Studying Abroad at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia

1
Studying Abroad at Murdoch University in Perth,
Western Australia 1Crystal G. Pauley 1ACES Study
Abroad Scholarship recipient
Perth, Western Australia
Introduction During Spring 2005 I participated in
one of the Illinois Programs in Australia. Of
the several programs offered by the Study Abroad
Office, I chose to study at Murdoch University in
Perth, Western Australia. The specific program I
decided on was aimed more towards students
looking for an independent study abroad
experience. Students participating in programs
sponsored by the University of Illinois Study
Abroad Office are typically more self-reliant in
nature since they are not supported by a group of
fellow study abroad students when they arrive at
their host institutions.
Results  Once I arrived in Australia and spent a
few weeks observing the people and the culture, I
realized that a number of the stereotypes I held
were true while others were not. My outback
perspective of Australia did not take into
account its seven major cities, one being Perth.
In Perth life is slightly faster paced than in
the surrounding suburbs, but it is definitely
slower when compared to that in Chicago or New
York City. Even though some of my stereotypes of
Australia were incorrect, a few of the
expectations I had of the people and culture were
fairly accurate. Australians, as I imagined, are
generally very laidback and willing to offer
assistance or advice when asked. As a participant
in the Illinois Program at Murdoch University, I
was integrated into the universitys student
culture, enrolled in university classes, and
lived in on-campus housing. I was enrolled in
four courses at Murdoch University. All of the
courses I took abroad transferred as credit
towards my degree, whether they satisfied general
education requirements or were related to my
field of study. For accommodation, I lived at
Student Village. Students from around the world
were housed in the village, which increased the
amount of interaction I had with international
students. My flatmates were from Singapore,
Malaysia, Japan, and Australia. If I had not
been surrounded by the cultural diversity that
characterizes Student Village, my international
awareness would not have been broadened to the
extent it was. Studying abroad in Australia
allowed me to grow as a person, realize my
strengths and weaknesses, and broaden my
horizons. Even though I was studying abroad on an
academic program, immersing myself in Australias
culture was one of my top priorities. I met
locals through classes and by being active in
Australias society. I attended sporting events,
experienced Australias nightlife, and made an
attempt to have conversations with locals
whenever possible. I quickly learned that in
order to truly experience a countrys culture, a
person must be an active participant.
Murdoch University
Objectives/Hypothesis When choosing a country,
program and host institution, my choices were
influenced by various factors. Even before
visiting the Study Abroad Office, I had an
interest in study abroad in Australia. My
initial interest was largely founded in the
expectations I had of the country and became
amplified after having conversations with
returnees. I expected Australia to have a
laidback atmosphere. The outdoor lifestyle that
I imagined appealed to my appreciation of nature.
I did not expect nor did I desire the hustle of
a city or life to be fast paced. Once I selected
Australia as my study abroad destination, I began
the process of deciding on a program and host
institution. I sought a program that required me
to be more self-supporting therefore, I chose an
Illinois Program in Australia. My options of
host institutions were limited since many of them
did not offer classes that would transfer as
credit towards my degree. I am an Animal
Sciences major, and Murdoch University was the
most highly recommended university for taking
classes in my field of study.
Discussion If asked to recommend an Illinois
Program in Australia, my recommendation would
depend on the person and what he or she was
looking for in a study abroad experience. I
would suggest studying abroad in Perth if a
person wanted to see a face of Australia that
many people do not encounter or if a person was
searching for a more laidback atmosphere. In
particular, I would recommend Murdoch University
if a person was an Animal Sciences major and
needed to take classes abroad that would transfer
as University of Illinois credit. Murdoch
University has a smaller student population
therefore, students typically receive more
individual attention in the classroom. I also
found its location in relation to other towns and
sites to be ideal. Murdoch University is within
a twenty minute bus ride from both Perth and
Fremantle. On weekends a person could also visit
other nearby sites. Occasionally, a few of my
friends and I would go to Margaret River, which
is known for its surfing spots.
Materials and Methods I walked into the Study
Abroad Resource Room with only a faint idea of
the type of program I was looking for. Only
after reading some of the handouts available and
conducting the suggested research was I prepared
to meet with an area advisor. Since I was
interested in studying abroad in Australia, I met
with Jerome Ng. He clarified many of the
questions I had and gave me additional handouts
and information on the programs and host
institutions available. At first, I performed a
general search by briefly viewing and reading
each institutions website. The process of
narrowing down my options involved self-conducted
research in addition to meetings with Jerome.
After several meetings, which become more
detailed and focused over time, I condensed my
list of possible institutions and assigned a
priority to each. It was then time to apply for
acceptance into my institution of choice. Once
being accepted by my institution of choice, I was
required to fill out the necessary paperwork,
complete course approval forms, and attend all
mandatory workshops. I already had a valid U.S.
passport, but I still needed to obtain a student
visa and book my air travel.
Margaret River
If I could do it over again, I would definitely
participate in the Illinois Program at Murdoch
University. Because of studying at Murdoch
University, I made lifelong friends, many of whom
are international, and changed as a person. I
reevaluated many of the concerns and values I had
before studying abroad, and often I altered them
to incorporate my new sense of international
awareness. My concerns broadened to include
worldly issues.