“I started thinking about university in Australia years ago; I always knew I wanted to study abroad. Australia is English-speaking, which already takes away a big intimidation factor, but it’s also as a country that’s so different to the UK and I felt it would offer me a very new experience and lifestyle, compared to what England could offer.

“The nice thing about applying to Australia is because the academic year starts in February, it gives you a half gap year. I got to do some travelling in that period after finishing my IB – I went to Australia, to Thailand for a month, and to Finland – plus I had time to really focus on my Australian applications. So I found that break to be a really positive thing. You then start in February feeling fresh, and having had some time out to do what you like.

“University started toward the end of February and I got to Sydney about two or three weeks before the start of the semester, which I’d say was a pretty ideal time to travel. It gave me some time to settle in. The University of Sydney is really good at arranging these pre-semester events where you can meet people, make new friends, get a feel for the University and for your subject. I made sure that I had an event booked in pretty much every other day, and then used the rest of my time to get to see and experience the city.

“I love my degree! I study medical science and so far that’s given me the chance to do a unit in chemistry, another in biology, one in data science and one in leadership. I really like that they allow you to choose four different subjects each semester. A couple of subjects might be compulsory, but then you also get the chance to take electives and the options in terms of what you can study is really great.

“It’s everything that I hoped I’d be studying and has given me the chance to do something new which has been good. In future semesters it will become more focused, but right now things are quite open for me to choose which I really like. I never thought I’d get to study coding during my first year of a medical science degree!

“A really positive thing about Sydney is the sheer number of societies and clubs they offer. At the beginning of the semester I joined about five or six. At the very beginning, during the Welcome Ceremony, all the societies have reps out and they come up to you, explain what they are all about, and try to get you to join. It’s a really good process – it feels very welcoming, apart from anything else!

“Every couple of weeks a club or society will do something – from a small BBQ for people to meet and talk, right up to a weekend camp. I went on the Science Society camp quite early on. We went off for a few days to somewhere outside the city and that’s actually where I met my best friends in Sydney. There were loads of people who went, you do all sorts of activities, it’s a lot of fun. It’s things like that that really help you to make friends because they allow you to meet like-minded people. The events that they run are really varied – escape rooms, bowling, a pub crawl, out to a club – there’s something for everyone.

“I know the idea of university in Australia can feel really daunting; I was definitely stepping outside my comfort zone by going. But the university makes it so easy to try new things and make new friends. My number one tip would be to sign up for everything! You don’t know beforehand what you’re going to like and what you don’t, so just give everything a go.

“There is so much on offer, particularly in the month leading up to the start of the semester and the month after it starts. Every single day something will be happening, so just sign up for everything you can. That’s what I did, and there are people that I met doing that that I just wouldn’t have met otherwise. So even if the events themselves weren’t my cup of tea, the people I met made them worth it! By the first few weeks of the semester I was already in the amazing position of having to decide which groups of people I wanted to spend time with.

“I feel a little bit of a different person now. Before I left for Australia I think I was a more closed person, more introverted. The old me would never have imagined that I would do this; go all the way to Australia to go to university. Once I stepped out of my comfort zone and went, and forced myself to experience all these new things, it gave me a new perspective on life. It made me realise that I really do enjoy having new experiences and trying new things, even though I was perhaps scared to do that before. It’s given me a new outlook on life, really, made me more willing to step out of my comfort zone and it’s been a really positive thing. Nothing really intimidates me anymore.

“Going out to Australia I was definitely apprehensive – thinking is this going to go the way I want it to, am I going to like it, am I going to be able to make friends – but I wouldn’t change a thing now. If I had to do it all again, I would do, 100%. It’s been great.”