BU in Sydney - The All-Around Time of My Life Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The course offerings were diverse, and the workload very manageable. The Sydney staff definitely wanted to us to be able to go out and experience being abroad rather than being stuck inside doing work. The grading was very easy, especially compared to courses back at BU, but they were still interesting classes and I definitely learned a ton about Australian culture. The internship component of the academic program was definitely the best part - I got unparalleled experience working at a magazine and the BU Sydney staff was incredibly supportive throughout the internship process.

On-site administration of your program

The BU Sydney staff were all very supportive and interested in making our all-around experience a great one, including academics, internships, travel, and day-to-day living in Sydney. The majority of the staff are local Australians, except a few BU alumni who did the Sydney program as undergrads and moved there afterwards. The program was large (about 125 students), but I liked it that way, plus there were a lot of non-BU students so it was fun to have some variety.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We were in a Unilodge - an apartment building geared to be for students, as it's located right near the University of Sydney. It was kind of dirty and loud, like a typical American dorm, and the kitchens were far away and laundry rooms kind of gross. The location was awesome though - close to the BU building, the main street through Sydney, and several great neighborhoods (Glebe, Newtown) with bars, restaurants, etc. Right across from a mall with a grocery store and around the corner from a bus stop.

Tons of great take-out places right around Unilodge and the BU building, across the street from Broadway Cafe (great brunch food) and a Cole's grocery store. Food in Australia is generally pretty expensive, but so many awesome Asian- and Australian-inspired restaurants.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Big enough program to meet a ton of people; great advice from the staff on exploring Sydney, traveling in Australia, and the best places to meet Australians. Sydney is an incredibly fun and lively city with so many different neighborhoods/events to explore. The program organized orientation activities like a roof BBQ and harbor cruise, a 4-day trip to Melbourne, and an end-of-semester banquet plus bimonthly group excursions to events/places around Sydney (Taronga Zoo, cliff walks along the beaches, market shopping days, etc.) Everyone lives in the same building so it's easy to hang out with everyone.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Coming from a city school in the states, living in Sydney didn't feel much different to me safety-wise. The staff emphasized the usual street-smarts, but Sydney really is a safe city. I never felt threatened or like I was in a sketchy situation walking around at night. Student health wasn't particularly emphasized, and I never had an issue while I was there, but the staff made it clear they were there to talk to about anything so I assume they would have been helpful.

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

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• Apartment

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• Americans