Studying Abroad in Junior or Senior year of college-England or Australia?

Question

I'm a USA citizen (Korean-American). During my junior or senior year of college, I want to study abroad (Pharmacy) in England or Australia.

I like city life, and which country is more fun, exciting, lots of things to do, etc. Also, which country has less racial discrimination? I've heard that many English people are racist.

Any suggestions for cities worth living in, too? I want somewhere busy, maybe London? If London, where in London?

Answer 1

There are racial tensions in both the UK and in Australia, as well as in the US. It's not that many English people are racist - it's nothing specifically to do with them being English or anything - it's that their waves of immigration started later than those of the US, so the US has (basically) already, years ago, gone through what the UK is going through now re: immigration. There are growing pains.

Likewise, Australia. Australia, fairly recently, clamped down on its immigration policies, and there was a lot of news about that. There are tensions there, but because the US is further away (historically and in distance) from Australia than from the UK, we hear less about that here.

Check guidebooks such as Time Out, Lonely Planet, the Rough Guides, and other youth/student oriented guides. They are often quite frank, in their opening pages, about what tensions/issues may occur for people of non-majority races/ethnicities.

But that said, I wouldn't say either country is horrible in terms of racism. In fact, especially in the big cities, these places are extremely cosmopolitan, very international, lots of immigrants, lots of people from other cultures. I don't think you'd have too many issues in either country. You'll obviously be American. In fact, I bet you'll get more comments on THAT fact, than because you're Asian.

Due to its location, I believe that Australia has more Asians than England does. England has more what they call "Asians", but these people are actually from India and Pakistan. There are fewer Koreans in England than there are in Australia.

I suggest that you actually speak to some Asians living and studying in both countries. If I were you, I'd want some first-hand experiences. So if you don't get good answers along those lines here, try some more specialised boards, like the Thorn Tree Forums on the Lonely Planet website. That's a travel board that's focused mostly toward students and young people, and people ask very frank questions there.

Both Australia and England have major, bustling cities. Life in Australia, even in Sydney, Melbourne, and other large cities, tends to be more focused on the outdoors than that of the UK, largely because of the difference in weather. London's student life is very pub-oriented, and there are a lot of things to do indoors. But when the weather is nice, it's like the city explodes, and everyone comes outside. Both cities have a lot to offer students. Because of the things I like to do and my own personal interests, I prefer London for its theater, the huge numbers of students, its architecture, its history, and etc. But if I were more of an outdoorsy person, I might prefer the cities of Australia.

My fave city in the UK is London. It's busy, as you like. Where you live in London will depend on which university you do exchange with. You'll probably want to be fairly close, and on the train lines. Many of the London universities are right in the hustle and bustle of the city, and they do offer residence halls.