What student life at Bond is really like | Aaliyah from Canada

Written by Juris Doctor (CRICOS 093923J) student, Aaliyah Mohammed

My experience at Bond has been absolutely amazing for so many reasons. The energy and sense of community you’ll notice from the moment you set foot on campus, along with the fantastic learning and teaching, has exceeded my expectations. While it’s not always easy being so far away from home, you’ll quickly make new friends and they will become your family, and in time, Bond will become your second home. 

As a Future Student Liaison, I often get asked what student life is actually like here at Bond, so in this blog, I thought I’d give you some insight – starting with our campus! There’s so much to do around campus, which makes being here all the more enjoyable. There are plenty of organised social sports to drop in to, like beach volleyball, badminton, and social touch football. This is an awesome opportunity to make friends outside of your faculty! The Sports Centre at Bond is also a great place to spend your time. They have a wide range of weights and machines, and you’ll enjoy access to the pool and hot tub as well as heaps of group fitness classes! The best part is that use of the Sports Centre is completely covered by your tuition fees. 

In terms of location, Bond is in a great spot with easy access to buses. The 750 bus stops at the University’s front roundabout, and is a convenient loop that takes you to Robina Town Centre in one direction, or Pacific Fair and Broadbeach in the other. It makes it super convenient to pop to Woolworths for a grocery run or Surfers Paradise for a fun night out! Robina Town Centre is an amazing mall with all the necessary stores and some great restaurants, too – my favourite at the moment is Saiko Teppanyaki, a Japanese restaurant where they make the food in front of you! There’s also a bowling alley and movie theatre at Robina Town Centre. 

If you stroll to the next bus stop over, you’ll be able to access the bus that takes you directly to Burleigh Beach. This beach is absolutely beautiful, and serves as a good spot to spend a Saturday morning before you get stuck into study or work. You’ll see plenty of people surfing or swimming in the ocean and enjoying their time in the sun. Close to the beach are some yummy restaurants and great bars, including the Burleigh Pavilion, a fun spot to hang out with friends on a weeknight. Also along the same bus route is the Burleigh Farmers Market, which has a great selection of fresh food vendors and food trucks. 

Back on campus, one of the best things to do during your time at uni is join one of the student-run clubs or societies. I’m currently a member of the Bond University Student Association (BUSA), the Canadian Law Students’ Association (CLSA), and the Bond International Student Association. The amazing thing about Bond is that there are so many clubs (over 90) and many of them run events. BUSA hosts heaps of events throughout the semester, and one of my favourites to go to is Wednesday by the Water, which involves a sausage sizzle and a great atmosphere… and who doesn’t want free food!? I’ve attended a bunch of other events this semester, each of which has been worthwhile for different reasons. The CLSA’s Buddy Night earlier in the semester was a great opportunity to meet other Canadians on campus and make friends. The Asian Law Student Society’s (ALSS) Women in Law event was one for the books, and involved hearing from a panel of incredibly talented women about work-life balance. This was a fantastic networking opportunity and I loved having a chance to ask questions after the panel was finished! 

Outside of Bond’s campus and surrounds, the Gold Coast is a gateway to so many gorgeous places in Australia. During my studies, I’ve gone on trips to Sydney and up to the Whitsundays, and am now planning an international trip to Bali! Although our semesters are accelerated, we still get long enough breaks between exams and the first week of classes to travel and explore Australia. 

If I could give one piece of advice to a new international student starting, or thinking about starting, their journey at Bond University, it’s to stay in the present. Time flies when you’re having fun, and before you know it, you’ll be packing your bags and getting ready to go back home! There’s so much to enjoy at Bond and on the beautiful Gold Coast, so make the most of it while you can.