Studying at Sydney

A little about me

First of all, you are beautiful people for taking the time and patience to consider a contribution. It's cliched, but it means more than anything to know that people are backing you for an awesome experience!

My name is Josh, and currently I'm a first year university student studying international relations. I've been offered an exchange to the University of Sydney to study Political Economy, and what an experience it'll be! I'll be flying off mid-July, and I'll be studying there for a year.

Whilst I have a scholarship for working hard (£1,100 off the fee), it is still a substancial amount to pay. My parents have agreed to contribute a small sum towards my accommodation, but in order to get there I will be looking at paying upwards of £12,000.

I don't want to ask for that much money. I will be able to use loans to be able to partially cover the costs, and I will be (hopefully) getting a job while I'm there, just so that I can pay my personal bills of gas, electricity and internet.

However, £3,000 of my trip cannot be covered, and so I am worried that I will not be able to go. It's a fantastic opportunity and I don't want to miss it, just immersing myself in new culture and learning the disciplines of living on my own. The reason why I selected £1,000 is because this will cover two costs:

How the funds will help

1. My cost to get a plane back home for Christmas in order to see my sister, who was recently diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes.

2. The cost of health insurance.

It really doesn't matter how much I am funded, as long as I know that there are people out there that appreciate my aspirations and are kind enough to help me. While I am there I hope to continue a novel I am writing, a case about a market trader who gets too big for his boots and resorts to holding local gamblers hostage in a casino.

Rewards on offer

Whilst there isn't anything I can do in terms of day trips scuba-diving or swimming lesson vouchers, I would like to make personalized cards for the people that funded this experience. There is nothing more amazing than members of the internet community banding together to help a student in need!

I would also like to make a page where I can detail my experiences there. I hope to undertake some research on international liberalization and the global political economy, using Australia as my fold-in.

If you decide to donate over £200, I will most certainly buy you an awesome present while I am there. I plan to cut my expenses down to the bare minimum, so I only plan to buy myself bags of pasta, but I will go out to the markets and buy generous contributors slices of Australian life! Whether that is a toy or piece of decor for the home. I apologize for not being able to offer more.

So thank you! I greatly appreciate any contribution, and I am welcome to any questions you have about my trip!