How I Merged Academics and Exploration While Studying in Sydney, Australia
My roommate and I posed in front of the iconic University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Tower on the first day of classes. This marked the beginning of our academic journey at the CEA CAPA Study Center, where many of our classes and study sessions would take place.
Before arriving in Sydney, I usually segmented my life into two distinct categories: “student” and “adventurer.” I assumed that my term abroad would be a juggling act between long hours in the library and a rush of weekend sightseeing to check off all the spots I had saved from TikTok and Instagram. There were times leading up to my departure flight that I worried maintaining my grades as a pre-med and STEM major would cost me the cultural immersion I looked forward to.
However, Sydney quickly taught me that the balancing of work and life that we see suggested to us on social media does not mean the two things can’t intersect. I would actually go so far as to say that work and life should be done simultaneously. This photoset records my journey of dismantling the wall between my coursework and this new environment in Australia I call home. Instead of returning to my housing accommodation to write my papers, I made a conscious decision to bring my studies to the very locations that make this city famous and drew me to Sydney in the first place.
The daily commute in Sydney is an experience in and of itself. Catching the double-decker train at Central Station became a ritual, connecting me from my housing to class and the various study spots scattered across the city.
Taking advantage of all of the public study spaces in Australia by moving our group study session to the UNSW Library.
My “office” rotates between the landscape of the Green Square Library and the grassy slopes of Observatory Hill, with its panoramic views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and city skyline. I found that bridging this gap between my deadlines and all the sights I’ve been wanting to visit didn’t just improve my view, but it also deepened my understanding of my curriculum.
Seeking a change of scenery after class, I visited the Green Square Library, which is famous for its suspended aircraft and design.
Working on a presentation about educational opportunity gaps between the US and Australia with a view of the Infinity building.
In my Environmental Debates class, we frequently discuss the Aboriginal connection to the land, which is referred to as “Country.” Reading about Indigenous land management while physically sitting on that land, feeling the wind, and seeing the native biodiversity at the Royal Botanic Garden or Hyde Park helped transformed my understanding of these academic concepts into tangible realities. During these moments, I wasn’t just reading about the environment; I was fully immersed in it.
An inside peek at one of the modern classrooms for my Environmental Debates class, where we sat in groups to lead a class discussion on a topic of environmental concern in the area.
My friend and I diving into research on water supply for our Environmental Debates class. We often utilized the student lounge to bounce ideas off each other before heading out to see the sites we were writing about.
This photoset moves from the traditional commute and classroom setting to the public spaces where I feel my real learning took place. As you take a look, I hope you see how a laptop screen looks against the backdrop of Sydney’s world-famous Harbour Bridge and how group projects happen under the Sydney summer sun in the courtyards of UTS rather than in lit-up classrooms.
Writing a paper with the Sydney Harbour Bridge as my backdrop. This moment perfectly captured my goal of blending tourism with academics by reading about the history of the land while sitting on top of one of its most scenic points.
I want prospective students to learn that studying abroad doesn’t mean sacrificing your academic goals for travel, or vice versa. The city is your campus. I'm learning that by romanticizing my study sessions and seeking out new environments, I can find a rhythm where academics and cultural exploration fuel each other rather than being separate entities. Studying abroad in Sydney makes me excited to carry this mindset back home and remind myself that even in familiar surroundings, changing my environment can change my perspective.
Enjoying the sun and greenery at a campus outdoor workspace. Being able to study surrounded by palm trees and fresh air did wonders for my mental health.
Focusing with a view of the Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park. Watching the city move below while I worked gave me a sense of connection to Sydney's history and daily life, even when I was deep in an essay.
