G'day! If you've decided to study abroad, you'll be in good company if you choose Australia as your destination. Go for a semester, a summer, or a full year, and you'll discover what many students before you now know-the people, culture, and geography of Down Under offers an educational experience like no other. Whether you've come to Australia for the cosmopolitan life of Sydney, the incredible wildlife of the Outback, or the rich history of the Aborigines, you'll want to stay a while and take it all in.

Australia is an island continent that ranks sixth among the largest countries of the world. It is about the same size as the 48 contiguous U.S. states, but not nearly as populated-in fact, with only two people per square kilometer, Australia is noted for having the lowest population density in the world. More than 85 percent of Australians live within 50 kilometers of the ocean; after all, Australia's gorgeous coastline boasts more than 10,000 beaches.

Australia is known the world over for its educational system, particularly its universities, which have gained renown for their excellence in teaching and research. The universities in Australia offer great international flavor, too, as they are linked to institutions of higher education in more than 100 countries around the world. In fact, there's an excellent chance that your college or a neighboring college has a sister campus in Australia, allowing you to have the best of both worlds-the comfort of friends from home plus the excitement of making many more new friends in Australia.
There's plenty of academic programs for you to choose from, so you'll have no problems continuing with classes in your chosen major. However, when you travel to the other side of the world, you'll want to take a class or two in something that is unique to the culture of that country, and you'll certainly find something to your liking in Australia. Get up close and personal with dingoes, kangaroos, and koalas in the Outback. Take lessons on the didgeridoo from an indigenous Australian. Or study the librettos and composers of the arias that take flight in the sail-like Sydney Opera House.

Another reason that students flock to Australia for their study abroad experience is that they don't have to worry about learning a new language. But here's a word of caution: while English is the main language spoken Down Under, it can often seem like a foreign language, thanks to all the wonderful expressions that Aussies use, like "tucker and grog" for food and drink. No worries, mate-once you soak up the local culture, you'll be talking like a fair dinkum (real) Aussie in no time.

With so many things to do and see-and so many friendly people to do and see them with-it's easy to forget that you actually went to Australia to study! Find a way to fit in as much of Australia as you can during your semester or year abroad you'll find that your educational experience will be many times more rewarding.