A Semester at Swinburne Sarawak…

Where did you live?

Andrew- Myself and one other student opted to stay at Citadines Uplands which is right next door to

the university, which eliminated the cost of transport to and from Kuching centre (10 minute drive).

We paid approx. RM3350 or AUD$1100 (combined) per month between us but we lived the high life.

We had a beautiful 2 bedroom 2 bathroom serviced apartment including all bills, internet and cleaning.

They also had a beautiful salt water infinity pool and quality gym which we used quite a lot. This is a

special rate for students as the normal rate for this apartment is RM5000+.

Bart- I chose to share an apartment with another exchange student which was very affordable

compared to Melbourne. Riverine Condominium complex is without a doubt the best place to stay in

Kuching and I would highly recommend it due to the safety, value for money and the other people you

meet at the apartment complex.

Shaun- It is worth noting that the on-campus accommodation has strict regulations. There is no alcohol

allowed, an 11pm curfew and no girls in the boy’s areas and vice versa.

George- Previous Hawthorn students recommended we look at the Riverine Condominium complex

and we were able to find local contacts by speaking to other students and locals. These contacts

showed us through various apartments and we were able to move in within the week.

Best local tips?

Hugh- Mingle with the local students! They want to help you. It’s amazing if you are stuck on an assignment or need past exam papers they have so many contacts that can benefit you.

Ashley- Try the Sarawak Laksa and Kolo Mee, both delicious.

Scott- Stay at Riverine Condominium, eat at Top Spot, drink at Monkey Bar, dance at Junk Bar, buy motorbikes instead of renting them, travel heaps and have fun!

Emily- if you need a Melbourne coffee fix head to MK Classico or Black Bean.

Shaun- The air conditioning is hectic at the university so you might want to bring a jumper. Oh and don’t buy your return flight home until you are ready to leave.

What is your recommended monthly budget?

Andrew- As much or as little as you like. Accommodation can be a lot cheaper than what we paid but

meals are as little as $2-$3AUD each and a night out will cost you around $20-$30AUD for a good night.

Boyd- $1000 per month is very comfortable to live and study in Kuching and will cover rent, food and

overseas travel.

Hugh- For the whole four months I would say budget $5000 if you want to do some travel on the

weekends and live like a king! Malaysia is very cheap so saving money is easy.

Shaun- I made money off Centrelink alone, which is around $1,000 a month.

Where did you travel throughout the semester?

Andrew- We travelled a little bit before, during and after the semester. Places we visited included

Singapore, India (Goa, Agra, Jaipur, Delhi), Thailand (Bangkok, Koh Chang, Phuket), Indonesia

(Jakarta), Philippines (Manila, Boracay Island) and Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur).

Bart- I travelled both locally around Borneo and also to other countries in the area. It was very cheap

to get around South East Asia and I would highly recommend taking advantage of the close proximity

to countries like Singapore, Cambodia and Vietnam.

Hugh- During the semester we visited Singapore, Laos, KL and Miri (in Borneo). After the semester

was over, 8 of us went to the south of Thailand (Phi Phi, Krabi and Phuket) for 10 days to celebrate

finishing exams. Following that I spent an extra 6 weeks travelling the rest of Thailand, and then

went on to spend 3 weeks in Cambodia before heading back to Australia.

Shaun- A large group of us went up to a town called Miri north east of Kuching for a weekend and

stayed in a traditional longhouse with some locals in the middle of the rainforest. I would definitely

recommend doing this if you want an authentic cultural experience.

Was it easy to meet other people and make friends?

Andrew- As there were 2 of us we adjusted from the beginning by joining the basketball club. We

met a lot of people through this that have turned into long term friends, even competing in

basketball competitions with them. I also met quite a lot of people in my classes through group

projects. We found it easy to adjust as the people in Kuching are very welcoming.

Bart- The common areas at the university as well as the apartment complex that I lived in were all

great places to meet local people, as well as other exchange students from around the world.

George- The university was a lot smaller than Hawthorn which created a stronger student

community. All the students were extremely friendly and welcoming.

What were the classes like?

Ashley- It was quite similar to Swinburne here in Melbourne, going to lectures and tutorials, then

having mid-year and end of year exams. They have a library on the campus which can be accessed

online, just like here in Melbourne. All of my teachers in Sarawak were really great as well.

Bart- The university was run in a very similar way to Swinburne Hawthorn. Online resources were

accessed through Blackboard and assessments were ongoing throughout the semester. Exam and

assignment weighting was similar to Swinburne Hawthorn, however classes were focused more on

rote learning techniques with less student input when covering course work.

Boyd- The university was well-equipped and well set out, on campus gym, canteen and a fair sized

library study area.

Hugh- University life is very similar to back at home in terms of the way the classes are conducted.

Assessments are more heavily based on coursework throughout the semester, and end of year exams

are of less weighting. Standard of teaching is fantastic, as they all speak English.

“ALWAYS SAY ‘YES’ TO ANY OFFER SOMEONE MAKES

YOU. EXCHANGE IS ALL ABOUT TAKING THE

OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE PRESENTED TO YOU”