If you want to study in Australia, there are some important differences about the Aussie system that you need to know. The following is some advice and tips to make sure you have the best time in the sunburnt country

Class style

Classes are usually a combination of lectures and tutorials. The lectures are meant to be the time in which you learn the material, and the tutorials are where you apply what you've learned. While lectures usually do not require attendance, tutorials are often mandatory.

Tutorials offer a good way of getting a better grip on study material. While your class could have anywhere from 50-200 (and sometimes more), students, your tutorial will most likely have around 20 students. This allows for more one-on-one time with your instructor, and more opportunities to become familiar with the study material.

As with American schools, final grades are based on a combination of project grades, exam grades, and (occasionally) attendance, and participation. Most universities put a greater emphasis on final exams. Though, some universities in Australia have been known to spread out the grades more evenly amongst projects and homework.

Syllabus/Unit Outline

In Australia a syllabus is known as a "Unit Outline." Like in America these are given out at on the first day of class. This is a detailed guide of exactly what the instructor expects from students in the class. It is important to not lose you unit outline, as the instructor will, most likely, refer to it throughout the class.

Exams

Most universities in Australia put the emphasis of their grading on the final exams. A final exam in Australia can often count from anywhere from 45% to 75% of your final grade. This can seam jarring and intimidating at first if you are not accustomed to it, but it actually offers many advantages.

Firstly, you do not spend your entire semesters trying to both complete frivolous projects and study for random tests, all overlapping. Instead, you spend most of your time working on a few quizzes and projects, but mostly studying for the exams that do not come until several months down the road.

And, as the majority of schools give you a week off before exams week, you will have that time before final exams to lock yourself in the library and hone your knowledge of the course material. As long as you go to your classes and keep up with your assignments, you should be well prepared for your exams.

Studying

Talk to Other Students

Every university is different, and so is every professor. To figure out the best way to study, talk to other students who have been there for a while. They will be able to give you a clearer picture of what to expect, and can give you useful tips.

Studying Traps

There are traps that student often get into while studying abroad that can cause them unnecessary stress. Some stress can be healthy, but you should not let it control you.

Here are some common traps to avoid.

Believing You are on Vacation

A classic trap students travelling aboard get themselves into is getting in to the mindset that they are on vacation and neglect their classes. While you should by all means enjoy yourself, you should also spend time making sure that you are doing well in your classes. Try to get your work knocked out first so you can go on all the adventures you wish with your mind free.

Don't miss classes, especially not at the beginning of the semester. When students first get to another country, they often get so caught up in the fun that they start skipping classes at the very beginning, miss important information, and quickly fall behind. It's very hard to launch a successful recovery. Don't let this happen to you!

Panicking

You just need to remember not to panic. Study for your classes as you would at home and remember under the worst case scenario - you fail a class and have to retake it when you get back. In the grand scheme of things this is not that big of a deal and you will live. Then take a realistic look at what is more likely to happen -do your best and pass the course.

Just focus on the work in front of you, study diligently and you will be fine. Most of the hard work involved in studying aboard is the planning. If you lined up your classes correctly, the stress should stay manageable.

Not Communicating

While it is always a good idea to communicate with your instructor, in Australia this is even more important. Because Aussies don't believe in social hierarchy, Australian professors like to create a good relationship with their students. They expect you to chat with them. If you ever have any questions about a grade received, worry about assignments, or have questions about the curriculum, ask your instructor for help. They will most likely be happy to hear your concerns and help as best as they can.

Time Management

With a new school comes different curriculum styles. This can throw off your already honed study patterns. The best way to handle this is to allocate a certain amount of time each day to studying. You can be flexible with this, but try to keep it up. This is also where forming study groups comes in handy. Because schools in Australia usually put off exams and projects until the end of the semester, it is easy to get into a spiral of procrastination.

Attendance

Even if class attendance is not mandatory, it is still a good idea to attend as much as you can. Not only do the professors give extra information to the students who show up, but also it gives students a chance to build a rapport with the professor. This is especially valuable if something bad happens.

Remember you are not on vacation. You are still in Australia to study. Keeping up with your classes will save you problems later on.

If you want more free information on studying in Australia visit here.

Felix Churchill has been a writer and contributor for RoamingScholar.com since its creation. He has traveled and written about New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, Switzerland, Austria, Italy, Gibraltar France and many other countries.

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