Hello Everyone!
I am having some trouble deciding on where to go and need your help!

I am hopefully coming from USA to Australia in March 2009, to get my masters degree for two years. I have applied to the University of Sydney and the University of Queensland. I have some friends from college that have done semesters abroad in both places, therefore I have heard great things about both, so I am having a hard time deciding where to pick.

I am from a small town here in the states, and have travelled to both Africa and Fiji, got the travel bug, and figured it would be an awesome experience to travel more and get my schooling done all at once.

I want to choose a place that is safe, really fun (I am 24 female), easy to meet people (since I know NO ONE!), has lots to do when I have free time, I want to be near the beaches as I love to scuba, and MUST learn to surf! I will not have a car, so transportation needs to be easy as well. I love outdoorsy things, and just laid back fun stuff.

Any helpful information you have would be really wonderful!!!
Thanks so much

Chalk and cheese really. University of Sydney would be lovely as its an older University and a good one too BUT you would have extra costs involved in living in Sydney, more people and the worst thing is the University is in the centre of the city - well just about - if you are intending to go to the main campus. UQ in Brisbane is also a lovely University, its in a nice part of Brisbane in the suburbs and accommodation would not be as expensive. There are less people in Brisbane compared to Sydney so its more laid back. However Sydney has beaches all around whereupon in Brisbane you would have to go to either the Gold Coast or Sunshine Coast for surfing but neither is that much of a problem to get to really - the Gold Coast being much easier. There is not much scuba diving around Sydney but there is quite a bit around Brisbane. Brisbane is semi-tropical and Sydney is a temperate climate. It would probably take you 5 minutes to meet up with people in either place and I could go on and on with the pros and cons of each city. I suggest that you check out which University would give you the BEST education and go from there.

Both cities are safe and you'd meet people easily in both contexts. A major factor is cost, as Lizzy has pointed out--Sydney is very expensive for accommodation.

Another issue is your area of study, while both universitites are in the top 8 (Called the Group of Eight), that's not in all subject areas. In some areas of study, UQ would be better, in others USyd would be. Also if you are applying for a scholarship each university has different funds available for international students, if you search their websites you can get an idea of what is available. The scholarships are only for research degrees, however.

There are certainly some contrasts as Lizzy has pointed out, and whereas the Gold Coast(and more dangerous open beaches there rather than a series of headlands, so limited surfing options and surf rage!)maybe slightly easier to get to than the Sunshine Coast, both are a bit of a haul compared to Sydney options, but maybe surfing ain't so high on the agenda.

Water(and air) will always be a couple of degrees warmer up Brisbane way than what you can expect in Sydney and I've even seen it stated that Sydney is Australias least friendly city - people too busy with hustle and bustle, Australias' claim to the Big A, but you'll likely be mixing more with people of the Uni environment anyway and if small town life has been good for you, courses being equal in other respects, I'd suggest you could find Brisbane easier to take to.

First - take "safe" out of it. It's an insulting question. Second, as already mentioned, consider which is the best institution for your area of study.

Third, re meeting people - you'll have a ready made social context as a student.

So assuming both are equal on expertise in your area then it comes down to whether you want to surf or scuba more and what sort of climate you like best. I'd vote Sydney every time but it's true it's more expensive, but the margin will be small if you are talking shared accommo which is what most students do.

Just out of curiousity, what IS your area of expertise, and where in Africa have you travelled to?

By afterall "First - take "safe" out of it. It's an insulting question."

No problems with that here OP and quite a reasonable consideration for a young single female.

Have not looked at any historical records but if anything, Brisbane could be better.

And afterall, I feel your reaction is a bit over the top.

I just did an extended trip to the Gold Coast-Brisbane-and Sunshine Coast area and found it very cosmopolitan but, as others have said, much smaller than the Sydney metropolitan area. I would make my decision, however, based on which university has the best program for what you want to study. You can't go wrong with either location.

SgatlingOO - I now live in Qld, north of Brisbane on the Fraser Coast, however, before moving I lived in Sydney (my home town), and I would recommend Sydney for those 2 years you mention. LizzyF gives very good advice, take note.
Brisbane has a muddy river, with beaches either north or south (need to drive or get a bus), where Sydney has beaches, with good bus connections, a great harbour for boating or riding a ferry, loads of restaurants (which Brisbane now has).

Hi there, just another opinion. I would personally choose Sydney each and every time over Brisbane for several reasons. I won't bore you with pages of detail but a few that come to mind would be the weather - in Brisbane it is just "that" bit hotter earlier and for longer. Brisbane is also much more "homogenised" than Sydney, which you will find varied and diverse. I do agree that Sydney lacks a friendly atmosphere but I must say I have never found Brissy to be that friendly either. In Sydney you not only have great beaches, but just north is Newcastle where the surfing is great. I am not sure about "safe" - who can tell? I think for fun you cannot beat Sydney, but others have rightly pointed out that the expense will be greater - perhaps you get what you pay for though. I am no fan of Brisbane which is probably coming through here, but in any case it couldn't compare to Sydney for a second.
Best of luck with the move, no doubt you will enjoy the experience.

My two cents worth.....I have lived in Brisbane and Sydney and I would definitely choose Sydney. I just feel it has more to offer. And it certainly isn't as hot. Brisbane can be dreadful in the summertime. You'll be able to pick up share or Student accommodation around Newtown which won't be too expensive. Newtown itself is a fabulous, culturally diverse suburb with a plethora of cheap and terrific restaurants and a bunch of innovative clothing shops. Sydney University also has a great reputation (not saying UofQ doesn't). The fact that you don't have a car also makes Sydney a better proposition - especially if you want to spend a bit of time at the beach.