Visiting Australia for a study abroad program is an amazing experience, but joining a study abroad program in Sydney is even better.

If you happen to visit Sydney for a:

• Summer study program abroad then you should visit Bondi Beach. One of the most popular beaches in Sydney, there are always things to do both during the day and night, from catching some sun to visiting popular cafes and restaurants at night.
• Semester abroad Sydney program you should visit Darling Harbour, which is located in the Sydney central business district. With some of the best shopping around, as well as museums like the Australian National Maritime Museum and the Powerhouse Museum, this is the perfect location for sightseeing.

When you study abroad Sydney, Australia you will see some of the most amazing natural wonders in the world, so be prepared for non-stop fun.

Sydney Study Abroad Programs

Study abroad universities in Australia offer a wide range of classes and programs for international students.

• The University of Sydney has an international reputation for its excellence in teaching and research. With up to ten campuses in different locations boasting historical sandstone buildings with large courtyards, there’s always something to do. International students can take classes in art, architecture, media, communications and music, and when classes are over there are many sports and social clubs that students can join to interact with each other.
• The University of South Wales is located in Kensington, which is a suburb of Sydney. It is known for its science, engineering and technology courses, but you can also take classes in everything from fine arts and political science to criminal justice and banking. With over 200 university partnerships around the world and over 9,000 international students a year, the University of South Wales is a great place to gain study abroad credit.

Other study abroad Sydney programs include those at:

• Macquarie University
• University of Western Sydney.

For more study abroad Sydney information, see the Universities section, and for ideas to help pay for your experience see Financial Aid for Study Abroad.

How to Travel in Sydney

Sydney has one of the largest public transportation systems in all of Australia, so there are many different ways to travel from one place to the next.

• One of the most popular ways for Sydney citizens to travel is by bus. Operated by the State Transit Authority of New South Wales, the buses carry an average of 600,000 people per day and stop at over 300 routes. Bus tickets are very affordable and some lines even offer sightseeing packages of some of the best tourist attractions in Sydney.
• Some popular sightseeing bus systems in Sydney are the Sydney Explorer and the Bondi Explorer. You can also find a complete list of maps and tickets for busses in Sydney at http://www.sydneybuses.info/.
• Railways are another popular way to travel in Sydney. Over 900,000 people use the railways everyday, which are open for up to 20 hours a day. The main passenger rail service in Sydney is City Rail, which covers most of the entire city of Sydney. The service even offers student rail passes for the entire year.
• Other ways to travel in Sydney are by taxi and car rental. You can book a cab at Taxis Combined, which is the largest taxi company in the city.  You can also use a site like Ginz.com, which shows all the best deals for car rental companies like Avis, Budget and Hertz in Australia.
• Finally, you can always rent a motorbike from a company like Bikescape. You can rent a bike on your own and do a self-guided tour designed by yourself or by the company.

As always, no matter what country you travel in, always follow study abroad health and safety guidelines to ensure that you are safe.

Exchange Rates for Australian Currency

Australia was the first country to use plastic bank notes, which greatly reduced counterfeiting activities. These notes hold images of the Australian environment and are easily recycled.

Here’s what you need to know about the currency:

• Coins = 5, 10, 20, 50, $1 and $2
• Bills = 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100

You can use an Australian currency converter like the one here to compare other amounts of U.S. dollars.

Other Places to Visit in Sydney

Sydney has a variety of historical and modern day attractions to visit, such as:

• The Rocks, which is one of the oldest places in Sydney. It is a tourist center located in the inner-city that features buildings with colonial architecture, tons of craft shops, fine dining restaurants and even archaeological dig sites.
• The most famous 20^th century building in the world, the Sydney Opera House. The building is not only uniquely modeled after expressionist architecture, but it also shows a wide variety of beautiful ballet, musical and theatrical productions.
• The Taronga Zoo, which is home to over 2,600 species of animals from eight different geographic locations, the most popular being koalas and kangaroos. You can even take classes to learn more about the animals or to become an intern.
• The Sydney Aquarium, where you can get a view of over 6,000 sea creatures that are native to Australia. The aquarium has various glass tunnels where visitors can see sharks swim overhead, and there’s even a coral cave and a tropical touch pool.

Important Study Abroad Sydney Information

When you study abroad in Sydney you should always keep a list of important numbers with you in case of an emergency. Also, be sure to check with your school or program for any additional information you might need:

• American Embassy (Sydney) Telephone (02) 9373-9200.
• City of Sydney Homepage offers information on all of Sydney’s government, arts and cultural organizations.
• Sydney Online lists information on the best sights to see, places to eat and accommodations in Sydney.