by Jahnavi Srinivas
from UC Los Angeles to the University of Sydney, Australia
After having the best semester of my life, I’m here to convince you to study abroad in Australia. It has everything: jaw-dropping scenery, incredible weather, remarkable wildlife, tasty food, and honestly, the world’s friendliest people.
Australia is the ideal study abroad experience 8,000 miles from California. Living abroad in Sydney gave me the chance to comfortably explore a new place and culture without missing the California coastal lifestyle too much.
1. Competitive academics
The University of Sydney (USyd) is a highly competitive institution, and the classes are rigorous, requiring genuine effort. My psychology classes had rotating lecturers with varying fields of expertise, forcing me to adapt to a new professor’s teaching style every few weeks.
The study of psychology is also more scientific and empirical in Australia compared to the rote memorization of material I was used to at UCLA. Instead of mid-term exams, I was assigned research papers requiring detailed and critical analysis of psychological studies. This new type of assignment was initially unfamiliar and far outside my comfort zone. With practice, however, I grew confident in my ability to read dense research papers, comprehend key study components, and write scientifically. With my upper-division psychology courses at USyd, I advanced and refined my academic reading and writing skills, so the long-term educational outcome was ultimately rewarding.
While adjusting to the Australian teaching style and grading system was challenging and often anxiety-inducing, I learned to be more flexible and open-minded. My resilience grew stronger, making every uncomfortable moment in Sydney worth it.
As a side note, the University of Sydney bears an uncanny resemblance to Hogwarts! You will see many tourists wandering the quadrangle to marvel at the architecture and landscape.
2. Australia’s unique natural beauty
Coming from California, I have an appreciation for beaches, but I quickly realized that the California coast is no match for Sydney’s majestic beaches and expansive coastal cliffs. There are over 100 beaches to explore in Sydney, each with gorgeous teal-colored waves and soft golden sand.
My favorite weekend activity was to go on long coastal walks between neighboring beaches. The pleasant breezes and stunning views made each 3-hour hike fly by, and the Coogee to Bondi Beach trail, in particular, will remain forever in my mind.
Though I didn’t think it was possible, I was even more impressed by the gorgeous South Island of New Zealand. For my mid-semester break, I took on a 7-day trip, and it was the best week of my life!
I drove 20 hours on the left side of the road and saw deep gorges, reflective fjords, and expansive glaciers. Snowy mountainsides transition into sunny coastal cliffs within an hour’s drive. New Zealand’s natural beauty is unlike anything I ever experienced—a true feast for the eyes.
3. A foodie paradise
Quality roasted coffee, Italian-style gelato, haloumi cheese, and Tim Tam wafers are just a few of my favorite food finds in Sydney. Coffee culture is huge in Australia, and while it fueled my raging caffeine addiction, exploring different cafes across town also resulted in more productive study sessions.
Australian cuisine consists of multicultural and authentic dishes originating from all over the world. As a vegetarian, I appreciated Sydney’s inclusivity of dietary restrictions. Unlike in the US, I could confidently walk into any random restaurant and discover several vegan or vegetarian options.
Indulging in traditional ethnic foods was instrumental in my exposure to different cultures. Trying Sri Lankan, Nepalese, Turkish, and Vietnamese cuisine for the first time in Australia sparked my cultural curiosity and encouraged me to develop my palate.
4. Professional development opportunities
One of the most valuable things about studying abroad at the University of Sydney is the opportunity to take an internship class that is only offered to international students. USyd matches students with local research labs and small businesses according to the student’s professional interests. I was fortunate to be a communications intern at the Blueberry Institute, a small business promoting workplace well-being, productivity, and leadership.
During my internship, I researched evidence-based practices for popular mental health topics, developed content for well-being workshops, and edited digital media for marketing strategies. Not only did the job enhance my professional skillset and knowledge of mental health best practices, it also inspired me to reflect on my own well-being and evaluate my personal priorities to avoid burnout. Above all, I learned how crucial it is to invest time in myself before allocating energy to academic, professional, or social activities that are often draining.
Experiencing Australian work culture was a unique opportunity and one I highly recommend to every student. I found Australian employees to be casual, friendly, and cheerful. There was a greater sense of camaraderie among coworkers than I’d experienced, and executives were more accessible, interactive, and understanding. The Australian balance between work and personal life challenged my American workaholic mentality.
5. Multiculturalism
As an Indian-American, I am usually made to feel hyper-aware of my race. In the US, my friends are predominantly White, and I’m familiar with being in the minority.
In Australia, however, I felt like I seamlessly blended into the multicultural community, and my identity was welcomed and accepted. In fact, every person on my dorm floor was from another country, including Canada, the UK, Germany, Singapore, Indonesia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
In becoming friends with another student from Abu Dhabi, I was shocked to hear about her life in the UAE. Her descriptions of gender inequality and persistent female discrimination were a perspective I hadn’t heard before.
Initially, I resisted the idea of forming friendships with other American students, assuming it would defeat the purpose of studying abroad and inhibit my ability to expand my horizons. On the contrary, I gained an entirely new outlook on American life when I met a student from Nebraska. Her descriptions of ranch life were a culture shock as I’d failed to consider how different the personal experience can be in other US states.
Exchanging perspectives with many people in Sydney made me increasingly cognizant of the sheltered life I live in the US and even more conscious of the privilege it is to live in California. My worldview has been forever changed.
Living and studying in Sydney permanently transformed my personality, perspectives, and priorities. The academic, social, and personal growth I experienced feels unquantifiable.
While Australia is arguably the farthest you could possibly be from home, the fun and excitement in your new life abroad will keep you occupied and entertained for the entirety of your stay. Between endless sightseeing opportunities, relaxing beach days, and excitingly diverse foods, I promise your stay in Sydney will be one of the most memorable experiences of your life!
Bonus reason: close proximity to New Zealand
There are cheap daily flights from Sydney to New Zealand. And if you’ve come this far from California, you can’t miss it!
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