Details

• Australia
• MACEMS-25
• Graduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 5 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

I went to the University of Sydney as part of my CEMS Master's at WU Vienna. The biggest task before departure is the Australian student visa (subclass 500). It's quite a hassle and more expensive than you might expect, so start early and plan real time for it. For flights, I can recommend Turkish Airlines. They offer student fares, which were usually the cheapest option I found, so check those first.

2. Accommodation

Housing is the hardest and most expensive part of the exchange. If you want your own room at the lowest price, the Queen Mary Building (university accommodation) is the cheapest option I've heard of. Its location isn't ideal, though. Most students prefer to live closer to the CBD or campus, but then you risk not finding anything decent. What works best is to team up with other exchange students and rent a whole place together. The catch is that it's hard to organise from Europe, so most people only found their flat after arriving. That means viewing a lot of apartments in your first weeks, which isn't ideal. Budget at least €1,000 per month for rent. The Queen Mary Building comes in a bit below that.

3. Academic life at host university

Academic life was fairly relaxed. Classes were at the main Camperdown campus, and I could arrange my timetable so that I only had classes on one or two days a week, which left a lot of time to travel. The courses are of medium quality. They are well organised and not very demanding, but also not especially challenging compared to WU.

5. Every day life in the host country

Life in Australia is fantastic. The weather is great, and there's always something to do. Go to the beaches, especially the Northern Beaches, rent a car and drive around, and visit the Hunter Valley. Further afield, Tasmania and the Great Ocean Road are absolute highlights, and the north and west of the country offer even more to explore. Take every chance you get to travel. Rent is the main expense. Most other costs are quite manageable. Eating out is not particularly expensive. For public transport, get an Opal card right away, because the fare caps make getting around noticeably cheaper. For travelling, look into car and campervan relocation deals. Rental companies need vehicles moved between cities, and you can often get one for a symbolic price, sometimes with fuel included. It's a great way to explore the country on a student budget.

6. Testimonial

Probably the best time of my life. With my classes packed into the first days of the week, I spent most weeks travelling from Wednesday to Sunday evening, exploring as much of Australia as I could. The combination of a relaxed study schedule, great weather and an incredible country makes Sydney an outstanding exchange destination.