Semester on the Gold Coast - Bond University

Studying at Bond University is something I will never forget. The school itself had the most beautiful campus I'd ever been on. I was so excited to wake up every morning and walk around campus. It is quiet during the week with so many good spots to study, inside and outside areas. There were many opportunities to attend events and meet other students. I always felt safe on campus whether it was super late at night or just by myself. The facilities and classes are great, and professors are helpful. I would love to go back and finish my schooling there if I had the opportunity.

Thanks to CISabroad, I was able to spend 4 amazing months in Australia! Getting the chance to study abroad is an opportunity of a lifetime. CISabroad has a variety of different destinations, and there were so many places I had considered before choosing a semester on the Gold Coast. My advisor helped me through the process, provided scholarships, and made me even more excited for the journey I was about to embark upon. The team is dedicated to making sure you are safe, happy, and getting the most out of your experience. So, in the Fall of 2018, I left to Gold Coast, Australia, and had the best time of my life. The program includes many excursions that immerse you into the new culture, and they made me feel like a true Aussie! I made so many new friends at Bond University, and many new memories that'll last a lifetime. CISabroad made the transition to Australia, and back, as smooth as possible. I would go back to the Gold Coast in a second. Choosing CISabroad was the best decision I've ever made!

My experience abroad started off being star struck in the Great Barrier Reef in early September of 2018. After a few months at Bond Uni, the Gold Coast and Australia were feeling more like home and less like a dream world, but still just as beautiful and opportunistic. That pretty much lead me to one of my biggest takeaways from the whole trip. Now that I am back home where I have lived my entire life in New Hampshire, I'm realizing all the beauty around me right here, that I hadn't for the first 20 years of my life! Studying abroad brought a tremendously positive light into my life that allowed me to see the true beauty around me and makes me eager to chat with everyone and learn new stories, go on new experiences and live life to the max! It made me realize their is more opportunity in this world then I have time, which just motivates me to go for it and take the adventures and opportunities when their presented. I had no idea what I would get out of this abroad experience, but now looking back, I wouldn't trade that semester for the world. I grew and developed so much as a person and have been given such a wonderful opportunity from CISabroad and Bond Uni. I'm hope to continue traveling, learning, and creating relationships for many decades to come and it's all in thanks to my abroad experience!

I loved my semester on the Gold Coast and would do it again in a heart beat. The onsite staff is one of the best parts of CISabroad. It was so nice to have someone in Australia with us that we could call on at any time (thanks Jackie <3). I would recommend this program because the people are very sincere and you will have an amazing time.

I traveled abroad to Australia through CISAbroad located out of Northampton, MA. I was the only one from my school going through this program so I was nervous to say the least. This program indulged me with new friends right from the start and made me feel welcomed and surrounded by others who were in similar situations as I was. My nerves disappeared as soon as I got off the plane and I was able to create life long friends through CIS. The orientation group was very helpful and taught us ways to learn and dive into the culture in Australia. They were always available for questions and aid and none of us felt like we were alone or in danger. I completely recommend traveling abroad through CIS as it gave me an experience I will never forget and always miss.

To say that a semester abroad was the best four months of your life is a bit cliché, but for me it is absolutely true. I had an incredible experience on the Gold Coast of Queensland. I met heaps of awesome people and saw really cool places and animals. The Lucky Land is a special place.

ABSOLUTELY loved my time abroad with CISabroad! Orientation was run really well and don't worry about struggling to make friends - everybody is in the same boat being in a different country so just say hi! You never know who might become your best friend! Going abroad is all about new experiences and going out of your comfort zone so start off right away just talking and meeting new people in your program. LOVED Jackie Chapman (Gold Coast site director) and CISabroad was so helpful in making my abroad experience fun and memorable. Bond Uni had a great selection of courses for my major and electives. I was able to satisfy a bunch of different requirements for my major and minors and take fun classes that allowed me to learn about Australia. Bond also has a gorgeous campus and amazing facilities that make you feel like you are anywhere but at school. As long as you work on time management and plan out trips ahead of time, you will have plenty of time for travel, adventures, and days at the beach. I lived off-campus in Varsity Shores and it was a bit of a bumpy road with management in the beginning of my semester, but Varsity Shores ended up becoming my home. Had the best group of people living in Varsity Shores and I miss everyone every day. One thing to note about living in Varsity Shores is that you may be living with other people not in CISabroad and they may be older (30s), couples, or other international students. I got lucky and ended up in a house full of other study abroad students so we were able to all share our time in Australia. The Reserves filled up quickly when I was abroad so a majority of the off-campus CIS students were in Varsity Shores. It may sound cliche, but going abroad changed my life and helped me find myself. Being somewhere outside of my little bubble back home pushed me to try new things and be open to everything. I got to see so many amazing things and places and I will never forget any of those experiences. The friends I made through CISabroad are also some of the most amazing people I've ever met and we still talk even 6 months later and we will probably still be talking for the next 6 months and the next 6 months after that. Traveling is the best way to learn about yourself and traveling with others is the best and fastest way to make friends. If I was given the chance to repeat my abroad experience with CISabroad again, I would do it in a heart beat without thinking.

At first, before going abroad I started having second guesses about the country I chose to study abroad but after going I am so happy with the choice I made. School was a little challenging just because of how different the system is from my home University. Although, because it was challenging I feel I have grown efficiently in my academics. Taking classes in a different country gives you so many more learning opportunities. During my time abroad I gained a lot of confidence. Being in a new place with new people was refreshing and I learned a lot about myself. Bond University had many social events that allowed students to become more connected with each other and allowed me to meet people from all over the world. Note: Australia is expensive! Save lots of money to enjoy your time here.

An amazing semester that felt too good to be true. I wouldn't change anything, from the program I went through to the school. There are so many opportunities to travel and try new things, and every week is a new amazing adventure.

My semester would not have been the same had I not gone through CISAbroad. When we arrived in Sydney back in January, I knew two people from my school, but fortunately for me, CISAbroad was a smaller program of only 36 students and I would not have wanted it any other way. To be able to go through a program where you are able to get to know everyone on a personal level makes transitioning to a country much easier. Although we may not have necessarily been friends under other circumstances, everyone got along and joined together as a "family." Jackie Chapman who runs the Australian CIS program is also the most amazing host we could have asked for, she's fun and easy to talk to, and also very organized. Bond University itself is amazing. With a travel agent right on campus, we are able to travel all over with a convenient airport just 20 minutes away if we want to go somewhere for the weekend to explore, which is the whole point of being abroad. The campus is beautiful and has a pool right next to my dorm which is nice to go to between classes if I don't have time to travel to one of the many beautiful beaches that are 20 minutes away via public transportation. The nightlife is crazy with clubs in Surfers Paradise, a bar right on campus that hosts parties, or simply going to a small bar over in Varsity Towers. Everyone is always willing to go out to have a good time. However, Bond is also an extremely difficult school. I have found myself in the library more often than I wish (I'm currently here right now) but I feel that I'm getting a great education for the money that I am paying. All in all, I'm sad to see my semester at Bond coming to an end and I most certainly do not want to leave this amazing country. I am going to return home missing my friends, but more importantly Tim Tams, more than anything. Studying abroad will be the best decision you will ever make, and regardless of whether you choose Bond or not, choose CISAbroad for the best program experience!

My experience in Australia was completely life changing. It pushed me to my limits, testing my worldview and opening my eyes to new adventures. Every moment and memory impacted the way I see myself and the world around me. CISabroad was definitely the right program for me. I met some of the greatest mates from all around the world that I’ll hold in my heart forever. The support I received from Seth before the semester began and the genuine care I felt from Jackie & Keith onsite really helped me feel at home abroad. We also had a wicked cool orientation in Sydney & went on several awesome excursions that allowed me to see more of Australia than I would have on my own! Bond Uni was absolutely incredible. From the gorgeous views on the "thinking stairs" to the canal in the middle of campus with real bull-sharks swimming in it, Bond was constantly impressing me. The professors were helpful both in and outside of class, making study abroad students really feel at home. It’s hard to put into words how much this experience actually impacted me, but I get a smile across my face every time I look back on a memory made through CISabroad.

How did you make the most of your experience in your host city/culture? I made the most during my semester on the Gold Coast by taking the time to get to know the area, the culture, the people that live in the area, and explore as much of the country as I possibly could. Why should the student reading this review choose this CISabroad program? CISabroad gave me the opportunity of a lifetime by accepting me into a program that gave me a once in a lifetime chance to explore a country that was my dream country to live to since I was little. I got to meet so many wonderful people, work with great staff members who work for CISabroad, meet great staff members within the University abroad, and so much more. How did this CISabroad program change your life? CISabroad gave me the most amazing semester of my undergraduate degree. I made life long friends, traveled all over the country that I was studying abroad while also traveling to other countries, and lasting memories all while getting the same education that I could get at my home University. The classes abroad were unique in my major that some of the classes that I took are never offered in any University in the United States. What are some decisions you made that made a positive impact on your overall experience? (e.g. local activities,excursions,homestay,classes, etc.) What did you gain from your CISabroad program? I gained more independence, more confidence, learned how to rely on myself, and so much more.

I wouldn't trade my time on the Gold Coast for anything, I had an amazing time and learned so much through this experience. I made friends that will last a lifetime and learned so much through getting to know people from so many different backgrounds. I would strongly recommend this program to anyone who wants a lot of adventure but also to meet people from all around the world.

My time abroad brought me to so many different people that broadened my horizons and helped bring me to people so different from friends I already had. The wonderful part of study abroad is that it brings together so many people of different backgrounds but with one similar passion: travel. Meeting friends from across the globe is probably one of the best gifts I got from spending a semester abroad.

My experience at Bond in Australia was the best experience I have ever had. Everything about studying abroad was exactly what I expected and more. I have gotten many of my friends to study abroad now in Australia.

Bond University was an amazing Uni. The campus was absolutely gorgeous with waterfalls, a bay in the middle of campus, and completely refurnished buildings. The dorms were comfortable and very spacious for doubles. I loved the set up of classrooms and the size was perfect.

My experience with CIS and my trip in Australia were both amazing. The staff of CIS Abroad are very nice, and are willing to help with everything. The Gold Coast is wonderful, a place you can pursue so many different hobbies as you have beaches in one direction and small mountains in the other. Bond Uni is a great school with a beautiful campus, great professors and a lot of help available if needed.

Once arriving in Australia, everything went smoothly with CISabroad. I had many problems with the application process before leaving America. I had the time of my life in Australia! If you do not travel abroad for one semester, you really are hindering your college experience!

Studying abroad was the best decision I have ever made. It opened my eyes to so many new things and opportunities and it shows you that there is more out there than just where you're from. CIS Abroad did a great job setting everything up for us to make sure we had the best possible experience. I personally studied abroad at Bond University in Gold Coast, Australia and I would recommend that place to anyone. Australia is such a beautiful country. Thank you CIS for everything, and I am so happy I have the memories to reminisce upon.

The Gold Coast of Australia is the perfect place to study abroad. It is surrounded by great cities that each have something different to offer. Brisbane- a fast paced city that always has something going on, Byron Bay- a relaxed place that comes together with music, and Surfers Paradise- a beach surrounded by shops. They each have a fun night life as well. Loved seeing one of my favorite bands at the Beergarden in Surfers Paradise. Great place to hang out near the bar or get really close to the stage.