I'm a 24 y.o girl considering on going to Newcastle University on September...studying for MBA..I have several concerns, afraid to make a wrong choice : 1. Is Newcastle too quiet? I want a city which is not to big but not small... 2. Does the university have a great reputation? 3. What about the racism?I am from Indonesia. I hear that Australian are racist toward Indonesian people. Is that true? 4. Is public transportation used more than cars?is it important for me to have a car there? 5. Should I get an apartment or get an on-campus accommodation?
Charlie2008-05-31T00:09:31Z
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1. Newcastle has a population of around 200-300 thousand. Too quiet is subjective, so it depends on what you like. I like a big city, so Sydney is the right size for me (around 5 million) but many many people do not like a city that big.
2. The university is a 2nd tier university, so good reputation, but not one of the top universities in the country.
3. While there are still some sections of the community who are racist, they are few and far between. I would not expect racism to be a problem at the University of Newcastle. Most people in Australia are sane! It's just a few vocal idiots that are giving us a bad name.
4. It would depend on where you live. If you were close to the university then public transport would be available, but if you lived far away then it may be advisable to have a car. Check out the public transport information website at www.131500.com.au
5. On-campus will be convenient but more expensive. It's really very personal. If you are going to get an apartment, it may be wise to have help from a local person on what is a reasonable rate before you sign anything.
Overall, I recommend you to this course. I think you'll have a great time in Newcastle (presuming the course is the right one for you).
If you need any help when you get here I'd be happy to render assistance. I'm a married 31 year old woman with a baby and I live on the central coast (about 1.5 hours south of Newcastle).