What is it like to live and study in Australia? Find out about the Australian way of life and imagine yourself as a student at Charles Sturt University Sydney or Melbourne.
If you are seriously thinking about learning in another country, you'll have hundreds of questions about what it is like and will you fit in?
Trust us, it is amazing. So while we can't answer everything, here are a few talking points to give you a taste of what to expect from a real Australian study experience.
Australian people are friendly and welcoming. We are a multicultural country, with 29% of our population born overseas and more than 260 languages spoken in Australian homes.
Clubs and societies offer you the chance to meet and network informally with other students. If you have an interest in something and a club does not exist, you could consider starting your own group as a way to meet people with a similar interest.
Sydney has a clean and pleasant climate throughout the year (ranging from 17c in winter to 26c in summer) so whether getting around by bike, making the most of the beaches or exploring this fantastic city on foot, you’re sure to fall in love with the sunny climate (over 300 days per year).
Melbourne has four seasons – summer (December to February), autumn (March to May), winter (June to August) and spring (September to November). Average temperatures range from 7°C (44°F) in winter to 26°C (79°F) in summer, creating a mild environment that allows for outdoor activities year-round. October brings the highest rainfall, with an average of 66mm throughout the month.
Sydney Campus - North Sydney
Located in North Sydney, the campus is conveniently connected to a great public transport system and road network, making it accessible to commuters travelling from all over Sydney and the surrounds by car, bus, train, ferry or bike.
CBD – approx. 5km
Chatswood – approx. 6km
Melbourne Campus - Melbourne CBD
Melbourne is renowned for having a well-developed, user-friendly public transport system, allowing passengers to travel in and around the city by train, tram or bus with ease.
Melbourne is home to the largest tram network in the world, offering plenty of routes and tram stops within the CBD. The City Circle tram is a popular travel line that provides a free service around the perimeter of the city, including a stop within a 3-minute walk of our Bourke Street campus.
To access other tram routes and additional public transport options, you’ll need to purchase a Myki smartcard - a reusable, prepaid card that allows for flexible travel on Melbourne’s trains, trams and buses. You can purchase and manage your Myki card online via Public Transport Victoria.
Some of the top attractions in Melbourne and surrounding areas include:
Australia is generally a safe place to live and our health system is considered one of the best in the world. At Charles Sturt, we have a range of services and information available to help keep you healthy and happy. If you need medical attention in Australia, your Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) should cover:
Sydney is student-friendly city, ranked #7 on the QS Best Student Cities 2023 list and is a popular city for international students due to its safety, employment opportunities, affordability and desirability. Along with being student-friendly, Sydney is a relaxed, safe and friendly city to study and travel ranked #4 in the economist’s ‘Safe Cities Index 2021’.
Similarly, Melbourne is globally recognised as being a safe, welcoming location to live, work and study based on the city’s quality of education, infrastructure, healthcare, culture and stability. Hosting more than 180,000 international students per year†, Melbourne’s diverse multicultural population is a large part of its charming personality.
† Study Melbourne (State Government of Victoria) 2024