Preparation for exchange

The application process went very smoothly thanks to the help of MicroEDU. However, this should be started early because many documents are required. The Bond University requires either a TOEFL score of 79 or another language certificate. The visa I can exhibit right after my promise of the bond (about two days after the visa application, the commitment has already been granted). Gold coast has its own airport about 30 minutes away from Bond University and can be reached from Switzerland or Germany with a stopover in Singapore, for example. Alternatively, the slightly larger airport in Brisbane, which is about an hour away, can also be used.

Bond University

Bond University is located in Robina, a district of the Gold Coast. This is easy to reach by bus, as there is a bus stop right in front of the university. The Bond is very well equipped with its own gym, two large pools, a library with long opening times and a multi-media learning center that is open 24 hours a day. The huge offer also includes Student Learning Support, whereby individual appointments can be booked free of charge in order to receive help with exam preparation or improve assignments. The Bond has an extremely wide range of sports that can be used free of charge, such as football, beach volleyball, tennis, basketball, rowing, swimming, rugby and much more. There is also a free doctor on campus.

The lecturers at Bond University are called by their first names and are extremely helpful. If you have any questions, you can always visit their office on campus and ask for help. Every Wednesday there is a free BBQ run by the student organization. On Thursdays there is always a party in Don’s Tavern on campus, at which all students are then taken at midnight by free buses to Surfers Paradise, which is known throughout Australia for its good nightlife.

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Courses

I chose a total of three courses, which was still pleasant in terms of stress level and workload. Alternatively, four subjects can be chosen, but depending on the course chosen, this can be time- consuming. The effort can be compared to that of the University of St. Gallen and should not be underestimated. Since it is trimester, the lecture period is quite short and the same amount of work is required in a shorter period of time. There are 10 credits per subject according to the Australian system, which corresponds to 7.5 ECTS. The number of students per course is very low at 10-15 in most master’s courses, which makes it easier to interact more with the lecturers in the lessons.

Personal Investment:

The course had two hours of lectures a week and there was a midterm and final exam as well as group work. The credits can be counted in the Master’s “Accounting and Finance” in the compulsory elective area and otherwise in the independent elective area. Unfortunately, the content had relatively little to do with investment, but rather the financial planning with regard to retirement provision and tax minimization. The course was also designed for the Australian legal system and the lecturer was not very well organized and the lectures were often a bit chaotic. For these reasons I cannot recommend this course.

Diplomacy:

This is an intensive course, which is comparable to a block course at the University of St. Gallen. Lectures were only on three full days. The credits can be used for context studies in the focus area or for the independent elective area. Examination achievements were a presentation and an individual work as well as very short weekly reports on texts read in preparation for the course. The lecturer was very experienced in this area and was able to provide valuable input. It was very important to him that the students participate in the class and learn something. Since the course is usually only taken by students from the field of international relations, it took a lot of effort as a business student to get a good grade.The course is highly recommended.

Politically Motivated Violance:

That was also an intensive course. Lectures, however, were twice on three full days. The credits can also be used for context studies in the focus area or for the independent elective area. Examination achievements were a presentation with a short paper and an individual work. The lecturer was very young and therefore very motivated to offer the students exciting content. The interesting contributions often sparked lively discussions throughout the class. Since this course is usually only taken by students from the field of international relations, it was relatively demanding and a lot of effort had to be made to get a good grade. The course can be highly recommended.

Accommodation

I lived in the “University Place” residential complex, which, despite the name, does not belong to the university. This is about 5 minutes’ walk from the university and is opposite the “Varsity Shores”, where most international students probably live. However, this has a rather bad reputation due to outdated rooms and unfriendly management. It is generally recommended to live very close to the university, as there are many leisure activities there. Some of the rooms at “University Place” are relatively small, but they are adequately equipped. In most of the residential complexes the rooms are in very different conditions, which is why it should be mentioned when registering that you want a recently renovated apartment. A room with air conditioning should also be chosen, as it is otherwise almost unbearable in the summer months from November to February. I paid $ 175 a week for my room, which was pretty much the cheapest compared to other students. In addition, there were costs for electricity and WiFi of around $ 250 per semester. The management was very friendly, which is not a matter of course in these residential complexes. You have to transfer a deposit of one month’s rent in advance and at the end there is a cleaning fee of $ 150,

Another possibility would be to look for private apartments, which are often nicer and sometimes cheaper than the residential complexes. However, these are usually far away from the university, which is not advantageous because the center of life with all students is close to the university. I would also advise against living on-campus, as you have to buy an expensive meal plan. Accordingly, there are no kitchens in the rooms. The food in the canteen is sometimes special and not varied.
At the beginning of the semester I bought a used bike cheaply on Gumtree. That was very practical for the short way to university and the gym. I was also at the beach a few times with it, but that took a few minutes. The bus can be used for shopping in the surrounding Pacific Fair and Robina Town Center shopping centers. In the middle of the semester, I and some friends rented a cheap car from Cheap Student Wheels. That was very useful for doing activities on the Gold Coast or for trips to Noosa, Fraser Island or the numerous national parks.

Conclusion

In my four months at Bond, I felt completely at ease. The effort was clearly worth it, as you take a lot with you and learn a lot during the semester at Bond. Since the university is very international and especially interesting for exchange students, you meet young people from all over the world. It is easy to find social connections during the orientation week and also with sports activities.

The Australians are a very open and friendly people. Australia itself offers not only nature and wonderful travel opportunities but also an interesting world of animals. It is therefore best to plan enough time for travel after the semester so that you can experience the beauty of the whole country.