Australia - Semester abroad I

Seize the opportunity and study abroad in Australia!

Australia attracts more than just tourists with its spectacular natural surroundings, neverending beaches and warm summer climate. More and more, students from the other side of the globe are finding their way to Australia to study, and for good reason, too!

It’s often difficult to fit a semseter abroad into your studies without needing extra semesters to do it. The sixth semester of the interdisciplinary study programme Bio Science and Health of Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Kleve solves this problem for students by giving them a fixed place in the curriculum to spend a semester studying abroad without exceeding the standard period of study.

So why not use this opportunity to experience something new and extraordinary?

I knew early on exactly what I wanted: to experience new lifestyles, cultures and mentalities, while at the same time improving my English skills, which would be valuable not only for my later career, but in my daily life as well.

Australia in particular seemed to fit all my criteria, with its international and diverse population, breathtaking landscapes and internationally recognised education system.

That’s why in February 2014 I decided to leave Kleve and travel around 16,000 km to Brisbane, on the east coast of Australia, for a semester abroad. At the Queensland University of Technology I took a range of interesting courses like Food and Nutrition, Nutrition and Physical Activity, and Fitness, Health and Wellness, which expanded my knowledge in the areas of sport, nutrition and health.

University staff were always helpful and supported their students at every turn. There was always someone to approach with any problems or questions. The many important projects spread across the entire semester were always arranged in small groups. Staff also helped with extracurricular issues, like finding a flat. In my case, thanks to their help I was able to find a room in a flat with fellow QUT students from Iran, France, Germany and Australia after only a few short days. All this helpful attention means that you’ll feel at home at the university after only a few short days.

Since my studies were laid out quite transparently and I knew from the beginning of the semester which examinations I would need to take, I was able to plan out my leisure time activities from the get-go. Multiple times a week I trained with the university’s own hockey team and competed with them in league play, or met with friends and colleagues for BBQs in the park. Travel was also big on my agenda. Thanks to a mid-semester break and the fact that your Australian visa allows you to stay a month past the end of your semester, there’s plenty of time to travel and explore Australia with friends.

After only a few days in Brisbane and during my travels I discovered that ‘no worries’ isn’t just something Australians say, it’s a way of life for them. Everywhere I went I met people eager to help with a friendly and welcoming attitude. In many cases a quick look of confusion at a strange street sign was all it took for a friendly person to offer some assistance.

Although people in Australia do so much to make sure you adjust in your new home, the first few days are really challenging. It’s very difficult to find your way around in a new country with a completely different language, but you get used to it very quickly and notice how your English skills improve on a daily basis.

Looking back, I’m really happy with my decision to study in Australia, despite some initial anxiety. My experiences abroad will accompany me for many years to come. I would tell any student on the fence to take a chance and spend a semester abroad. I hope this report will make your decision just a little bit easier. Many thanks go out to Professor Dr Robert Renner, who supported me from Kleve during my time abroad.

A short experience report from Sören van Gessel, who studied abroad at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia (February – July 2014).