4 Months Down Under September 29, 2026
By Logan M (Environmental Studies, Point Loma Nazarene University) - abroad from 01/28/2026 to 05/24/2026 with
SIT Study Abroad: Australia - Sustainability and Environmental Action
It was definitely worth studying abroad and blew my expectations way out of the water. I got to experience a new country and different culture/lifestyle for the first time, make new friends, have an educational experience that I wouldn't be able to have anywhere else, so many lifelong memories and stories, learned a lot about myself, and got a better idea of what I'd want to do after college.
Review Photos
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
It was an amazing experience and I will remember it for the rest of my life. Such a great first time travelling abroad. School wasn't too difficult and we got to learn about things you wouldn't learn anywhere else. There isn't an actual university you attend and class/learning was outside a lot of the time, which I really enjoyed. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Australia was the perfect place to have our program, as it centered around sustainability and the environment, which were always incredible wherever we went. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartments in Byron Bay were very nice and close to the beach and town, and it was a lot of fun living with my friends. Staying in hostels and camping were also cool experiences. |
| * Food: |
Lots of amazing food in Australia, including Kangaroo, snack packs, Vegemite, TimTams, and plenty of locally sourced sustainable food. I learned how to cook some of my own meals too. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
The culture was very laid back and relaxed, way better than the U.S. I felt at home a lot of the time being in the beach town of Byron Bay. All the locals were very friendly and I met so many people from all around the world. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Health was something that was made aware within our program, and having the access to free healthcare was nice. I didn't need any vaccines beforehand and there weren't any big health issues in Australia when I went. |
| * Safety: |
Overall, Australia felt like a very safe place at all times of the day, especially Byron Bay. Cairns looked a little sketchy at night though. Try to stay in groups or pairs with people in unfamiliar areas and do some research before going somewhere new. Also, the rip currents and the waves are very strong. And, if you're going to drink alcohol, do it responsibility. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
No
If it was the same group of students, than absolutely. If not, than no because I feel like it wouldn't live up to what I experienced already. Also, I would want to travel to another country that is just as nice as Australia to have new experiences. |
Finances
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* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?
(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
Fairly easily, I just had to be a lot more mindful of my spending when it came to food/groceries as well as activities/souvenirs. It also helped to have a stipend during the internship period through an Australian bank account (ANZ), which most people used for food, but myself and 4 others used it to rent a nice apartment for the month in Byron Bay. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | I spent $200 in cash that I brought on souvenirs/clothing throughout the program. Each week at the grocery store I spend around $60-$80 USD. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Be very mindful of your spending habits (check your bank account weekly), look out for discounts on food and other things, and try to get food mostly from local grocery stores. There is also an exchange rate there ($1 AUD = 70c USD), so keep that in mind. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I tried a little more to make friends with local Australians. |
