“It was a different way of seeing the same thing”.

For Jasmine and Jacky, two Sydney locals, Immerse Education’s academic summer camp in Sydney revealed just how much a familiar place can surprise you. Spending two weeks immersed in university-style learning at St. Paul’s college, socialising with students from across the globe, showing them where to study in Sydney, and being guided by inspiring mentors, they experienced Sydney in a whole new light.

Both came from competitive local schools and thought they knew the city inside out. But staying in (or commuting to) St Paul’s College every day for a fortnight and sharing their hometown with international peers gave them a deeper connection to the city. It left them more confident, inspired, and ambitious for what comes next.

New Faces in Familiar Places: Sharing Sydney with the World

For both students, the biggest shift came from seeing their city through others’ eyes. Jasmine found herself exploring local gems like the Australian Museum for the first time, but also described how visiting frequented venues like Luna Park felt fresh again because she was with people seeing them for the first time.

Jacky also enjoyed showing international students around, often stepping into the role of informal guide to students from all over the world – including Malaysia, Singapore, Norway, and other Australian cities. Conversations and friendships with peers from far-flung nations as well as nearby towns broadened their perspectives. Jasmine reflected that it made her “more open-minded, just because I was talking to people whose perspectives and journeys were completely different from mine.”

The programme showed how sharing your city with the world can help you appreciate just how much it’s already shaped who you are. With their local insight, Jacky and Jasmine also helped fellow students wondering where to study in Sydney discover how different parts of the city could become part of their own story.

Mentors and Tutors Who Show You What’s Possible

At Immerse, students are taught by expert tutors – typically PhD students – and mentored by current undergraduates at the University of Sydney. 

Mentorship stood out as one of the most valuable parts of the experience for both Jasmine and Jacky. Having approachable, inspiring undergraduates on hand for pastoral support and company helped them soak up practical advice and envisage what their time at university could look like and where they could study in Sydney.

Jasmine spoke about how her tutor’s feedback on her final project gave her clarity and confidence, showing her where her strengths lay and how to build on them. Jacky was particularly inspired by her tutor Echo, a young psychologist whose career and international studies gave her a new sense of what’s achievable: “I really looked up to her,” Jacky said.

Tutors didn’t just teach. They showed both students what was possible, making the next stage of their academic journey feel more real and more within reach.

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Res vs Non-Res: Two Ways to Immerse

Jasmine chose to board at St Paul’s College. She admitted it was daunting at first as she’d never boarded before. But she quickly came to love the independence and social connection it gave her: “It was much nicer than I expected… it felt like a real university experience and made the whole thing feel more purposeful.” 

It was the ideal first step towards independence – still close enough to home to feel secure, and with the added benefit of arriving fresh to welcome those students who had been on long-haul flights. Plus, the accommodation afforded the students with some invaluable protection from other locals – the Sydney wildlife. “I was expecting a lot of bugs and mosquitoes just because Australian summer in January is when they’re at their peak. But I didn’t have any of those encounters!”

Jacky opted to commute each day by bus and train, which suited her perfectly. She saved on accommodation, kept up her driving practice, and still felt fully part of the experience: “It felt like going to work – but happy, because I was looking forward to meeting my friends.”

Both students said their choice worked for them, proving that for locals exploring where to study in Sydney, Immerse offers flexibility – whether you prefer to immerse fully on campus or balance study with life at home.

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The Ultimate Outcome: Confidence, Ambition, and Perspective

Both Jasmine and Jacky finished the programme more confident and more excited about their futures. Jasmine said the experience of presenting her ideas and participating in small-group debates made her more willing to speak up: “It made me more confident to share my thoughts and ideas – because the small size of the class really forced me to actually engage in debate and share my different perspectives”.

Jacky described how her conversations with mentors and peers inspired her to think bigger and more creatively about her path – and even helped her discover how her joint loves of psychology and art might one day fit together.

For both, staying local didn’t mean staying the same – it meant growing in confidence, ambition, and connection, all while seeing the familiar in a brand-new way.

Immerse in Your City with an Academic Sydney Summer Camp

For Sydney students who think they already know their city, Immerse Education’s academic summer camps in Sydney prove there’s always more to discover. Whether you choose to stay overnight at St Paul’s or commute each day, you’ll meet global peers, learn advanced material on your favourite subject from inspiring tutors, and experience your city in a whole new light.

Immerse in your city – non-resident pricing now available.