The alluring Land Down Under is known for its cultural diversity, spectacular range of landscapes, and laid-back culture. The sheer variety of Australia's locations, peoples, and programs guarantees you'll find the experience you want. Outside its popular cities of Sydney and Melbourne, venture into tropical rainforests, the Outback's red desert, or the Great Barrier Reef. You can pair your adventures with studies of the environment and sustainability, or take a different path in physics, global security, or an internship. The nation’s capital, Canberra, has all the attractions of a major city in a smaller area where you can also enjoy hiking, skiing, and cycling. In any city you are sure to gain new perspectives on Aboriginal society and the Asia-Pacific region.
Questions about study abroad?
Get Application Support
Connect with our advising team to get your questions answered and start planning your study abroad experience! Here are some of the advising options available:
- Interactive workshops to set goals, explore academic and funding resources, and prepare your application.
- Drop-in advising to speak with region-specific advisors.
- Individual virtual sessions for specialized guidance focused on your target region.
- Don't forget to meet with advisors at your home UC campus for academic planning, major credit petitions, and campus financial aid.
Funding and Affordability
Paying for Study Abroad
Your UC financial aid, grants, and scholarships travel with you, and some programs cost less than a term on campus. Explore the Making Study Abroad Affordable Guide (written by UC students who've done it) for budgeting tips, estimating your expenses, and making your global experience fit your financial plan.
Planning Steps to Study Abroad
Mapping Your Study Abroad Journey
Preparing to study abroad takes up to a year, and the best way to avoid missing out is to start right now. Deadlines for program applications, travel documents, course approvals, and scholarship applications arrive quickly. Check our interactive timeline to pinpoint your next step for this term and keep your plans on schedule.
Academic Planning for Study Abroad
Stay on Track to Graduate
Studying abroad integrates into your degree when you plan ahead. Discover how UC credit transfers, explore courses that satisfy major or general education requirements, and read student tips on planning what courses to take abroad. Connect with your campus advisor early to build a schedule that aligns with your graduation timeline.
Family and Support
Involve Your Support Network
Bringing your family into your study abroad plans early helps everyone feel confident and prepared. Share key details about health, safety, finances, and academic credit using our family and support network guide. For advice on starting informative and constructive conversations, check out our tips for talking with your family and friends about your global goals.
Within three months in Queensland, I was able to conduct two full research projects on North Stradbroke Island in Moreton Bay and Heron Island in the southern Great Barrier Reef. Australia could not have come at a more perfect time in my personal and educational life. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity.
I have never had the experience of learning something in the classroom and then seeing it firsthand every single day. Knowledge never came as easily or stuck with me as it did in Australia. I am now working on publishing another scientific paper. My confidence in myself and my ability is multitudes higher since returning from my study abroad experience.
This study abroad experience shaped my professional conduct and strengthened my research skills, both crucial self-development for the internships I will be doing in Sacramento and Washington. I wanted to develop myself professionally and socially on my study abroad program, and I successfully achieved this. Now, I feel more confident in my ability to adapt and thrive in the new environments that I will encounter on my educational and professional path.
My internship at the University of Sydney’s Exercise Physiology Department transcended mere academia, offering me an immersive experience that fortified my skills and perspective. This journey, rich in scientific exploration and personal evolution, has solidified my commitment to making meaningful contributions to the field of exercise physiology and beyond.
Studying abroad opened my eyes to a world of opportunities and perspectives. As I navigated a foreign city, and embraced new cultures, every day was a chance to grow personally and academically. I treasure the memories of weekend adventures and collaborating with students from all over the world—all of which shaped me into a more confident and globally minded person.
The professional growth I encountered in Australia broadened my horizons and fostered connections with professionals from diverse sectors. This experience influenced my career aspirations and revitalized my commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion.
While in Australia, I noticed less trash and pollution in public places than in American cities. Seeing the Great Barrier Reef specifically motivated me to spread awareness of the importance of protecting ecosystems through environmental conservation.
My internship experience in Sydney was a journey into art curation, gallery management, and cross-cultural engagement. As I move forward, I’m excited to embark on a career that merges my love for art with my desire to connect with diverse communities across the globe.
