Australia is a great place to live and experience. Wollongong itself is a comfortable, beautiful town.

I loved my accommodation at Wollongong living in the international house.

My favorite part of the program (besides traveling which is obvious) was seeing new faces and meeting people I would have never met if I was still at KU. I got to meet people from not just Australia and America, but the entire world. I even came home with a new best friend that is coming to see me for my 21st birthday in May. You know you studied abroad and did it right when your Facebook and Instagram is filled with different accents and languages.

It was wild experiencing places, people, and cultures I didn't know existed before leaving the United States. My favorite part was experiencing the Earth in ways not possible in Kansas. There were so many things to see (mostly for free), and so many things to do outside all the time.

The University of Wollongong was my temporary home University along the coast of beautiful Australia. Australia was an adventure with unlimited opportunities including scuba diving, mountain climbing, surfing, sky diving, and much more. I loved the vast nature, the unique animals, and the wonderful people and professors I befriended.

My favorite part of this program was the ease of the opportunities to experience what Australia has to offer as well as the natural beauty of Australia. Through International House, I was able to establish incredible relationships and go on various free hikes organized by student leaders. Many of these hikes and trips led to beautiful outlooks, waterfalls, and beaches. In addition, with the close proximity to Sydney, you had the chance to experience diverse city life or even travel to nearby provinces and countries through the Sydney airport.

My favorite part about the University of Wollongong University was that I got to meet so many people from different countries and that I got to learn about Australia while studying.

I enjoyed the outings and day-trips coordinated by the dorm I stayed in, International House. There were several at the beginning of the year that helped me meet other students and experience some of the cool things Wollongong had to offer.

My favorite part of my study abroad experience was the people in Australia. I stayed in the International House and was able to meet people from all over the world. We honestly became a family and I have met some of my greatest friends there. I highly recommend staying there as you get to experience all sorts of cultures and the Student Leaders put on loads of activities for the residents. We went to the zoo for free, went to a rugby game, went hiking up a mountain, and of course loads of beach adventures.

My favorite part of the program was balancing my classes with adventures. I was motivated to do well in the university classes I was in, but at the same time use my free time to go see new beaches and other new places almost every day! My free time was not spent watching Netflix. I took every opportunity to explore instead!

I felt the most rewarding experience was being able to adapt and live in a different part of the world for five whole months. I made some amazing friendships that made me grow as a person.

My fondest memories from my time abroad are all with the people I met. They were what made the trip memorable and they are one of the main reasons I want to go back to Wollongong in the future.

I felt the most rewarded by overcoming the stress of trying to thrive in a brand new country/culture and coming out on top. I found a good balance between work and play and gained a sense of independence I wouldn't have dreamed of having before I left.

I found the friendships that I made to be the most rewarding. I have friends from around the world that I definitely will keep in contact with!

The grading system was was much more rigorous in Australia than that of the States. I was challenged to think critically and engage more in each of my courses. Ultimately, I formed better relationships with my professors and learned more than ever before, developing a renewed interest in learning.

I found the relationships you establish while abroad to be the most rewarding aspect. I have formed relationships with people from all over the world, people I am determined to remain in contact with as they have impacted my life in ways that I could never explain. In addition, this network has allowed me to understand other cultures, furthering my cultural competence while also encouraging me to travel and explore in order to see them again.

I met some really awesome people while studying abroad, and took some classes that were challenging and different from what is offered here at KU. I think those were the most rewarding parts of the program for me.

Save your money now because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

It is actually a lot easier to balance schoolwork with travel and enjoying the time you have in Wollongong. The course loads are a lot different than in the states and it leaves a lot more time to relax or explore or mingle.

The amount of resources available to you through the university are endless. It is almost hard not to be successful with how personable and hands on the staff are. Professors are very clear about schedules and assignments way before due dates which makes the whole experience much easier.

I learned to research the university in advance to see exactly what it has to offer. Get involved with clubs and activities.
My best advice is to plan out exactly what you want to gain from the experience, and go from there. You can't do it all. So if you want to travel, plan ahead. If you are someone like me who is there to study and enjoy the local scene, then go in with an open mind. You can only get out of it what you take in.

I learned that Australia is an expensive place; a wonderful country, but be prepared to break your bank. Also, the culture is so amazing and the transition was really easy!

I certainly wasn't prepared for 5 months in a new country, but I learned more, experienced more, and developed new passions and interests as I made new friends and explored a new place. It may take a lot of effort on your part to make your semester abroad possible, but it will be worth it.

I learned that you have to do a lot on your own. It is a time where you have to step out of your comfort zone and try something new. Their academic curriculum may be easier than KU's but you can not slack off because every letter grade goes on your transcript. Stay on campus so you don't have to rely on the buses, also great way to meet a lot of people.

I studied abroad when COVID-19 hit. While I hope no other student has to experience that on their study abroad adventure, it did teach me a lot about how to live in a new culture even in times of uncertainty. I would encourage students to spend time doing things they would never usually do back home while studying abroad. The little things, like waking up early to watch the sunrises, and trying new foods, really makes your experience extra special. Also, it is important to meet new friends from that culture so I would encourage students to challenge themselves to make connections in their new country because you can learn a lot from locals!