Students begin Tar Heel journeys Down Under

Carolina students who will be attending the University of New South Wales visited iconic locations like the Sydney Opera House just a day after landing in Australia. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Tar Heels moved into their residence halls in Chapel Hill last week, but Carolina Global Launch participants in Australia got an even earlier start.

First-year undergraduate students attending the University of New South Wales arrived the first week of August, while those at the University of Sydney settled in earlier in the summer. Upon completion of their coursework at these partner institutions, they are guaranteed enrollment at Carolina in the spring with all courses counted toward their eventual UNC-Chapel Hill degrees. Along the way, these students gain valuable educational and cultural experiences.

More than 60 CGL students are studying in Australia this semester.

View photos of the students as they explore Australia and get to know each other.

First-year students in the Carolina Global Launch program make pictures while taking a ferry through Sydney Harbour and past the Sydney Opera House on August 5, 2026.

Carolina students make pictures while riding a ferry through Sydney Harbour and past the Sydney Opera House. Earlier in the day, the students toured Manly Beach and learned about First Nations indigenous cultures in Australia. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Downtown Sydney serves as the backdrop for both the academic and life experiences of Carolina students attending the University of South Wales and the University of Sydney. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

UNC student points to map on South Wales campus.

Carolina students get an overview of the University of South Wales through a digital, interactive display of the campus. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Students ride a bus together, with two seated students talking with a student standing in the aisle.

Carolina students learn to navigate downtown Sydney by foot and by train during their orientation session. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

A group of students gathers at a scenic overlook with expansive mountain cliffs and valleys in the background.

As a part of their orientation session, students visited the Prince Henry Cliff Walk in Blue Mountains National Park in New South Wales. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Students gather around and pet a kangaroo during an outdoor wildlife encounter.

Kangaroos were among the wildlife that Carolina students visited and interacted with at the Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

A group of students laugh and interact with a kangaroo during a wildlife encounter.

Carolina students get up close and personal with a kangaroo during their visit to the Featherdale Sydney Wildlife Park. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Students sit together at a mountain overlook surrounded by cliffs and forested valleys.

Tar Heels enjoy lunch with a view during their visit to Govetts Leap lookout in Blue Mountains Nattional Park in New South Wales. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

Students sit in a row while weaving colorful materials during a group activity.

During their orientation session, Carolina students learn how to craft traditional bracelets under the instruction and guidance of a First Nations indigenous teacher. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)

A student concentrates on weaving pink and white material during a group activity.

While learning how to construct traditional bracelets during their orientation session, Carolina students also learned about First Nations indigenous cultures through storytelling and music. (Johnny Andrews/UNC-Chapel Hill)