Accommodation and meals
I decided to live on-campus because I could register for it beforehand. It was just too much for me to have to look for an apartment there. The dorm room was very comfortable. Everything was available, washing facilities, cooking facilities, refrigerator, air conditioning. . . Everything you need and even a little more. Since I was one of the first generation to move into the new student residence, everything was very new and clean. A cleaning lady came once a week and cleaned my kitchen and bathroom. However, it was always very noisy in the building, even at night. The Australians are party people and the students are mostly still very young (17-20 years). The costs for the semester were very high, I paid around $ 5,670 and lived there from February to July. In Australia, student residences are usually more expensive than looking for an apartment.
Costs
The cost for my stay in Australia were generally very expensive for German conditions. The tuition fees for international students alone are around $ 8100 and my accommodation was worth another $ 5670. In addition, unfortunately, the cost of living is very expensive. I paid three times as much for groceries. Kitchen utensils and towels, as well as bed linen and bathroom utensils, are also added at the beginning and should not be underestimated. I didn’t have the opportunity to take the things I needed with me from home, as I was only allowed to take 30 kg of luggage with me and these can be reached really quickly.
In addition to the cost of living and tuition fees, I’ve also traveled a lot in Australia, which is expensive. The domestic flights are relatively cheap and (if you don’t have high demands) you can also stay cheaply in a hostel. Overall, I didn’t expect my stay abroad to be that expensive and was really shocked at the beginning. Looking back, I have to say that it was worth the money and that I did everything right.
Host institution (host university, internship company, etc. )
The Deakin University was great. Well organized and very nice people. There are many offers of help. Help is available quickly, for example tutorials are offered in which you can also participate. If you have difficulties and do not get to the right man immediately, you will be referred in any case. Everyone is very helpful and you don’t feel alone.
I also think the learning system is better than in Germany. It is not only exams that determine the grade that are written at the end of the year. There are many small achievements that have to be achieved. These can be very different, for example “tests”, “group work”, “individual work” or so-called “essays”, which are roughly similar to a German “mini housework”.
Overall, I had a lot of fun studying and learned a lot. It was extremely positive for me that I was able to perform during the semester instead of doing everything at the end. This way you learn a lot more and keep it.
Everyday life / leisure time
Outside of my university life, I had a lot of free time. At the beginning of the semester, however, I had to do a lot for the university because the system was very different and the language in particular gave me difficulties at the beginning. Still, I had a lot of time to travel, even during the semester. I went on some weekend trips which were lovely. So I saw the famous “Great Ocean Road” and “Philipp Island” in Melbourne, as well as the beach and numerous city trips.
I went to Sydney and Tasmania during the semester without any major problems. I was so enthusiastic about traveling that at the end of the semester I traveled to the west coast. Even when I was all alone on my trip, I never felt alone. There were nice people everywhere and we made contacts very quickly. The fact that the people were so open and sociable was one of the nicest experiences I had during the six months in Australia. This anonymity, which occurs particularly in large German cities, never existed in Australia. I was even approached three times because I was standing on the street with a map and looked like I could use some help with the way.
Conclusion
Australia has many positive sides. The country has a lot to offer in terms of landscape. There are beautiful places and sights that are definitely worth a trip. But even if you study there you gain a lot of positive experiences. You get to know very nice people from many different cultures and countries. Melbourne in particular has many different cultures and facets. There is a lot of Asian influence all over Australia and you also meet some Asians, Chinese and Japanese. This experience was also very positive, as these cultures are very different from the European one. That was really very interesting and I learned a lot. Overall, I have the feeling that I was able to broaden my personal horizons through my many experiences with different people. That was very important to me and I am glad that I could have such experiences. Incidentally, during the entire time I had almost no contact with Germans in Australia. Not because there aren’t any, on the contrary. But I just wanted to see something different and get to know other people. I know the Germans well enough and my decision was exactly the right one. I made many new friends from Australia, Egypt, America, Canada and Japan. Hopefully I’ll see them again someday and at the same time see a little more of the world. I know the Germans well enough and my decision was exactly the right one. I made many new friends from Australia, Egypt, America, Canada and Japan. Hopefully I’ll see them again someday and at the same time see a little more of the world. I know the Germans well enough and my decision was exactly the right one. I made many new friends from Australia, Egypt, America, Canada and Japan. Hopefully I’ll see them again someday and at the same time see a little more of the world.
I would do a semester abroad again at any time and I would love to add another one. When you get to know so many new friends all over the world you first realize how much of the world you still have to see and how much you still want to experience.
These experiences that I was allowed to make in Australia will now accompany me my whole life and I would recommend everyone who has the opportunity to take this chance. You can only win by doing so, and now I have proof of it. Because I have gained an incredible amount, both in terms of experience and friends. It’s a shame my trip is over.
