Daniel Stasin - Study Abroad Student
South Africa

Training three times a week as well as competing at track meets allowed me to take my athletics performance to another level. That would not have been possible without the UQ facilities and sports staff.

I went on exchange at The University of Queensland in semester 2, 2010. It was the best term of my university career.

As well as taking psychology, economics and poetry courses, I made extensive use of the wonderful athletics track from the first week of my arrival.

My lectures and lecturers were dynamic and I found the lecture content of my courses often stimulated me to study beyond the course requirements.

At UQ I developed on so many levels. I would recommend the experience to anyone contemplating a semester abroad.

Isaac Freeman - Study Abroad Student
Canada

There are so many wonderful things about UQ. But, if I had to pick only three, I would say that the people, the location, and the educational experience are what really make it stand out.

A school is no better than the people that comprise it, and UQ excels in this regard. Almost everyone I have met, students, faculty, and staff, have been incredibly welcoming, helpful, and friendly.

The location is equally fantastic. UQ has a wonderful ‘campus feel', with beautiful green lawns and great facilities. And because it is the educational experience truly defines a university, it’s worth mentioning that UQ excels here as well. All of my professors are extremely knowledgeable and seem genuinely interested in their fields of study. These things make for a truly fantastic university experience.

Mairead Mackinnon - Exchange Student
Canada 

I chose UQ because I had heard so many good things about Brisbane! It has a warmer climate than Sydney or Melbourne, and is so close to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

UQ has enabled me to take journalism courses, which my host university does not have, and I am hoping to come back for my Masters next year.

I am taking Gothic Literature at the moment, which is unlike any other English class I have ever taken. We are reading everything from Dracula to Twilight. The themes are really dark and mysterious. There is a lot of student participation and discussion in the tutorial, which definitely makes the course more interesting!

I lived at Union College last semester, which was the best decision! I absolutely loved it. I instantly made friends, and there were always social events going on. 

Siyuan Weng - Exchange Student
Singapore

My semester at UQ as an exchange student was a rather fulfilling one. I had the opportunity to experience a different kind of lifestyle that I would have never been able to experience in my home country. 

UQ’s pleasant environment made it easy for me to adapt to the different kinds of culture and activities, and the University's student bodies made me feel welcome and at home.

I had the chance to learn more about Australia through a particular course, Australia’s Terrestrial Environment, where I went on field trips and visited places such as the Brisbane Forest Park and had a 5-day Fraser Island trip.

The academic system in Australia is indeed quite different from what I am used to in Singapore, and I find that students’ opinions and views are valued and very much taken into consideration.

Besides academics, I joined QUEST, a student organization for international students and made many friends from other parts of the world. I was able to go on a trip to Stradbroke Island to learn more about the aboriginal culture of Australia. Being able to participate in all these activities was an eye opener for me and made me more receptive of differences among people.

Through this exchange semester I have also learnt to become a more independent and responsible individual. This was particularly important to me as it was a step towards being a better and more mature person. I enjoyed my semester of exchange in UQ thoroughly and would definitely love to have more overseas experiences in future.

Steven Oishi - Exchange Student
Canada

With my courses at UQ, I got to travel to so many place like Heron Island, Moreton, Straddie, and lots of National Parks. It’s the BEST way to learn about Australia because it was very hands-on.

For our assignments and labs we would actually travel to places where we could do practical learning of the subject. For example in Marine Biology, my class went to a research station in Moreton Island (right on the water!). My group collected crabs from the beach and we tested their aggressiveness in 1vs1 arena battles. Fun and learning all in one.

There’s always something happening on campus… Wednesday markets, live music, parties at Red Room (campus bar), frequent BBQs, club events, sports.

The QUEST club at UQ was the easiest and best way to meet international people, and some locals! I made loads of awesome friends from countries all over the world and we went on heaps of trips to places like Byron Bay, Gold Coast Hinterlands, camping at Giraween. All of my travel buddies are now lifelong friends.

Quest also holds lots of social events (movie nights on campus, lawn bowls, boat party and more). They’re the best club at UQ (really, they have the award to prove it. Not joining QUEST shouldn’t even be an option for international students!!!!

I choose to study in Australia because it has lots of great universities that offer courses I can’t take at my home university like Music, Australia’s Terrestrial Environment, Marine Biology, etc. Brisbane is also great because it’s just a train ride away from the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast.

I would advise other students waiting to come to UQ to stay for two semesters because everyone that has come for one wishes they could have stayed for longer.

Steven was the winner of the 2011 'Discover Your Future Unlimited' video competition organised by Austrade North America.

Thomas Hering – Study Abroad
Germany

When I first came to UQ I was really impressed by the huge variety of small restaurants, shops and other services.

Whether you want to buy a bike, books, taste Asian food or just reheat your precooked meal in one of the free microwaves, you'll find everything you need. Personally, I love having a coffee from one of the many coffee shops on campus every now and then.

UQ offers a broad range of helpful facilities and services. All my courses use the "Blackboard" learning platform, which stores recorded lessons, course profiles and other learning resources. Blackboard is often used by students for discussion purposes too. There is wireless Internet connection in every lecture theatre on campus as well as in the Great Court.