My experience as a Veterinary Science international student in Townsville

Chloe, from USA, is studying a Bachelor of Veterinary science (honours) at James Cook University (JCU) in Townsville. Chloe shares her experience after one year of living and studying in Townsville.

When most people apply for vet school, they hope and pray to get in anywhere. Preferences are nice, but the chance to study at all outweighs almost everything. I was no different — but I was incredibly lucky. Not only did I get accepted into my top choice, I also received a scholarship. Hearing that news changed my life. I knew even then that I was fortunate, but I couldn’t have imagined just how lucky I truly was to move to Townsville and start the Veterinary Science program at James Cook University.

The journey started a little rough. January 2025’s rain and flooding did their best to make sure we wouldn’t forget our grand arrival. Even after securing a long-term rental, the department stores were closed from the storms, so we spent our first days with camping chairs and blow-up mattresses. I’d moved from the US with my Irish husband and my elderly father, and those early weeks were an experience we’ll never forget. But since then, we’ve settled into life in Townsville and absolutely love it. Our home backs onto the Ross River, and on any given day we’ll have half a dozen wallabies lounging in the backyard. The bird life here is indescribable.

It’s hard to believe a year has already passed, though at the same time I feel like I’ve lived a lifetime. I spent a year in Australia after finishing high school (over a decade ago), so I had an idea of what life here would be like — but I’d forgotten so much, and Townsville has exceeded every expectation. Beyond loving the vet program at JCU — the structure, the small cohort, the brilliant lecturers, and honestly my favorite campus I’ve ever attended — I’ve also been able to explore the Wet Tropics of Queensland. One of the world’s oldest continuously surviving tropical rainforests, dating back to the Gondwanan era, it truly feels like stepping into another world.

From Tully Gorge and Paluma Range to Wooroonooran and the iconic Daintree Rainforest, so many incredible places are accessible from Townsville. The flora and fauna are unmatched. I’ve heard bird calls that stopped me in my tracks and seen plants that made me feel like I’d wandered straight into Jurassic Park.

This is a magical part of the world, and I’m acutely aware of how lucky I am to be here.
Thanks for reading.

Photo Credit: Chloe Cook

November 2025