With a passion for wildlife, Lily Francis (2024) was attracted to the specialised courses on offer. She is studying a Bachelor of Wildlife Science at the University of Queensland and believes there is no better place in the world to study animals. “The university operates as a fully functioning farm and wildlife sanctuary, so there is an incredible amount of hands-on practicals and excursions, like back-of-house zoo tours and snake-handling classes,” she says.
In his third year of a double degree in Robotics & Mechatronics Engineering and Commerce, Harit Patel (2023) cites the connections to industry as the appeal of Monash University in Melbourne. His involvement in a student engineering team that develops autonomous vehicle and smart infrastructure technologies is a good example of this. As Chief Executive Officer of the team of over 90 students, he has been invited to speak at an international conference on autonomous vehicles, led a team that came first place in a competition in the United States, and showcased the teams’ robots at this year’s Melbourne F1 Grand Prix, opportunities that will be invaluable for future employment.
The application process is relatively straightforward and it helps that New Zealand citizens have domestic student status. Each state has its own platform for applications, and Rasleen Singh (2024) advises that it’s good to have a clear understanding of the platforms well in advance. She applied to six universities across three different platforms before choosing Sydney’s University of New South Wales to study medicine. “You should shortlist your preferred universities early to avoid being overwhelmed when offers are released,” she says. “As the timeline for New Zealand students is quite compressed, being prepared to make a quick decision is vital.”
The cultural similarities between the two countries makes it a smooth transition, as does the fact that home is only a three hour flight away. And Strathallan has provided an excellent foundation for the academic rigour of an international university. Rasleen believes that in addition to the depth of subject knowledge and critical thinking provided by the Cambridge pathway, “Strathallan’s supportive and nurturing environment taught me how to be an all-rounder and balance academic excellence with my broader personal commitments.”
Joan Grey (2024), who is studying dual Business Management and Communication degrees at the University of Queensland in Brisbane, agrees, saying Strathallan has given her a strong skillset. “Strathallan’s consistent workload and assessments meant I arrived at uni already knowing how to stay organised and keep on top of deadlines,” she says. “Also, the Cambridge curriculum converts strongly into ATAR (Australian Tertiary Admission Rank) scores, which are used for university entry in Australia—it’s a score out of 99.95 that ranks your academic performance compared to other students. It all depends on the course you’re applying for, but in my case, because I received strong AS results in Year 12, I was able to get my full university offer in November, just a few months after applying.”
Starting afresh without the support of family and friends is perhaps the biggest challenge, but it forces students to be more self-reliant. “The administrative side of moving is where the real learning curve lies, like managing finances, sorting out bank accounts, and dealing with various Australian government agencies and insurance companies,” says Rasleen. Nevertheless, she describes it as a rewarding experience.
And it doesn’t take long to establish new friendship groups. Both Lily and Joan stayed in a residential college on campus in their first year. “It's a community made up of both Australian and international students, which made it such an easy way to meet new people and settle into life in a new country,” Lily explains. The colleges host a range of events throughout the year for students to get involved in. “There's genuinely never a dull moment; you just have to put yourself out there,” she says. There are also plenty of university clubs and societies to join.
There is no doubt that all four students seem very much at home in their new environments. As well as being passionate about his studies, Harit believes Monash is the right fit. “There’s always something going on at campus, whether it be live music, free food (always a win for hungry university students) or social events,” he says. “Being a relatively new university, the campus is beautiful, with modern buildings and a lot of greenery. Finding the right atmosphere to study and grow has made a big difference to my studies.”
Joan is also loving campus life. “The university has a great atmosphere and is always buzzing with students and events. It’s about a 20-minute bus ride from the CBD and sits on a large, leafy, tropical campus right on the Brisbane River.” And the city has a lot to offer. “It’s relaxed but still has plenty going on. At weekends I love going for an early morning run along the Brisbane River with friends, followed by iced lattes at our favourite café, ‘If You Say So Espresso’. Plus, it’s only about an hour from both the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast, which makes beach trips with friends really easy.”
Listening to the students, it’s easy to understand the appeal of Australia as a university destination. Along with a great education, opportunities and job prospects, Joan points out that it’s not much further than studying somewhere in the South Island, just with the added experience of living in a new country. And the personal benefits are clear according to Lily. “It can feel daunting to move abroad, but spreading your wings and stepping outside your comfort zone is one of the most rewarding things you can do. The experiences, friendships, and personal growth you gain are absolutely worth it.”
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