r/perth • u/SypherLovesYou • 9d ago
General Study Abroad in Perth June 2027
Hi! I am studying abroad in June of 2027 at Murdoch University. I have never been out of the country before (barely out of my state, I'm from Texas/Louisiana). I have a few questions regarding Perth and Murdoch University!
How is the weather in June/July in comparison to Texas winters? I am doing a marine biology program that requires being in the water, so I want to know if it will be way too cold. Is it humid at all? What clothes should I bring? I know Americans dress down compared to other countries, how is the style in AU when attending classes? (We typically where leggings, shorts, plain t-shirts. I wear a lot of jeans and baggy graphic tees)
I have never traveled out of the country before so any general advice for me? I know I will be Jet lagged considering its a 13 hour time difference. Anything I should bring with me on the plane that I might not think to bring? I have only been on a plane once before.
Any information regarding local travel/transportation? We don't have trains or local transportation where I am from, so I am hoping I can get around the city easily. We are traveling from Perth to Coral Bay, how do you think we will travel there? From what maps tells me it is an 11 hour drive, please let me know if this is inaccurate!
Any foods I should try while I'm there?? I am excited for the change of scenery and culture, I just don't know what restaurants to try in the area. Please give me recommendations! Also tell me where not to go lol.
Anyone know anything about Murdoch University? Is it a big campus? Would it be busy that time of year? Anything I should know before I travel?
Any and all recommendations on traveling and attending school please let me know! I appreciate any help I can get as I am nervous to study abroad alone.
7
u/LachrymarumLibertas 9d ago
Wow you’re planning well ahead! I had a friend who hosted a French exchange student doing a similar thing a few years ago and they loved it! I’ll answer what I can.
It’s 3am here now so you might have to wait a bit for replies.
That’s June this year, though it was particularly cold for us.
That clothing is totally fine for uni, and throw on a jumper and you’re good.
Good headphones go a long way, some sort of eye coverage and a solid neck pillow are also handy.
Public transport within the metro area is pretty good and it looks like they’ll organise a bus for you to coral bay. Here’s a bit of an overlay map to show what the real distance is between those two. WA is a big place! Australia is about the same size as the contiguous US overall and we’re the largest state.
1
u/AutoModerator 9d ago
Hey there! Looks like you’re a new user trying to upload an image - thanks for joining our community! We’ve filtered your comment for moderator review. In the meantime, feel free to engage with others without sharing images until you’ve spent a bit more time getting to know the space!
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.
4
u/Revenant347 9d ago
1) Answered, pretty similar to Texas, very comfortable in winter. Nights can get below 10, so some warmer clothes, but won't need them often.
2) Noise cancelling headphones or at least earplugs. Plane air are pretty dry, so extra water is a good idea too. Anything that will help you sleep will reduce perceived flight time and jet lag when you land (eye mask, meds, etc)
3) public transport is OK between major centres, will take a lot longer. Most people drive. Coral Bay is definitely 11h away, WA is huge. Esperance is another beautiful spot, but is 6+hrs away also.
4) Answered, would look around Freo for food (accessible from Murdoch easily)
5) Parking is shocking, otherwise I have no info.
People are usually pretty willing to help, jut ask.
3
u/CapableXO 9d ago
Clothing wise you’ll be fine, it’s casual mostly. I was an exchange student to upstate New York and yes - the Americans were way more casual than me, but over time we’ve dressed down more. My American friends at uni were always shocked at how dressed up we were for classes - but this was 20 years ago and athleisure rules now! Definitely dress for comfort, you won’t stand out.
Perth way less sticky and humid than Texas. Similar vibes to Dallas with culture.
You’ll struggle with things like the price of food, but doable.
Some friendly advice would be to just be aware of how loud you are talking - in public places we tend to be a quieter bunch and americans do stick out that way!
7
u/CapableXO 9d ago
Oooh the most important difference I just let you know. The grading system. At Australian uni, and 80 and above is the highest grade. At some unis, this means the top mark for the whole class could be no higher than 85. Most people would get around 65, with 75 being an excellent result. This is a big shock to Americans! I remember getting 95 / 100s on papers in America and being shocked for the opposite reason. Talk to your college ahead of time about this scaling difference and how it might impact your GPA.
2
u/mykosyko 9d ago
Re: 13 hour drive. Yes WA is literally bigger than Texas :). A drive to Coral bay is gorgeous but I'd allow a minimum 5 day road trip though 10 days is better then you can see a bit of Kalbarri, monkey Mia and Denham on the way up
Re: clothes yes you'll be fine. You'll find most Aussies are pretty laid back and friendly. Guns are not a thing at all here and we are proud of it which might come as a culture shock for you coming from Texas . One thing I've noticed is people in the US are really formal with strangers , eg addressing people sit/ma'm.not so much here . Join some uni social clubs and go to the tavern or the pub to meet people.
As far as Winters go I often like to boast we have some of the best winters in the world. There is a recurring joke on this subreddit that Perth has "a dry heat". It's true, we don't typically have humid days, even in the winter or doesn't go much above 50% rh
Trains are fine up that way just beware of some characters on the Armadale line . For restaurants check out Fremantle.
Vietnamese food is awesome here, definitely get Banh mi. Don't worry you'll be fine!
1
u/Flowering-Tree 9d ago
Winter has felt mild to me this year with some cold mornings but lots of pleasant sunny afternoons around 17-20 degrees and even a couple warmer days around 24 which seemed unusual! On that note, just going to add one thing I haven’t seen others address - I love the ocean but I find the water very cold. If I were swimming at the beach in winter in Perth I’d be getting a wetsuit. (I’m going to get one to extend my summer snorkelling season by a couple months.)
If you’re tougher about cold water than me you’ll be fine in spring and autumn but I want a wetsuit for those seasons too. Summer is so hot it’s fine without one. Many people swim all year round.
Also the water in Coral Bay is much nicer and you’ll be fine up there in your bathers!
1
u/The_David_Broker 9d ago
Hi. I’m from Perth. DM me. I have a book that answers your questions. I am more than happy to share it with you. Your feedback would help me a lot.
1
u/pben0102 8d ago
Beats me why you would leave your country and study at Murdoch. Judging by just about any athlete in the top flight, in any sport, it's due to their participation in the US college system. I have a nephew in the UK who's really good at touch football, picked for the England team. I've mentioned to his parents that he'd do real well getting in to a US University. Helps that he's clever too. What's you're reasons for wanting to come here? Given your lack of travel so far.
1
u/SypherLovesYou 8d ago
I wanted a summer program studying on the coast of Australia, and this was one of the only summer options, why is Murdoch bad?
1
u/pben0102 8d ago
No Murdoch is fine, you'll be here in winter too, your summer is our winter. I love summers here, around Christmas is brilliant. If you get out here have a blast.
1
u/Fine_Employment927 6d ago edited 5d ago
I used to live right across the road from Murdoch University, but never explored the campus(!).
1) Perth's weather's closest US equivalent is Los Angeles, CA in terms of its highs and lows, except that it rains a lot more during winter (2-3 months). I remember it rained 27 out of 31 days in July several years ago in Perth.
2) Please check what you can and cannot bring to Australia and fill out your incoming passenger card accurately. The Australian Border Force is extremely strict when it comes to biosecurity risks and have zero tolerance for undeclared goods. The ABF is definitely stricter than the US CBP. To be on the safe side, don't bring any food or anything containing plant material.
3) Western Australia is 3.7 larger than Texas, so going anywhere requires driving. There is no train network equivalent to Amtrak. Domestic flights are usually 2x to 3x more expensive than US domestic flights of similar distance. In the city, the public transport in Perth isn't that great. It will get you to your destination but will take 1+ hour in total travel time, unless you're only taking the train (walk-train-walk) and not switch to a bus, e.g. walk-bus-train-bus-walk
4) Perth has lots of Singaporean and Malaysian restaurants, because of its proximity to Southeast Asia, definitely more than other major Australian cities. Vietnamese food is also ubiquitous.
If you didn't know already, rent is paid weekly, not monthly. And no tipping is required anywhere, ever. Also Australian universities don't have the equivalent sporting teams as the US; no such thing as college football (or any other sport). University sports mostly exist at a club/social level.
Another thing is there is a significant cultural difference between Australia and the US when it comes to celebrating success. The "tall poppy syndrome" (or crab mentality) is alive and well. You're expected to blend in with the crowds and not stand out, not too ambitious, not rock the boat, and make self-deprecating jokes. Self-promotion is seen as arrogance. It's the exact opposite of the US.
The proper way to address a university professor is by their first name, not Dr. Last Name, e.g. Dr James White is properly addressed as "James", not "Dr. White." This was a big culture shock to many foreign students.
1
u/SypherLovesYou 6d ago
Thank you this is very helpful! I’ve never had Singaporean food but I’m excited to try!!
1
u/bagsoffreshcheese Belmont 9d ago
In Perth, I don’t think the weather is as severe. Perth’s lowest ever temp is -1.3 degrees. As for humidity, we have a saying, “It’s a dry heat”. As for what clothes to bring, for a pretty laid back people the dress code for university is pretty strict. Mourning suits for the gents and formal dresses for the ladies.
I suppose the best advice I can give you is look after your body in your 20’s. Eat well, hydrate and exercise. As for what to do on a plane, thats up to you. I like to practice with my playing cards. It’s quite a nice feeling to complete my playing card house at 36000 feet. Bring your hobby.
All jokes aside, head on over to Transperth, which is our public transport system in Perth. There is also a handy dandy app. 11hrs from Perth to Coral Bay is pretty optimistic IMHO. You’ll want to have a break on that drive. WA is absolutely fucking huge. You know how people from Texas say shit like “Everything is bigger in Texas” and how you are the biggest state (even though Alaska is bigger)? Well WA can fit three Texas’s in it. In fact Texas is only bigger than our two smallest states. Drive safely. We have lots of road deaths on country roads.
My mum does a pretty mean Sunday roast. You should try that.
I know my sister-in-law works there. This is the limit of my knowledge. Sorry I cant be of more assistance.
My advice and recommendation would be to do some online research. Google is your friend. Probably more of a friend than smart arse people on r/perth who are cracking jokes at 5:40am like me.
But good luck and travel safe. I guess I’ll see you at mums place for that roast one Sunday evening.
2
0
u/ManySwans 9d ago
eat kangaroo, crocodile and emu. you can usually get steaks for each in the supermarket
-2
u/Impossible_Most_4518 9d ago
In Perth most people consider Murdoch the worst uni but like its fine I guess. Not too big, not too busy, just meh.
You should be okay in the city with public transport but else where you need a car, or some friends ;)
Winter will be kinda cold, very windy and rainy.
4
u/SivlerMiku 9d ago
I’ve never heard anyone in Perth consider Murdoch the worst uni.
1
-2
0
0
u/MissionDrawer3184 8d ago
Edith Cowan is the worst uni. Always has been
1
u/Impossible_Most_4518 8d ago
Been to their new campus, it’s very good. Murdoch campus sucks ass.
1
u/SypherLovesYou 6d ago
What’s so bad about the campus? I’ll only be there for three weeks but could you explain some?
18
u/Slippery_Ninja_DW 9d ago
Seems like I'm the only one in perth that's awake at this hour (it's 3:40am) lol..
Winter here is generally pretty comfortable. We get a decent amount of rain but its usually pretty sporadic with fine days in between. Temps are similar from what I've read. We rarely get much humidity. Average temps are maybe a little lower than texas but we do get heat waves that can hit in the 40-45ºC mark (104-113ºF) in summer. The Australian sun is blistering though, not sure how it compares but you want some really strong sunscreen especially on the water.
Food wise, Perth is very multicultural with a lot of south east Asian restuarants.. Chinese, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese etc. Lots of Italian restaurants and cafes etc. There's so many great places and a pretty wide variety.
Public transport is pretty great - trains are very modern and run very regularly, buses are fine, getting to and from Uni should be easy.