Sustainable Development Study Abroad Programs in Australia & Oceania

I would definitely recommend CIEE Study Abroad to a friend, because the program offers so many opportunities that are engaging and interactive. I love the flexibility within the program and how the classes are structured in a way that we can still explore on our own and be self paced.

Studying abroad in Sydney with CIEE was such an amazing experience. The staff were incredibly friendly, approachable, and always willing to help, especially when I was feeling a bit alone or just wanted something fun to do. The program itself is fantastic; there’s so much to do and explore in Sydney, and being at UNSW made it easy to take advantage of everything. Overall, it’s such an energizing and supportive environment, and I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants to study abroad in Sydney!

Studying abroad in Sydney with IES Abroad was the best decision I made throughout my time in university. The IES staff was friendly and helpful—it was clear from day 1 that they really care about their students. The activities they organized for us were both fun and unique, and it allowed us to get to know each other well from the start. If you have a concern, they will always do their very best to help you address it, even if it’s technically not in their job description. I always felt comfortable and well taken care of—I knew I had a support system if I ever needed help, which is extremely important when moving to a new place. IES also works with a kind and highly competent psychologist that can help with the transition and any difficult emotions that may arise when moving abroad (and the fee is covered by our insurance). Attending University of Sydney was also a great experience for me. It’s a big school and they have so many different events and communities, which makes it easier to make friends. They have hundreds of clubs, ranging from academic and professional to niche interests. The classes are mostly high quality, and the professors are helpful and good at what they do. I was also able to take a service-learning class while at USYD, with which I went on a 12 day field trip to Northern Queensland to work with an Aboriginal Corporation. This allowed me to learn more about Australia’s complicated history, and to apply what I’ve learned in the classroom to real life scenarios—as well as make friends for life! Furthermore, I took an internship class at USYD, in which I completed a semester-long internship placement with a company of my choosing. USYD provides many opportunities for students to excel both academically and professionally. Sydney itself is also a great city! There is always something to do, but you can easily escape the big city feel by retreating to more quieter neighborhoods or the surrounding natural environments (beaches, parks, mountains).

I have loved this experience! Being abroad with a supportive helpful group was such a game changer, I was so nervous traveling abroad alone for the first time and the CIEE staff and other participants have helped it be a super smooth transition and trip:)

Fiji is an excellent place to have new cultural experiences. In addition to the rich Fijian culture, the University of South Pacific has students from many different pacific island nations, and the cultural diversity is widely celebrated. If you love to snorkel, scuba dive, surf, or just spend time next to/in the ocean, Fiji will be the perfect place for you. I have so many unforgettable experiences with sharks, rays, and other tropical fish and animals.

Great staff who have stayed connected even a year after returning home. They partnered me with a great internship where I learned so much and made so many friends. The CEA CAPA program students are all so excited to be there and explore, it is a great community to be a part of. I wish I could go back!!!

I attended the very first scholar games in Fiji! It was the best experience of my life! We attended class in the morning and then competed in various survivor like challenges while involving class questions. I became very close with many other students from all across the US and students from Fiji. I learned so much in such a short amount of time. I will never forget my experience and will forever cherish the memories I made.

I loved my time in Sydney Australia. The city was awesome and full of things to do. The atmosphere was safe and friendly. I made a lot of great friends from all over the world that I still keep in contact with. The academics are challenging but also very rewarding. I would highly recommend to anyone.

Before I arrived in Australia, we had pre-departure meetings that explained everything to us in detail & got us (in my opinion) pretty prepared for what to expect. We were greeted pretty much upon arrival in Sydney and now that my exchange has ended I truly could not have had a better time. I met the most amazing people and friends, my AIFS advisor Andrea was the best ever (we called her our Aussie mum), we always felt taken care of. AIFS had field trips planned also so we could see some iconic tourist spots and we went together with our program which made it more fun too. Our living was nice in a safe building with lots of security and super close to campus but also near the light rail which made public transport so easy. I could not have had a better experience and I’d do it again 100x over if I could

Before coming to Sydney, AIFS had meetings with us so we’d know just what to expect which definitely made us all feel better. Once we got here we met eachother & our advisor and from then on it was nothing short of the best experience. The trips we all took together & friendships we’ve made I couldn’t have asked for more

Tremendous staff. Environment is like none other and they accommodate well. For Seville, the city has been tremendous and CIEE gives you a proper introduction to this magnificent city. Whether an intern or a student during one of the sessions, you can get along with everyone and overcome the anxieties of a new city

I would be very likely to recommend CIEE Study Abroad to a friend because this program gives you many opportunities to explore the city you are in as well as the surrounding areas. All of the employees are very kind people who will be their to uplift and support the students who are abroad.

Came in knowing little about starting a business. In a single week, I was pitching my business idea to real investors. Best learning experience I have ever undertaken, couldn't recommend something more than this. I also have permanent access to their thriving community of entrepreneurs. A super positive group of people, wouldn't want to miss an opportunity like this

I Love your camaraderie, connections, and insights given by the HEX tutors and alumni. I was not sure at first, But the HEX program gave me the confidence to put myself out there, experience each of a start-up, from ideation to conceptualization, rapid prototyping, user-testing, passing by market research, interviews, surveys. This roadmap for start-up building helped me visualize the journey ahead for me. HEC connected me with founders and experts in their field, we discussed their shortfalls, successes, and sacrifices. I could not recommend the HEX Program enough.

I guess from a personal and emotional perspective, HEX has taught me the value of resilience and powering through something even though it’s hard. Because by the time you come out at the other end, you may just be rewarded with something unexpected (like winning a pitch!). From a skills perspective, I didn’t really consider myself as an entrepreneur, but this program has allowed me to see things from an entrepreneur’s perspective and what it takes to put up a business from ideation to pitching.

The 5 day sprint program is an intense, collaborative, and an unmatched experience. It gives you an opportunity to not only build on your start-up idea but also to connect with industry experts that can provide the much needed validation and advice. This program introduces you to several techniques to refine and validate your idea. HEX's staff is very supportive and makes sure that every minute you spend is worthwhile. To sum up, this program is a great way to network and grow personally.

HEX was a powerful experience. It's a unique program structure, building an idea from scratch and pitching it with the help of inspiring mentors. Not to mention the exciting social and networking events where I made new friends and connected with amazing minds from all over the world. This is where an aspiring entrepreneur's journey begins.

I wanted to thank you again for the incredible opportunity this year., It was a transformative experience for me and I am very grateful to have worked with you on it. Thanks for uplifting me with confidence and opportunity!

Out of the entrepreneurial extracurriculars I’ve taken, HEX was the first arena that enabled me to explore my own idea. Often, I’d do team based work or work on someone’s case idea. I’ve realised that I don’t need to get into the legal/diplomat professionals to make an impact in the social impact space

It was a pleasant experience to work and study with incredible people. All the guests are amazing which let me learnt many things that I might not have chance to learn in the uni. Mentors are extremely helpful and friendly. Love to work with Hex!!!