Study Abroad: Melbourne or Newcastle? (school, university, live)

[VTHokie17]

I'm an American and I will be studying abroad next spring in Australia. I've narrowed it down to La Trobe University in/just outside of Melbourne and the University of Newcastle. Which is the better option if I am a business major, I want to have a good time and I want to explore Australian cutlure? I don't know much about either school or the cities that theyre in. Any info you guys can give me would be greatly appreciated.

[artemis agrotera]

Well... Melbourne is Australia's 2nd largest city - dynamic & also the fastest growing.

Newcastle is much smaller city - a few hours north of sydney.

I don't think there is a great difference between La Trobe & Newcastle uni's

I'd pick Melbourne

[Derek40]

A ""business major""" is usually under a Bachelor of Economics or Commerce, although Bachelor of Business does occur in some unis.
Coming from the science based disciplines, I can't comment on the relevance or acceptance of the courses offered.
When you are talking cities, they are like chalk and cheese.
Melbourne is the 2nd largest city in Oz, and only slightly smaller than Sydney. These are world class cities, with all groups (ethnics, homosexuals etc) catered for.
In many ways, if you want to experience a global city, then Sydney and Melbourne are the only options available in Australia.
When you are talking Newcastle which , only 2 hours north of Sydney, you are talking the 2nd oldest city in Australia with plenty of old world charm, but with only just over 1/2 million population - still the 7th largest city in Oz, it is much more conservative.
You are comparing apples with oranges here.
As an overseas student, probably Melbourne (and Sydney for that matter) would offer more than Newcastle.
But if you don't want a "bit city", but still with the majority of facilities on offer, then come to Newcastle.

[Trimac20]

If the courses/unis are about on par, then it's about what kind of things you enjoy doing. For outdoor activities, I'd pick Newie because it's close to some really gorgeous natural scenery and it's great for bushwalking, surfing, watersports, that sort of thing, and it's really not that far from Sydney at all. If you want more culture/cosmopolitan feel go for Melbourne. As for Aussie culture, you have to get out of the cities at least some of the time to experience it.

[expatChicagoan]

Having lived in both cities (Newcastle as a child, and Melbourne as both a child and a young adult) - I would pick Newcastle; not because it's Newcastle, but because it's on the Pacific coast, and closer to Sydney.

[Ronald Blake]

As an American couple who have lived in Melbourne, Sydney, Bowral, Perth and still on 100 acres of land in the Hunter Valley north of Sydney I would have to say Melbourne hands down. If you end up in Melbourne drop me a line so I can introduce you to some great young people who are Australian/Americans.