Together with the FHDW International Office and GOstralia, everything went smoothly. Unfortunately, I was too late for the “First Come First Serve” scholarship from SCU in 2024. As the visa can only be applied for when SCU sends official confirmation of my studies there and this takes some time, I applied for it about four weeks before departure and it was issued somewhat surprisingly straight away.

There are no mandatory vaccinations for entry into Australia, but I still checked with my GP and got the recommended vaccinations. What is mandatory, however, is health insurance with an Australian insurance company. During the SCU application process, you can take out Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which is the easiest way to do this. In addition, I also took out travel insurance in Germany, which would cover even more.

For the outward flight, I chose Qatar Airways and a flight via Doha to Brisbane. It’s definitely worth comparing the airlines, as some airlines offer student discounts and you may get more baggage allowance as a result. I spent the first night in Brisbane in a motel and then went straight to the Gold Coast the next day.

Together with two fellow students from my course, I opted for a long-term Airbnb as accommodation. It’s not the cheapest way to live, but it has the advantage that you don’t have to worry about finding accommodation on site. We had also planned to share a flat with three people from the start and there are hardly any alternatives. Our Airbnb was located directly in Surfers Paradise, the center of the Gold Coast. From there, it was always between 40 and 50 minutes by car to SCU.

The SCU campus on the Gold Coast is not huge with three buildings, but still offers a lot with a well-equipped library, a student lounge and a small café, which makes studying there very pleasant. In addition, every student can pick up a care package every week from the SCU student organization “CoastRs”, which includes pasta, rice, milk and many other small items. The higher floors of the buildings offer views of the beach and the Surfers Paradise skyline. The beach is only 5 to 10 minutes away from the campus and, in addition to leisure activities, offers a beautiful sunset almost every day.

I took three different courses during my studies: The “Business Forecasting” course was about creating forecasts as a basis for strategic decisions. Time series analyses were dealt with theoretically and practically, e.g. through sales forecasts and market trend analysis.

The “Finance for Business” course covered basic financial concepts such as accounting, income statements and cash flow analyses. The practical case studies on budget planning and investment appraisal in particular strengthened my understanding of financial relationships.

The “Systems Security and Operations” course focused on IT security topics such as encryption, authentication and network security.

Living on the Gold Coast was an absolute highlight of my semester abroad. The permanent proximity to the beach was simply unbeatable. Whether it was a whole day or just a few hours after lectures at university – a trip to the beach was always possible without any problems. Even in winter and spring, the weather was pleasantly warm and often sunny, which provided plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities.

The leisure activities on the Gold Coast are incredibly varied. I often played beach volleyball, which was not only sporty but also a great opportunity to meet new people. For rainy days, there were trampoline parks or arcade centers where you could spend hours. Shopping enthusiasts also get their money’s worth here, as there are numerous shopping centers and local markets. The openness and warmth of the Australians also enriched life there.

The nature around the Gold Coast is breathtaking. In addition to the beautiful beaches, there are numerous national parks in the area that are perfect for hiking and exploring. The wild koalas and wild kangaroos were particularly impressive and, with a bit of luck, you could see them in various national parks. These excursions with “Outback Jack” were a perfect change from city life and showed me yet another beautiful side of Australia.

Between the two terms that I completed during my semester abroad at SCU, there is a two-week term break. We were able to use this time for traveling or other activities. Together with two fellow students, I flew to the small island state of Vanuatu. In addition to beautiful beaches, this country offers a completely new culture and unique experiences for me. Despite the poorer conditions there, you experience very warm hospitality from most of the locals.

I was also able to visit Sydney and Cairns during my time there. I can only recommend a tour or even a performance at the famous Sydney Opera House! But you can also visit other attractions in Sydney such as Taronga Zoo or the beaches Bondi Beach and Manly Beach.

If you fly to Cairns, you usually only have one destination: the Great Barrier Reef! That’s exactly why I was there and it’s an incredible experience to see the corals and underwater life there in person during a snorkeling tour.