Type of housing: Apartment/House

Arranged by: Independently - My choice

If returning, I would choose: Apartment/House

Why? I lived in a shared flat with other students, which in my view was the optimal way of having great interaction with other people as well as the possibility of being very flexible.

Personal comments:
There was a help desk set up in order to assist foreign students in their search for accommodation. I went there once, but in the end I found the house in which I lived through an advertisement.

Describe host city: Students equally interact with the local and student community

Activities: Takes place mostly outside the university/student environment

Nightlife, Travel: Takes place both within and outside of the university/student environment

Personal comments:
Brisbane, Australia is a pedestrian friendly city. There are people moving barges called, 'City Cats', that transport only pedestrians up and down the river. Both the bus and above ground train (the only kind they offer) is reliable and safe. You must make time to have (a) beer(s), preferabely the Queensland beer called 'Four X', with one, two, or many of your mates at 4p.m. at least two working days out of the week. There are many excellent Irish pubs. The disco scene is okay. Gourmet coffee is superb overall. For an evening coffee and/or sweet check out coffee shops in the area of town, West End (e.g. Crazy Cat, The Three Monkeys, etc.). On Anzac Day, get your ass out of bed at 4a.m. and head down to Anzac square in the city to watch a beautiful ceremony. Than make sure to watch the sun rise at Mt. Coo - tha. Make sure to spend at least 95% of your day outside!

Course recommendations:
The Media and Journalism School is still developing itself. Student have the ability to challenge the course and their instructors because of the relaxed atmosphere. Given this freedom though one must take it upon him/herself to be completely responsible for his/her decisions and actions.

Personal comments:
The influence by the type of students and time is what will influence the School of Media and Journalism in the near future.

Language of instruction: English

Main source of funding:
Government assistance

Other sources of funding:
Family
Personal savings

Work opportunities:
I didn't explore any work options

Personal spending habits:
I thought food was generally cheaper. Phone calls were of a similar price and calling home was not a problem as calling through the Internet is very cheap. Housing was slightly more expensive because the university was in the centre of a city. Nightlife was similar in price with beer and enterance fees matching that of the UK. Travel was always going to cost me more, because I had so much I wanted to see. However on a day to day basis I would have to say that public transport in Australia is far superior to that of the UK, with busses and trains being on time and cheaper.

Travel, Overall, Housing: was more expensive than at home.

Nightlife, Telephone: was the same price as at home.

Food: was less expensive than at home.

I wish I had known...
more information about course structure and prerequisites in Australia

In my opinion:
Everybody loved it, you will too!