters from the dazzling beach. The SCU
is also the only university that shares its access to the airport. In addition to the usual
rooms such as, bib, classrooms and lecture halls, there was a lounge for students
with a tiny little kitchen with free breakfast, which has become my daily highlight.
Unfortunately, there was no dormitory and canteen at the university, but a small
coffee and food trucks at local prices. The university is very high up in the Australian
ranking for the best university support for international students - and it deserves it! I
always felt in good hands.

My weekly routine
After much thoughts, I chose the modules CUL00210 Australia, Asia and the World,
MNG00421 Festival and Special Events Planning and COM10001Effective
Communication. My lectures/tutorials were limited from Tuesday to Thursday for 2
hours each. At first, this doesn´t sound much, but around 10 hours of homework are
calculated per week for every module. That was a big change for me. At my home
university, most of the teaching material is taught directly in the lectures and there
are only a few things to do in my free time. I tried to do all the work during the week
to travel on a long weekend. I liked the Modul Festival and Special Events Planning
the most.
Peter was one of the best tutors I had in Australia. In a way, he was strict, but also
understanding and very practical. As the name of the module suggests, I got to know
a lot about events and their organization. At first, I was very overwhelmed with all the
materials we had to work through. It was an incredible amount of material and also in
another language. One of the assessments was to join a festival of our choice and to
evaluate it. I wasn’t sure which event to choose, but Peter recommended the Nimbin
Mardigras to me. Nimbin is a little village on the east coast and called the little
Amsterdam of Australia. At the Nimbin MardiGras, people come together and
celebrate the herb without fear of prosecution and persecution. It was an awesome
experience for me.
The university also offered many sports and leisure activities for a reduced price. I
signed in for weekly volleyball, a surf course and various inland trips and quickly
found a connection to other students.

How much will a semester abroad cost you?
In addition to all the great experiences in Australia, you also have to consider the
costs of a semester abroad. I think the cost of living in Australia is slightly higher
comparing to Germany. Especially the rent for accommodation is more expensive.
The average cost of rent is around $AU 200-250 weekly on the Gold Coast.
Alcohol and cigarettes are heavily taxed; alcohol costs almost twice as much as it
does in Germany. Costs for a package of cigarettes (20ciggys) are around $AU38.
You can buy old cars in good conditions very easily for a small amongst of money
(€1.500). Petrol is much cheaper as well (0,80€ per liter). There is a reduced fee for
public transportation for students, so you pay about $ AU 2 each way.
Overall, the following costs have arisen for me in 4month:
(Calculated with 4 months = 18weeks; current exchange rate €1 = $AU 1.61)
in $AU in €
Semester fee (4months) 6,400 3,910
BUPA health insurance 252 154
Visa 580 355
Flights (incl. return) 1,222 747
Hostel (first week) 240 147
Rent (weekly $AU170) 3,060 1,870
Additional costs /electricity (4months) 137 84
Phone (monthly $AU 30) all inclusive 120 73
Supermarket (weekly $AU100) 1,800 1,100
Leisure, pub, trips (weekly $AU 150) 2,700 1,650
Public transporting (4months) 100 61
Surf course 150 92
16,761 10,243

Under certain conditions it is possible to receive grants for a semester abroad. I
received BaföG abroad and a PROMOS scholarship.
The amount of the monthly study abroad Bafög was higher than usual, because it
includeds a grant for flight €1,000 and the study costs.
in $AU in €
PROMOS (scholarship) 1,964 € 1,200
BaföG (monthly €1,857) 12,155 € 7,428
14,119 8,628
This list is only a rough overview of the costs and does not include all actual costs. Of
course, it depends on the respective needs. I tried to save money on the apartment
and the cost of living and spent more money for travel and entrance fees. It is
allowed to work with the student visa to give you some extra money and experiences.
The minimum wage is around $ AU 20. Student jobs are easy and straightforward to
find.
Without the scholarships I received, it would have been significantly more difficult for
me. However, I also see the semester abroad as an investment in my future. In the
end, everyone has to decide for themselves whether it's worth it or not.

My conclusion
The semester abroad definitely was worth it! It was one of my best decisions.
Every country has its advantages and disadvantages as does Australia. Much seems
to be easier and more relaxed here. The focus in Australia is not on work and the
best possible professional qualification, as it is in Germany. I had the impression, that
everyone was treated the same, from cleaner to the doctor. Also sometimes it even
seemed to me that the challenge for many Australians was to work as little as
possible and to spend as much time as possible on the beaches and with their family.
Even though a lot seems easy, Australia also has some very strict regulations.
Australia has very strict visa requirements. There are very high fines for speeding. I
paid $AU 174 for 6km/h over the speed limit, which is super cheap for Australia.
Before I left the country my professor said I will be more independent and grown-up.
At first, I didn't understand properly what he was trying to tell me, but now I know
what he meant. I got to know myself, my limits and my potential much better and I've
gained more self-confidence.
Because of my university friends, I had the opportunity to get to know other cultures
and habits as well. Whether from India, Sweden, America, Ghana or Australia,
everyone had their own story to tell. This experience helped me to understand my
own country and identity much better. There were ups and downs but we went
through it together.
Also, my study abroad experience caused me to rethink some situations.
I also learned to appreciate the privilege of studying without tuition fees. Depending
on the module, tuition fees in Australia starting from € 15,000 a year. My modules
were very interesting and I would choose the same again. Not only the provided
knowledge but also the different ways of teaching and learning was an exciting new
experience for me. Also, my English had improved. It’s still not perfect, but it is much
easier for me to have a conversation now.
Ultimately, I can only advise anyone who wants to study abroad:
Don't worry about whether you should go abroad or not, just do it!