TV & Media Production Study Abroad Programs in Sydney, Australia

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!

My time in Sydney with IES Abroad was a memory I'll keep for the rest of my life. Although it had its hard moments (don't underestimate how much homesickness or a hard class can hit you), there were so many amazing experiences I got to have, like seeing quokkas in person or building a group of friends from all over the world. It was a great opportunity to expand my horizons and learn who I am as a person halfway across the world from the same people and places I've always known.

My study abroad experience in Sydney, Australia with IES Abroad was nothing short of transformative. From the moment I arrived, I was welcomed into a vibrant, multicultural city that offered endless opportunities for both academic growth and personal exploration. One of the standout aspects of my experience was the incredible support from IES Abroad. The on-site staff were always available to help, whether it was navigating the academic system, offering travel tips, or organizing cultural events. The IES-organized excursions, like trips to the Blue Mountains and surf lessons at Bondi Beach, were not only fun but also helped me bond with fellow students and immerse myself in Australian culture. Academically, studying in Sydney was an enriching experience. My courses were engaging and complemented by hands-on learning opportunities, such as field trips and guest speakers. I was able to deepen my understanding of global issues while exploring Australia’s unique ecosystem, history, and culture. Outside the classroom, I made unforgettable memories exploring Sydney. Whether it was watching a sunrise at the Sydney Opera House, hiking coastal trails, or discovering hidden cafes, the city had so much to offer. I made lifelong friends along the way by saying yes to new experiences, inviting classmates to explore the city together, and stepping outside my comfort zone. One of the highlights of my trip was a spontaneous weekend getaway that introduced me to my closest friends, reminding me that sometimes the best connections happen unexpectedly. Overall, IES Abroad made it easy to navigate the challenges of living in a new country, and Sydney became a second home. I cannot recommend this program enough for students looking for a balance between academics, adventure, and cultural immersion. My time in Sydney has given me lifelong memories, friendships, and a new perspective on the world.

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:)

I applied to this program at the last minute after making an impulsive decision to study abroad in Australia with my friend. I'm so thankful I went with my gut and chose to study abroad in Sydney through IFSA. Everyone I was in contact with there through the whole application process and arriving in Sydney was extremely helpful and cared about giving the students an amazing experience. While in Sydney, I always felt like there was support from IFSA staff available at any time, yet they allowed you to experience your study abroad in your own unique way. I can't emphasize enough how much I loved Sydney and how happy I was there- I'd move back in a heartbeat. I'm so grateful IFSA was able to facilitate such an incredible study abroad experience for me!

Three of the biggest aspects I wanted to achieve on my study abroad experience were: a stress-free time, immersion, and credits that would transfer to my home university. Studying aborad at UNSW, through IFSA-Butler, could not have been more perfect for all of these goals and more. Australia's laid back nature was perfect, and being right next to so much nature (beaches, mountains, etc.) made it almost impossible to be stressed. UNSW also has so many classes available that you are almost guaranteed to find courses to transfer back for credit. The only aspect of my goal that you might have to work towards is immersion. UNSW is a big international school so it is easy to not branch out and meet locals, but Sydney is so big and there are so many opportunists if you work for it!

If I was asked to list my feelings before studying abroad to Sydney, Australia with IFSA, nervous, anxious, and scared would never had appeared. I was excited and prepared to embark on my journey abroad! IFSA had really prepared me before departure with their numerous newsletters that helped me get a feel for what the culture was like and how to navigate daily living like public transportation and healthcare. Even though I was 9,195 miles/14,800 km from home, I felt like I had a family--more importantly, a support system--the entire time. Whenever I had money problems, the IFSA directors were so caring and understanding of my situation and they helped me get back on my feet. They cared about inclusion and diversity which, for an low-income Asian woman, meant the world to me. Because they didn't want anyone to miss out on the amazing experiences and adventures Australia had to offer, they helped me find affordable ways to experience everything whether music, food, culture, and nature. From free concerts to taking full advantage of club events, they gave tips and tricks that made my experience unforgettable. Country Life Weekend was an unforgettable weekend in Bathurst where we could hold baby lambs and get a break from the big city. They also gave free us tickets to see a play and the Australian Ballet in the Sydney Opera House, who can beat that! Armed with the support of IFSA and a great group of friends, those feelings of nervousness that many students have after leaving home to live in another country for a semester easily dissipated. Of course I got homesick at times but at the end of the day, I was going to go home so I thought, might as well make the most of my time now! I would highly recommend this program to anyone--and have been doing so as an IFSA Ambassador--because they studying abroad so enjoyable and exciting!

I studied at USyd during fall 2019 and I am SO glad I did. Even though I was extremely nervous at first about going to a new place by myself, all the advice and facilitation provided by IFSA made the process a lot more daunting. The individual advisor assigned to me was very accommodating, especially with deadlines, and provided detailed answers to all my questions. I got a lot more logistical support from IFSA during pre-departure than I did even from my home school. Once in Sydney, having the program as touchstone was really helpful and helped my anxiety about all of the unknowns a lot. I was able to make other American friends in the program which was great because I had a group of people to do all of the touristy exploration I wanted to do. In my opinion, Sydney itself is the perfect city. I lived just a few blocks away from a train station and could get anywhere very easily, including any of the beaches, which I went to nearly every weekend. I got so used to being recognized by the owner of the neighbourhood coffee shop on days I went in to get my morning flat white. While studying at the University of Sydney, I was able to take courses introduced me to more interdisciplinary modes of thinking that I am now applying to my senior essay back home. Though the class sizes are much larger than I am used to, weekly tutorial sections helped develop discussion further and also gave me the opportunity to meet local students. The only downside was I did not push myself enough to join clubs or organizations with the university, which would have allowed me to make closer Australian friends. I'm graduating next year and have started to consider applying to jobs in Sydney, just to see what could happen.

IFSA was so instrumental in helping me enjoy my abroad experience. The program set up multiple events that helped me meet new people within the program and get comfortable in our new setting. They were also there every step of the way to help us get adjusted to being at a new university, being in a new city, etc. One thing I loved about IFSA as well was the housing. I absolutely loved my roommates; we all had similar goals for abroad, and they all ended up becoming my closest friends. Overall, I highly recommend IFSA if you are looking for a high quality education paired with a great experience socially.

University of Sydney is an amazing university with extremely high quality academics and the perfect location (in the heart of the city but not too far from the beach and beautiful national and state parks), and IFSA gave me the tools to make the most of my experience. Their assistance with direct enrollment allowed me to take amazing classes that I don't have at my home university (one learning about Australian wildlife by going to the zoo and getting behind-the-scene tours of their conservation programs), their research/internship program put me on an amazing ornithology research project, their pre-planned programs gave my opportunities to learn more about Australian culture, and their amazing staff made me feel safe, supported, and gave me the resources and insight to plan my own exciting trips and experiences in and around Sydney. I cannot recommend this program more. Everyone at IFSA is so nice and so supportive, but gives you as much independence as you want while abroad so that you can really customize your experience and make it yours. I had an experience unique from everyone else on my program, but it was absolutely perfect for me.

Studying abroad with IFSA at the University of Sydney has been one of the highlights of my college career. The program was amazing, I loved my classes, and I made really great friends while I studied abroad. One of the reasons that IFSA was so great was because it provided me with so many people to contact throughout the study abroad process, which made me feel supported at every step. In addition, this support didn't feel overbearing, so I was also able to get the sense of independence that I wanted, but have someone to reach out to when I had questions about things like making a doctors appointment in Australia.

My favorite aspect of studying abroad was taking a class titled 'Sport and learning in Australian culture' at the university of Sydney. I learned a lot about Australia, its people, it 's culture and it's history through this class. I also had the opportunity to make great friends and have unique experiences like watching the Rugby World Cub and attending AFL games.

My study abroad experience absolutely changed my life -- especially because of IFSA, the program I went through. Ever since coming back home I have recommended IFSA to every single person I know who is thinking about going abroad. IFSA gave me the full support to be not only comfortable 10,000 miles away from home but able to step out of my comfort zone and grow as a person in the most incredible city in the world - Sydney. I loved learning and being abroad so much that my life has truly truly changed paths because of it -- I am now after graduation going to teach in China for two years in the Peace Corps -- I strongly believe in international education.

Studying abroad through IFSA-Butler was absolutely great. The program was very helpful in making sure everything was in order for us, which not all programs do. I think the best part was the study abroad orientation, where I was able to meet a ton of people. In addition, they set up a bunch of cool activities for us like going to the Blue Mountains. During the semester, they made an effort to keep in touch and took us to the Opera House and did a country life weekend with a host family as well. I would highly recommend.

I had the most amazing time studying abroad at the University of Sydney! The IFSA-Butler personnel were incredible. I built incredible relationships with the staff that were on the ground in Sydney; they made it a point to get to know all of us really well and provided events for us to get to know them, along with our fellow abroad students, better. I felt that I could go to them with anything from questions about where to buy groceries to more serious matters about issues with school or issues that may have occurred back home in the states. Even after we got into a routine and settled into life in Sydney, they still made it a point to invite us to lunch or meet up for events. I love the University of Sydney as well, it provided me an incredible abroad experience. I come fro ma small liberal arts in the states, so going to a big university that was home to over 50,000 students was a huge change, but my professors did a great job of making sure I adjusted well and were available if I had any issues or questions. It was a huge school and it is easy to get lost, but there are so many opportunities to find your niche, even if there for only a semester; I made great friends while there, both natives and fellow abroad students. The campus is gorgeous; it is truly something out of this world. The people are so incredibly friendly, there is always something to do in the Newtown, CBD, and surrounding areas on any given day (week day or weekend), and it is one off the easiest cities to navigate (by car, foot, and public transportation). I could not have been more pleased with my abroad experience. I made incredible friends, learned to be more independent, stepped outside of my comfort zone numerous times, created unforgettable memories, traveled the world, saw and experienced things I never imagined I ever would, and survived 5 months on the complete other side of the world in my own, loving every second of it. I could not have picked a better school to attend, group to go with (IFSA-Butler was amazing), or city to spend my time abroad. It was the adventure of a lifetime and I would not have changed a second of it for the world.

Everyone I have ever met who studied abroad told me, "it was the best decision of my life." Literally, everyone. Because so many people say this, it kind of goes over your head. Well let me tell you, studying abroad was the best decision of my life. No matter where you go, or what you do, you will take part in a life changing experience. There is no other time in your life when you an opportunity like this will present itself. 10/10.

Studying abroad is incredibly rewarding, specifically if done in Sydney, Australia. Deciding to study abroad was the best decision I have ever made. I truly believe it is the best thing you can do for yourself. I learned more about myself than I ever could have thought, and really grew as a person in general. I gained additional knowledge of the world and became more confident in myself. Being independent for so long and so far away from home enabled me to fully immerse myself in the Sydney culture. The experiences I had are unforgettable.

I took 2 biology major courses, and 2 elective credits. They were Microbiology, Immunology, World Religions and Popular Performance in Culture, Music, and Dance. They equated to 16 credit hours. My favorite experience abroad was my trip to Thailand. It's a close call though because I had so many amazing experiences. Some friends and I went there for the break, and we stayed for 13 days. We visited 3 different cities and really became closer, and more immersed in Thai culture. So my best experience was probably my ability to go to so many different countries and experience their cultures. I've never had an experience like that before! Australia was amazing though, and this small review cannot do the program/country any justice, but I think my favorite part was how everything seemed like a completely new experience whether it was flipping on the light switch, driving a car, meeting new people, etc. Sydney and its residents have def became my favorite city/spot on the planet. The food was amazing, and the students at UNSW were so welcoming to me! I made a great group of close friends both Americans, Australians and other students from across the globe. Also I would budget my time and money, and while people think it's stressful-- its honestly allows you to get the most out of the experience. IFSA is amazing; great support for you while you are abroad, and they seem to take care of everything for you, so its minimal stress allowing you to focus on fully immersing yourself in the new culture!

Studying abroad really did change my life. As I left the country for the first time, I had an amazing time living in a new culture. I was challenged to live on my own and make new friends once again after thinking I had figured everything there was out at my home University. I now enjoy taking pictures and traveling much more than I had prior to my experience and I look forward to making mini vacations and traveling the United States more.

I had a wonderful time with IFSA Butler, they did a great job preparing students for the abroad experience as well as facilitating us when in Sydney. I really enjoyed the level of dedication they put into our wellbeing and happiness abroad. They made it easy to get housing and meet people in and out of the program, but also allowed us to do our own thing if we wanted to. I think having a great facilitating program gave me the support and push I needed to have success and a great time abroad.