Country Guide: Australia
By Andrew Lee, who interned abroad on the IES Abroad Sydney Summer – Internship program in Summer 2026.
Why did you choose the location you studied abroad in?
I chose Australia because I wanted to go to an English-speaking country for my first time traveling. I was also very intrigued by the Aussie culture and wanted to see the differences from the United States. There were many cool spots I saw online in Australia that I wanted to see, so I also came here to travel throughout the country on the weekends. Sydney was my top choice due to its proximity to beaches and mountains and the overall scenic city life thriving there.
Describe the city you studied in.
Sydney feels very similar to a coastal city such as Miami. There is still the rush hour feel that Charlotte might give, but with a more relaxed and friendly feel. The city itself has a nice mix of historical and new with great shopping areas in Haymarket and great food in Chinatown. The weather in Sydney during the winter is relatively mild with temperatures staying around 50 to 60 degrees throughout the day with mostly sunny days. The coastal feel is very heavy in this city with many people waking up before work to check out many of the coastal beach walks or go for a run.
Day-to-day Transportation
The public transportation in Sydney is excellent with many different forms of public transportation including buses, trains, metro, and ferries. The city is also relatively walkable depending on where you live with most things only being a few miles away at most. Grocery stores are also very prevalent and nearby. Sydney utilizes something called an Opal card to pay for all public transit services. A credit card can also be used as an alternative. This system has a weekly cap of $50, which I found myself hitting rather quickly as public transit during peak times tends to be pricey. A one way on the light rail to would cost me around $4! Google Maps and other services are very reliable about showing accurate routes and times for transit, which is a big help for navigating the intricate bus systems. Uber is also very popular and tends to be cheaper than the United States.
Personal Travel
I chose to travel across the East Coast because it was relatively easy to use planes and trains to get around. The unfortunate thing about Australia is that the country is so spread apart that the best way to get around is by plane. Short train rides are great for nearby towns, but planes are best suited for hitting the major cities across the East Coast. Booking flights is a relatively easy process by taking cheaper airlines like Jetstar and finding accommodations to stay at is made easy through Booking.com and Expedia. Generally, for traveling cheap a plane ticket would land around $200-$300 for a round-trip weekend and making use of cheap Hostels would be around $80. Public transit is a lot cheaper in every city outside of Sydney so make use of it when traveling. The major places I traveled to across the East Coast were Canberra, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Melbourne, and Cairns. All these places were uniquely different and offered a different part of Australia such as scenic beaches, historical artwork, and The Great Barrier Reef.
Food
The food in Australia is very similar to the United States with a lot of food like burgers and steaks. Seafood is also very popular due to being very close to the ocean. Café culture is super popular here so you can expect to find a lot of good coffee (popular US chains like Starbucks do not perform well here) and pastries. Some popular Aussie snacks and food items include Meat Pies, TimTams, and Vegemite. Sydney has a lot of great Asian spots clustered withing Chinatown. A neat spot I would recommend is the Sydney Fish Market to get a bite to eat with a variety of food spots. My favorite food were Meat Pies and my least favorite was Vegemite.
Language
Australia primarily speaks English, so it was a very easy adjustment. The accent over there is relatively easy to adjust to. The only challenging part was getting used to the different words used and the several popular slang words.
Differences in Culture
Australia and the United States are culturally very similar as they were both Britain colonies at a certain point. The culture is more laid back than the United States and easy going. Within the workplace more people are talkative, and the typical corporate hierarchy is not as prevalent. Australians live by something called Tall Poppy Syndrome where everyone is on the same level as each other and no one should try to place themselves above one another. Workplace culture is more shared workspaces versus individual stations and is generally more collaborative.
Locals
The locals in Australia are very laid back and respectful compared to some of the culture in America. Sydney is not as friendly as some of the other cities like Melbourne or Gold Coast, but locals will still strike up a conversation. I did not befriend too many locals in Sydney as I was working or traveling most of the time, but I did make a lot of friends when I traveled to new areas.
Events, Festivals & Holidays
One of the coolest events I attended was the Vivid Sydney event. This is a multi-week event where lights are displayed across the Sydney Harbour. Not many other events occurred during my time here, but there is a variety of events that would happen on campus at UNSW and in the Sydney community. Attending an Opera House show is a must see as they offer a variety of performances.
Culture Shock
I did not experience much culture shock coming here due to the similar structure of the countries. However, one thing I found surprising at first was getting used to doing things on the opposite side. For example, people walk, drive, and have things positioned on the left whereas in the United States we would have it on the right. After a couple weeks I adjusted well to this.
What type of housing did you live in?
I lived in an 8-person apartment on UNSW (University of New South Wales) campus with other interns in my group. All of my roommates were different students from across the United States. This was the only style of housing available for this program. The amenities were standard living room and kitchen, bathrooms, and personal room all located in the same unit. Laundry was for the whole building and unfortunately costed money to use.
Where was your housing located?
Housing was located directly on the UNSW campus in the UNSW Village. The campus is in Eastern Sydney. Classes are very close by and only a couple minute walk from the housing. On my working days I had around a 30 minute commute to the city where I worked near Chinatown. The housing was in a convenient spot with great access to the nearby light rail and bus stops.
Academic Environment
I did not have much of an academic experience as most study abroad students have due to the nature of my program. However, class structure for my class was more laid back and discussion based than typical United States classes. Academics are more rigorous here than the United States and work is graded more strictly.
What was the cost of living abroad?
The cost of Sydney is like the cost of living in Charlotte. Housing in Sydney is more expensive than Charlotte is but certain areas like groceries can be cheaper if you buy the right things. Local produces vegetables and products like chicken are generally cheaper than they are in the United States. However, products like dairy and eggs are very expensive. Laying out a grocery budget and buying cheaper foods is crucial here. I made a big budget tracker to track my weekly expenses and be aware of how much I was spending. Using this method helped me stay well under my budget. Many museums and activities throughout Australia accept foreign student ids, so I was able to use this to get discounts to many attractions.
Communication
The main thing I used for communication across Australia was a eSIM. I purchased from a local provider called Optus and got access to near 100GB per month and an Australian number. I used WhatsApp to call my family to avoid using international minutes on my eSIM plan. This plan costed around $50 in total for the whole trip. I would recommend communicating to friends and family abroad using apps like WhatsApp, iMessage, or FaceTime and then purchasing an eSIM for making calls within the country you are staying.
Packing
Packing is an essential part of studying abroad and the most crucial for having a great experience. The most important thing is to bring important documents like a passport, visa, and any paperwork you may need. Second, bring a variety of clothes for each occasion but be sure to leave room in your suitcase for souvenirs. I would recommend bringing essential technology pieces like the correct power adapters and a power bank. Handheld luggage weighers are nice for long weekend trips when you must meet strict weight requirements. I would recommend leaving behind bulky clothes items and only bringing essential shoes to save space.
Why did you decide to study abroad?
I decided to study abroad to gain a unique experience while being able to work in a foreign country. I was able to do so much throughout my trip. I was able to push myself outside of my comfort zone and learn more about myself. I also used study abroad to gain travel experience, so I could learn how to travel by myself. I gained such valuable experience studying abroad and unlocked a new part of myself.
What part of your experience made the greatest impact on you?
The solo trips I did on the weekends made the greatest impact on me throughout the trip. Initially, I was scared to travel by myself, but it made me more outgoing as I went around every weekend. I met so many amazing people throughout this journey and it is truly one of the highlights of my life. I also got to see a lot of Australia that I would not have experienced if I had stayed in Sydney throughout my entire trip.
In your opinion, why should students study abroad?
I absolutely agree that students should study abroad if they have the opportunity. Study abroad can be quite expensive without scholarships, but if you have the savings, it is a worthwhile experience if you make the most of it. I recommend getting outside of the city when you get the chance as there is so much to explore outside of the base city. Study abroad can provide valuable connections for future employment and the chance to connect with friends around the globe.