Details

• Australia
• BBE-18
• Undergraduate
• SoSe 2025
• Time spent at the partner university: 9 months

1. Preparation

For the interview in the application process, conduct research about the Australian economics/ politics/ recent developments; be prepared to answer questions about QUT, the program, extracurricular activities in Australia (esp. clubs & societies), and how you would represent WU & Austria/Vienna in Australia.

2. Accommodation

I booked a room in a student dorm called "Student One Elizabeth Street" on their website. The student dorm is located in the very centre of Brisbane and you can walk to the university in 10 minutes. I can recommend staying in a student dorm, as it’s where I met most of the people I connected with during my stay. Alternatively, other exchange students found private accomodations which were slightly cheaper however not in the city centre (~20 min to QUT with bus). If you plan to stay in a student dorm, book your room early in advance since room prices get increasingly expensive the longer you wait.

3. Academic life at host university

The QUT Garden's point Campus is modern and lively and offers a popular library. Courses consist of lectures and tutorials. Lectures introduce the unit theories and concepts while tutorials act as interactive teaching sessions in which theories are applied in groupworks and assignments are discussed. All lectures (and some tutorials) are recoreded for you to rewatch online, resulting in most students only attending tutorials on-campus. In terms of assessment, QUT relies much more on essays than on exams. In general, I believe that WU courses are more theoretical, while QUT courses are more applied.

5. Every day life in the host country

Public transport is extremely cheap in Queensland with a 50cent flat fare. In general, I experienced Brisbane as a very save city. QUT offers a wide range of student clubs dedicated to all sorts of sports and arts. For social events and parties, join the QUTIES club (club for international students at QUT) and the UQ QUEST club (club for international students at UQ), which both host frequent popular events. In general, our experience was that UQ trips (e.g. surf trip) were slightly better and more affordable than their QUT counterparts - QUT students can also join UQ clubs. Furthermore, in around 2.5 hours you can be at the beach either in Gold Coast or on North Stradbroke Island. Lastly, Brisbane offers many public parks with free-to-use barbecue stations, perfect for private social gatherings.

6. Testimonial

My exchange at QUT in Brisbane was a truly unforgettable experience. What made it special was not only the inspiring study environment, but also the incredibly friendly and open people I met. I loved the relaxed Australian lifestyle, the proximity to beautiful beaches, and the mix of city life and nature. Living in Brisbane and studying at QUT allowed me to grow personally, build meaningful friendships, and create memories that I will always value.