Studying in Sydney: What to do and where to stay
Sydney is hugely attractive for students, both Australians and foreigners. It’s not hard to see why: consistently ranked in the top cities in the world for students, a multicultural atmosphere and chilled way of life draw students from all over. Not only does the city benefit from amazing natural beaches, walks and weather, there’s also a whole host of things to do and opportunities that would impress any seasoned traveller. There’s also a huge variety of places to live : with six universities with their main campus in Sydney and a large number of satellite campuses, students are spread out across the city. Read our guide to find out which area would be best for you !
What to do
As cities go, Syndey has got some pretty well known tourist spots. The world-famous Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge are featured on most blogs, articles and travel guides to the city, so it would be a shame to miss them. If you can afford it, it’s well worth experiencing the real purpose of the Opera House – soak up some culture in one of the most famous venues in the world! The sunrise views from the Bridge are second to none, except maybe one of the coastal cliffs. Bondi beach is the most famous of Sydney’s beaches, and one of the best for surfing. Whether you’re catching rays or waves, it’s certainly a must for any visitor.
Aside from the Opera House, Sydney has a huge amount of events on offer to keep you busy all year round. For sports fans, the city hosts Volleyfest, a festival-stroke-tournament held in March on Manly Beach. The Sydney International Rowing Regatta and a packed horse racing calendar are also draws for many visitors. Of course, there is always the rugby! Sydney’s Olympic Park plays host to many sporting events as well as events and entertainment. As for culture, Sydney’s theatres, museums and exhibitions are sure to have something for everyone. The Sydney Festival in January each year turns the whole city into an exciting festival of culture and entertainment, with each year proving as diverse, enjoyable and different as the last.
Sydney is an amazing city, but there’s also a lot to do just outside the city if you’re based there long term. Make the most of your weekends by taking a trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Site the Blue Mountains, where you can hike, take a drive or just enjoy some of the most spectacular landscapes anywhere in the world. Only two hours’ drive away from Sydney is the Hunter Valley, famous for its wineries, which you can visit to get a taste of the region’s sumptuous wines and cuisine. You can also visit nature reserves to see some of Australia’s fluffier wildlife!
Of course, no student city would be complete without a buzzing nightlife and a plethora of Instagrammable cafes and restaurants. Make no mistake, Sydney ticks all the boxes here. Sydney club legends like Candy’s Apartment, Home the Venue and the state-of-the-art ARQ provide an unrivalled choice for hardcore clubbers. If arty cocktails and ambient vibes are more your thing, big names like the Ivy Bar and Slip Inn are great options, but Sydney’s strength lies in its huge array of choices and price brackets. When it comes to restaurants and cafes, Sydney has so much on offer. From ultra healthy vegan cafes on Bondi Beach like Sadhana Kitchen to to the ‘best scrambled eggs in Australia’ at Bill’s, you’ll find something. The café offering is also pretty spectacular, mainly thanks to Singaporean coffee and the sheer number of them.
With so many universities and campuses around Sydney, it’s no surprise that there’s a lot of accommodation on offer all over the city. It goes without saying that whichever university you attend will affect which areas you want to live in, but some regions are more popular than others.
Students at the University of Sydney and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) often live in the ‘Inner West’ area of the city, as they are situated near Camperdown and Ultimo. This forms the cool, hipster epicenter of Sydney. Many students live in Newtown, Glebe and Forest Lodge, with the further away and more expensive Surry Hills another option. Macquarie University students tend to look to the suburbs southeast of their campus, with Marsfield being the closest to the university. The University of New South Wales has its campus in Kensington, so students opt for regions like Bondi Junction and Randwick – though beach lovers may be interested in Coogee, only a short bus ride away from campus. The Western Sydney University has 6 campuses in the West of the city – the biggest, UWS Penrith Campus at Kingswood, is near Penrith, while the other five are nearer to areas such as Bankstown, Campbelltown, Parramatta and Hawkesbury. These can be further from the city and Central Business District (CBD) so look out for ferry or train access!
With tons of different accommodation to choose from, you can select the one that best suits you. Also, choosing cheaper forms of accommodation allows you to have extra money to spend on all the great stuff to do in Sydney!
Author: Roomlala
