Details

• Australia
• MACEMS-17
• Graduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months

1. Preparation

My exchange semester at the University of Sydney was organized through the CEMS office, so the application process itself was quite straightforward from my side. The main things to take care of before departure were the visa, flights, accommodation, and general preparation for living in Australia. The student visa should not be left until the last minute. I would recommend applying around three to four months before departure, even though processing times can vary a lot. In my case, the process was very quick, but I heard from other students that it can take longer. The visa is also quite expensive (around 1200 Euros in my case), so this should definitely be included in the budget planning. Sadly, Australia generally is rather expensive. Regarding flights, there are several good options. I chose Qatar and it is probably one of the most comfortable choices and often offers student discounts, including additional luggage and points that you can redeem at the airport - they are actually worth a lot more than I thought (around 150 Euros in my case I used to buy Christmas presents ;)). Depending on the price, it can also be worth checking flights from different airports, such as Munich, Frankfurt, Düsseldorf or Budapest. Since the journey to Sydney is very long, I would recommend not only looking at the cheapest option, but also considering luggage, transfer times, and overall comfort. One thing I underestimated a bit was the weather. Even though Australia is often associated with sunshine and warm temperatures, the winter months in Sydney, especially July and August, can be quite cold, rainy, and windy. Therefore, I would definitely recommend bringing enough warmer clothes as well.

2. Accommodation

For accommodation, there are generally two options: university-organized housing or finding a place independently. I would recommend university accommodation, especially for exchange students who want to meet people quickly and live close to campus. I stayed in Queen Mary Building, which was a very good option overall. The building is located very close to the main campus, which made everyday university life very convenient. The CBD campus is a bit further away though but still easily reachable with the time you have. QMB is a large student residence with many international and exchange students, so it was easy to meet new people and become part of a student community. I also felt very safe there, and the facilities were clean and well organized. Having my own room was another big advantage. Sydney is generally very expensive when it comes to housing, so it is important to start looking early and compare different options. University accommodation is not necessarily cheap (but cheaper than most alternatives), and it offers security, convenience, and a social environment, which I personally found very valuable during the exchange. For students who prefer more flexibility or want to live in a different part of the city, platforms such as Flatmates or Facebook groups can also be useful. Some friends just took an AirBnb for the first two weeks and went flat hunting - they found some great deals, especially in Bondi, living super close to the beach for just slightly more money than I paid for at QMB. So you can definitely find something, but it is a matter of luck and also patience.

3. Academic life at host university

The University of Sydney has a very beautiful campus - the main campus feels very traditional and impressive, and the libraries and study spaces are also nice. There are many student clubs, sports facilities, food options, and events, so the university offers a lot beyond just classes. The CBD campus, located right in the city center really is impressive as well. Although it is only two floors, you are located right at the heart of one the worlds most impressive cities, looking down from the 17th floor while enjoying the lectures held there. Academically, my experience was mixed. The teaching style felt quite different from WU. In general, I had the impression that the courses were more applied and less theory-focused. This can be interesting because many assignments are connected to practical examples, presentations, and group work. At the same time, I personally felt that the academic level was not always as demanding as I expected from Master’s-level courses. Some classes felt easier and less structured than courses at WU. That being said, the workload was easily manageable, which also gave me enough time to enjoy Sydney, meet people, and travel. I would recommend not expecting to learn as much academically as at WU, but rather seeing the semester as a combination of university, international experience, and personal development. One thing to keep in mind is the grading system. Australian universities seem to be quite strict when it comes to awarding very high grades. Even if you put a lot of effort into assignments or receive very positive feedback, this does not necessarily mean that you will receive an excellent grade by Austrian/german standards. Therefore, it is important to manage expectations and not be discouraged by grades that may seem lower than expected.

5. Every day life in the host country

Everyday life in Sydney was definitely the highlight of the exchange semester. The city offers an amazing mix of beaches, nature, cafés, restaurants, student life, and travel opportunities. Once the weather got warmer (and even before), there was always something to do. Meeting friends at the beach, going surfing, walking along the coast, partying or just enjoying city strolls. It feels like youre always outside and life really just feels easy. Sydney is also a very international city, and there are many exchange students, both at university and in student accommodation. This makes it easy to meet people, especially if you attend social events, join university activities, or simply spend time at the beach. There are also many sports opportunities on campus, including gyms and other university sport facilities. Restaurants are insanely good and you have a huge variety from cuisines all over the world - and you can definitely choose between fancy or just a relaxed walk-in. Public transport in Sydney is okay, but not as efficient as in Vienna. The city relies heavily on buses and partially trains, and getting from one place to another can take quite a long time. Buses are not always perfectly reliable, and distances within the city are often bigger than expected. Uber or DiDi is available and is a lot cheaper than in Vienna, but I mostly used public transport to save money. Traveling was another major part of the experience. Australia is incredibly large and diverse, so I would recommend using the semester to see as much as possible. I have been basically everywhere on the East Coast, Melbourne and the Great Ocean Road and Western Australia (definitely a highlight - check out if you have the possibility to make it there as well).

6. Testimonial

Choose Sydney! The city itself is absolutely beatiful, you will never get tired of being outside so much - be it at the beaches, in the surrounding areas (including the blue mountains) or just walking everywhere. Life really felt easy and you were able to enjoy it so much due to the rather low amount of effort required for the courses. Australia generally offers so many incredible places to travel to - use your time to see as much as possible.