IFSA: James Cook University Partnership, Cairns & Townsville

I really liked attending JCU in Townsville because I got the chance to further my studies of marine biology, which is my major at my home university. Not only was it the only school that offered the exact same Invertebrate Biology class that my home university required, but they also had a ton of other options to choose from. I love animal physiology, so I also enrolled in Aquatic Animal Ecophysiology, which was so interesting. I also loved being able to go out and explore Australia (i.e. Magnetic Island, Paluma Rainforest, the Great Barrier Reef, etc.) and make connections with the material I was learning in class.

I had an absolutely amazing time studying abroad at JCU in Townsville. The school is world renowned for its Marine Science and Environmental Science departments. It is an extremely great place to study abroad if you are a science major, with tons of hands-on experiences, research opportunities, and seasoned professors. My only caution is that humanities majors may have a harder time finding courses that are applicable to their degrees back home. I am an English major, but also on the pre-med track. I took almost all science classes at James Cook because the Australian University system/James Cook does humanities very differently than in the United States. Otherwise, my time with IFSA and at JCU was one of the bet experiences of my life. I truly did meet life-long friends and have once in a lifetime experiences. The campus is somewhat rural and the culture is very outdoorsy. There are a lot of outdoor adventures in North Queensland. I lived on campus in an apartment with two Australians and was very quickly immersed into their friend group and culture. There is a big sports culture on campus as well, though it is not super competitive, more for fun. For example, I tried playing rugby for the first time in Australia and played for my dormitory team. I loved this experience and was encouraged to do so by my roommates. The friendships are what will stick with me forever. The IFSA program makes your journey easier and far less stressful. I am so grateful to have gone through the IFSA program because they truly do support you before going abroad, while on site, and even after. The staff is extremely kind and welcoming and knowledgeable. I know my experience would not have been as enriching without the IFSA program.

I was initially very nervous about studying abroad as a STEM major. I wasn't sure how my credits would transfer or how hands-on my experience abroad was going to be. I had no idea how much studying abroad would end up affecting my academic life, but I soon found out that I received so many benefits to stepping out of my comfort zone and just doing it. I study Marine Biology, so naturally Australia was the perfect location for me. The classes I ended up taking were all STEM, and three of them were related in some way to marine biology. I had brilliant professors who taught me so much while I was abroad. I also had no short supply of field work. Three of my classes involved spending time out in the field, whether to collect plankton samples or to identify animals in the Australian Outback. I had an amazing time learning abroad, and I picked up so many skills that I believe are critical to a STEM major. Despite the rigor of four STEM classes, though, I still had plenty of time to explore and travel where I wanted to. In addition to academics, I was able to experience so much revolving around marine biology while abroad. I got to volunteer with a graduate student to help catch and tag stingrays. I was able to go to the Great Barrier Reef and see firsthand the amazing life that it holds. It never ceased to amaze me how much Australia inspired me to pursue a career in marine biology, even though I had already dedicated my academic career to that. Somehow after my time abroad, I knew more than ever that I was doing the right thing with my life.