Details

• Australia
• BaWiSo-23
• Undergraduate
• WS 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 6 months

1. Preparation

I would recommend starting to look for accommodation before going abroad. Other than that, there is not much preparation required.

2. Accommodation

I found my accommodation through the UNSW Flatmates page, a platform provided by the university. It was a shared house right next to the UNSW campus; everything was newly renovated, and the landlord was extremely supportive. Public transport connections to the CBD and the beaches were also very good. I wouldn’t recommend the large commercial student accommodations such as Scape or Iglu. Although their facilities are modern, there is very little student life or social activity. Most residents are international students from China who tend to keep to themselves, and the prices are significantly above the local market rate. I would instead suggest looking for private accommodation in areas like Surry Hills, Randwick, Kingsford, or Coogee.

3. Academic life at host university

The campus is very modern and well-equipped. There are plenty of great study spaces, and the libraries are excellent (even though I tried to spend as little time there as possible). The teaching style is much more personal than in Austria or Germany, and you are on a first‑name basis with all lecturers and tutors. The overall workload is lower than at WU. Lectures do not require attendance, whereas tutorials do. Grading is also more focused on continuous assessments rather than final exams.

5. Every day life in the host country

Sydney is a huge city, so public transport can sometimes take a while. Even though the train and tram network is not as dense as in Vienna, I was positively surprised by the number of buses. Wherever you want to go, there is usually a bus, even at night. Public transport also includes ferries, which I enjoyed so much that I sometimes took them just for fun. Sydney, and Australia in general, feels very safe, and especially around the UNSW area there are no sketchy places. Sydney is absolutely amazing for leisure and sports. It offers large beaches for surfing as well as small bays that feel more like Greece or Italy, which are absolutely stunning. The city is beautiful, with many bars and scenic lookouts, although the real nightclubs were not that impressive. Dudley Page Reserve was my favourite spot for sunsets. UNSW has its own sports facilities, including tennis and basketball courts and football fields. There are also many public sports facilities throughout the city. Overall, Sydney is the perfect place for people who love the ocean and an active lifestyle.

6. Testimonial

This exchange was especially meaningful to me because I went on so many road trips with my new friends. Australia (and New Zealand) is perfect for camping and long drives, and the nature is unbelievable. Sydney itself is incredible, with so much wildlife and greenery. You can see whales, seals, dolphins, and even flying foxes within the city, and it is surrounded by national parks. At the same time, it has huge skyscrapers and countless activities. You will never be bored, and if you ever are, you can simply go to the beach and read a book.