Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

"The Wonderful World of Oz" Past Review

By (Marketing., Trinity University) for

University of Melbourne: Melbourne - Direct Enrollment & Exchange

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Extremely worth while. I got to learn all about Australian culture first hand

Review Photos

University of Melbourne: Melbourne - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo University of Melbourne: Melbourne - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo University of Melbourne: Melbourne - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo University of Melbourne: Melbourne - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo University of Melbourne: Melbourne - Direct Enrollment & Exchange Photo

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The workload at the University of Melbourne was quite rigorous due to the weight of each assignment. There were not very many assignments numerically, thus they were worth a larger portion of one's grade compared to Trinity University. The writing style was completely different and much more direct than anything I have ever been taught in the US. The grading system itself is much harder. According to one of our study abroad advisers with IES, receiving any type of honors distinction (60+ on the numerical scale) is extremely honorable.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

IES Abroad was very good at keeping in contact and helping students out when they needed it. Advisers were very accessible and organized, local to the host country (attending the University of Melbourne themselves), and the program overall was a wonderful experience.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I stayed in a residential college abroad. It was very safe, on campus and walking distance into the city. Everyone was very friendly and connected through college bonding over (formal) dinners

* Food:

The residential college I stayed at was very accommodating to different dietary needs. The quality was wonderful and all of the food preparation (as expected in Australia) was very health conscious.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

The field trip to Tasmania during mid-semester break was amazing. Having the opportunity to travel around the island, see local flora, fauna, and animals, as well as learning about Australian history (primarily through the Port Arthur ghost tour) was quite the experience

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

Extremely safe

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* 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)

Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? When I was in Australia, the exchange of the American dollar to the Australian dollar was on average about .96 American to 1 Australian (but is doing better now). The prices are generally about twice as much as you would expect it to cost in America

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Other
* Who did you live with?

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  • Local Students
* Who did you take classes with?

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  • International Students

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The people I met abroad and trips IES planned
* What could be improved?
  • The IES abroad orientation trips, to go to more natural areas Australia has to offer (similar to the mid semester trip to Tasmania)

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Australian Indigenous Studies
Course Department: MULT10001
Instructor: Philip Morrissey
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Extremely rigorous for a student studying abroad. A student studying abroad did not have the proper background information in comparison to a local Australian student to do well in this course of study.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Market Research
Course Department: MKTG20004
Instructor: Amanda Spry
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Interesting course on Market Research taught thoroughly by a professor who has worked in the industry
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Principles of Business Law
Course Department: BLAW10001
Instructor: Tanya Josev
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Interesting course on the aspects of Business Law. Rigorous curriculum, but very beneficial
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Witches and Witch Hunting in Europe
Course Department: HIST20025
Instructor: Jenny Spinks
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Interesting course on the witch hunts in Europe. Taught very well and thoroughly. The course was quite almost entirely research essay based
Credit Transfer Issues: