The Great Ocean Road is one of Australia's most iconic road trips and for very good reason! The journey is packed with stunning scenery, promises incredible encounters with Australia's wildlife and has quaint seaside towns dotted all along the breathtaking coastline. So grab your car keys and gather your friends for what is guaranteed to be an unforgettable few days.

First stop: Surf’s Up at Torquay

If you're coming from Melbourne, Torquay is where the Great Ocean Road officially begins and a good place to stop for some incredible surfing opportunities. Grab a coffee and admire the views from the immaculately maintained Esplanade before heading down the road to Bell's Beach. Famous across the world for the annual Rip Curl Pro surfing competition, this is a key stop on any surfers' bucket list. Or if you prefer staying on dry land, then sit back and enjoy watching the experts at work!

Next up: Lovely Lorne

En route to the beautiful seaside town of Lorne you will drive under the Memorial Arch at Eastern View.  This was built to honor the returning WWI soldiers who built the road and no stop off is complete without a photo commemorating your journey. Carry on into Lorne, the main resort town along the route since the 19th century, frequented by day and road trippers all year round. The town itself offers an abundance of cafes and restaurants, making it a great place to stop for lunch or even the night. Once you're fed and ready to go again, take a slight detour into the lush rainforest and discover some of the areas many waterfalls such as Erskine Falls.

On to: Koalas and Cape Otway National Park

The road from Lorne to Apollo Bay is often cited at the most picturesque section of the drive. Head off early in the morning to avoid the coach tours and you can pull over and take as many snaps as you like at your own pace. Around the mid-way point between the two towns is the unassuming Grey River Road at Kennett River. Turn in here to experience close hand encounters with dozens of wild koalas, definitely an Aussie experience not to be missed!

After a coffee stop in the quaint town of Apollo Bay, follow the road as it winds inland through the eucalypt forests of the Great Otway National Park. Drive down to the Cape Otway Lighthouse for breathtaking views or continue on to Otway Fly Treetop Adventures for an adrenaline-filled afternoon zip lining through the rainforest.

The main attraction: The Twelve Apostles

As the road once again begins to hug the coastline, you are just minutes from the world-famous limestone stacks that are the Twelve Apostles. Formed from million years of coastal erosion, these magnificent towers are what remain of the prehistoric coastline and offer one of most iconic Great Ocean Road panoramas. Admire the scene from the lookout above before heading down the Gibson Steps for a different perspective. For a truly breathtaking experience arrive early enough to witness the sunrise and you'll have the lookout almost all to yourself.

The sights most definitely do not stop here though, with plenty more to see over the next few kilometers. Just three minutes away is Loch Ard Gorge, a stunningly beautiful bay with the bluest water flanked by yellow limestone cliffs. Further along is London Arch, once known as London Bridge before a section collapsed, leaving two unsuspecting tourists waiting for a helicopter ride back to the mainland! The Grotto is another enchanting stop, part-archway, part-cave, it provides a gorgeous framed view out to the sea reflected in the rock pools.

Ending on a high: Whale Spotting in Warrnambool

Enjoy even more impressive coastal views at the Bay of Islands lookout before winding your way to Warrnambool. World famous for its whale spotting opportunities, time your visit right and you could be just 100 metres away from whale calves! From June through to September, female southern right whales make their way from the cold Antarctic to the warmer waters to calve. You can witness them just a few hundred meters from the shore at the purpose-built lookout at Logan's Beach. In fact, keep your eyes peeled right along the whole Great Ocean Road as humpbacks and blue whales also make appearances between May and October.

Carry on to Tower Hill, a wildlife reserve in a now inactive volcano. The 4km wide crater provides the perfect haven for kangaroos, emus and koalas- watch out for the especially inquisitive emus!  Now you've experienced your final nature fix it's time to join the highway for the inland road back to Melbourne. Or, if you've not finished exploring, continue on the less trodden yet equally beautiful journey to Adelaide and discover some of the south coast's hidden gems.

In one of the most expensive cities in the world, it’s not easy to find decent restaurants that won’t break the bank. Thankfully, we’ve done the hard work for you, and scoped out some of the best places to bag a delicious dinner for as little as AU$5. So get digging for that loose change and treat yourself to a meal out!

Cheap eats with a sea view in Bondi

Beach Burrito Company

What could be better than a burrito on the beach? A burrito on the beach that costs you less than $15! The Beach Burrito Company in Bondi has an incredible menu with a selection of burritos and tacos to suit anyone. Our favorite are their giant fish tacos, served in an 8-inch tortilla, all for just $12. Drool.

Fat Ruperts

Think American style delicatessen with a modern Australian twist at Fat Ruperts.  Lunch offers toasted bagels stuffed full of roasted and sliced meats, mustards, pickles... take your pick.  At dinner they offer a menu of sharing plates, so take your mates and indulge in some delicious food without the guilt of spending a fortune.

Good Time Burger

Best value burger in Sydney? Quite possibly. Decked out like a typical American diner, expect red vinyl booths and checkerboard floors. Their handcrafted buns, homemade burgers and hand cut chips can be all yours for as little as $15. And if you‘re feeling brave enough, have a go at their ‘Man vs Burger’ challenge. Devour their one-kilo burger in eight minutes to bag yourself a free meal, and a place on their wall of fame.

Gertrude and Alice

If you fancy something a little more unique, Gertrude and Alice is a great shout. Situated in a bookstore, you can polish off their lentil stew whilst getting lost in a bit of classic literature. Their Mediterranean dishes come for as little as $8.50.

Cheap eats with a side of hipsters in Newtown

Vina

For the vegans out there, Vina offers a delicious selection of popular Vietnamese dishes without the meat, but with all the flavor. The prices are cheap, the food healthy and if you’re in need for a quick, good value dinner this is your perfect place to go.

Sultan’s Table

The Sultan’s Table offers diners authentic Turkish cuisine at incredible prices.  All their specials are prices under $15 and dishes on the menu start from as little as $7. The kebab, grilled over charcoal, is any meat lovers’ dream and is a steal at just $14.

Newtown Hotel

If you’re after a bit of good cheap pub grub, Newtown hotel is the place for you. Fridays are the day to go if you want to get the most bang for your buck - a huge schnitzel and a beer for just $12. An absolute steal.

Thai-La-Ong

A Newtown favorite, you’ll have to get in early to bag a table at this eatery. Authentic Thai food at unbelievable prices, think Pad Thai for as low as $9.50 and a good hearty massaman curry for just $12.50. You can even order your food online on their website. Perfect for a Friday night take away.

Cheap eats in the big city

Mappen Noodle

This is paradise on a plate for anyone who loves a good feed at good value prices. The quality is second to none, with the udon noodles said to be as good as you’ll find in Japan. With a choice of curry, noodles and sides of tempura there will definitely be something to take your fancy. With a canteen-style service, you can have your food in front of you five minutes after you’ve walked through the door.

Burger Project

With three city center locations, you’ll never be too far from a Burger Project. All their burgers contain 100 percent Tasmanian-grown, Grass-fed beef, making them that little bit tastier. With an extensive menu and prices starting from $10, you’ll find it hard not to pop in everyday.

Spice Alley

An absolute favorite when it comes to a good choice of in budget options all in one, easily reachable place. Situated in the heart of the city, this chilled out venue is perfect to hang out with mates after a hard week of studying. The communal seating offers a relaxed atmosphere and the ten or so different food stalls means you can try a whole host of different cuisines. Even better still, its BYO.

Mr Crackles

Another meat lovers’ dream, Mr Crackles is best known for their crispy pork rolls with crackling, and also offers a selection of roast meats, rolls and hot dogs for anyone looking for a quick bite to eat. If you’re after something a little more substantial, you’ll find Asian-style dishes such as chicken katsu and char sui buns.

If you’ve checked out the latest QS Latin America University Rankings, you’ll know there are many leading universities to choose from across the region, many of them also featured in the overall world rankings.

Tuition fees and living costs are generally significantly lower in Latin America than in the rest of the Americas (we’re looking at you, US), but a little extra funding is still likely to come in handy for many international students.

Below you’ll find a selection of current study abroad scholarships and funding opportunities on offer to those hoping to study in Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina or elsewhere in the Latin American region. While some are government scholarships, others are offered by individual universities or external organizations, for students at all levels of study.

To study anywhere in Latin America

• CIEE Bowman Travel Grants  – Study abroad scholarships for students pursuing study in Latin America, Africa, the Asia-Pacific or the Caribbean. Awards based on financial need.
• EUREKA SD Partnership – Bilateral short-term scholarships to study in Latin America for European students. Part of the EU’s student mobility initiative, Erasmus Mundus (now Erasmus+).
• Roberto Rocca Education Program – International scholarships to study in Latin America on undergraduate engineering and science programs. Open to residents of Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Ecuador, Ghana, Guatemala, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Nigeria, Romania, the UK, Uruguay and the US.

Scholarships to study in Argentina

• Mente Argentina Scholarships – Various partial international scholarships to study in Argentina at graduate level in Buenos Aires.
• Roberto Rocca Education Program - Argentina – International scholarships to study in Argentina on various undergraduate programs including engineering, geosciences and materials sciences at selected leading universities.
• Scholarships Argentina Spanish Scholarships – Various international scholarships, including 12 for the Spanish and Culture immersion program and 10 for the Latin American studies program.
• Universidad de Buenos Aires Financial Aid Scholarships – A range of scholarships to study at Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA).

Scholarships to study in Brazil

• BRASA Brazil Initiation Scholarship - A US$1,500 travel scholarship for students in the US to do exploratory research or language study in Brazil.
• Canada-Brazil Awards – Joint Research Projects – Awards promoting cross-cultural research projects between Canadian universities and Brazilian partners.
• The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Fellowships – Fellowships for PhD and postdoctoral scientists from developing countries to work abroad in Brazil or other countries.

Scholarships to study in Chile

• Chilean Nelson Mandela Scholarship – Study abroad scholarships for South African students (including Angola and Mozambique) to study in Chile for a master’s degree at selected institutions. Preferred subjects include astronomy, agriculture, energy, public policy, management, health, environment and mining.
• CONICYT National Doctoral Scholarship – PhD scholarships for international students looking to study in Chile at doctoral level.
• CONICYT National Master Scholarship – Graduate scholarships to study in Chile on a master’s degree. Both the doctoral and master scholarships have ended, so check back to www.conicyt.cl at a later date for the 2018 round.
• Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC) – A range of scholarships to study at the university.

Scholarships to study in Mexico

• Boren Scholarships – Study abroad scholarships for US students interested in working for the US federal government after graduation, to study in Latin America, Africa, Asia and other countries critical to US interests.
• British Academy Newton Mobility Grants – Exchange programs for postdoctoral UK students and students from partner countries to conduct research in partner nations, including Mexico.
• Tecnológico de Monterrey scholarships – A range of scholarships to study at Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM), including the Socioeconomic Scholarship for students with a grade average of 85/100 who require financial aid.
• UNAM postgraduate scholarships – Scholarships for international master’s and doctoral students to study at Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), awarded as monthly maintenance grants.
• Mexican Government Scholarships – Government scholarships to study in Mexico, open to all foreign students enrolling on master’s, doctoral or postgraduate research programs at selected institutions.
• Rainforest Alliance Kleinhans Fellowships – PhD scholarships for master’s degree holders in the fields of forestry, ecology, botany, environmental science or a related field, to conduct doctoral/postdoctoral research in Mexico or other Latin American countries.

Scholarships to study elsewhere in Latin America

• IFCO Full Scholarship Program – Study abroad scholarships for US students looking to study medicine in Cuba. Degree taught in Spanish.
• MasterCard Foundation Scholarships – Study abroad scholarships for African, Latin American and Caribbean students to study in Costa Rica.
• Universidad de Costa Rica Scholarships - Socioeconomic grants are available for students with limited financial resources who demonstrate academic excellence.
• Wells Mountain Foundation ­­­– International scholarships for students from developing countries to study at home or within another developing country.

This article was originally published in June 2015. It was last updated in October 2018.

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The QS Latin America University Rankings 2019, released today, highlights nearly 400 of the region’s most prestigious universities. It was put together based on a similar methodology to the QS World University Rankings®, with some different indicators and weightings, such as staff with PhD, international research network and web impact.

Read on to discover the 10 highest-ranked universities in Latin America in 2019, and find out more about studying in different Latin American destinations with our guides.

10. Universidad Nacional de Colombia

Location: Colombia

Up one place to now claim a spot within the top 10, Universidad Nacional de Colombia (or National University of Colombia in English) comes seventh in the region for both academic and employer reputations, and is also placed joint 275^th in the world university rankings. Founded in 1867 by an act of the Congress of Colombia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia is the largest higher education institution in Colombia, with more than 53,000 students. It also offers the largest selection of courses in the country, and was featured in the most recent QS World University Rankings by Subject for 23 subjects.

9. Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro

Location: Brazil

Down slightly this year to ranked ninth among the top universities in Latin America, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), which is also featured at 361^st in the world university rankings*. UFRJ achieved a perfect score for the web impact indicator, showing that it’s enhancing its international engagement with a strong online presence. Founded as the Royal Academy of Artillery, Fortification and Design in 1792, UFRJ now has a large presence in Rio de Janeiro, owning several museums, hospitals and research facilities around the city.

8. Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)

Location: Argentina

Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) is up one place to rank eighth in the Latin America university rankings, and is also currently ranked 73^rd in the world. It receives perfect scores in the academic and employer reputation indicators, and is also placed fifth for its international research network. One of the largest universities in Latin America, UBA currently has around 345,000 students, mainly at undergraduate level. Undergraduate degrees are free of charge for both domestic and international students.

7. Universidad de Chile

Location: Chile

Ranked seventh in the Latin American rankings and joint 208^th in the world this year, Universidad de Chile is the oldest university in Chile, having been founded in 1843. It now has around 41,000 students and has established a reputation as one of the most prestigious universities in the region, achieving perfect scores for the academic and employer reputation and web impact indicators. In the latest subject rankings it achieved positions among the world’s best for 30 subjects, including eighth for mineral & mining engineering.

6. Tecnológico de Monterrey (ITESM)

Location: Mexico

Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (also known as Tec de Monterrey or simply ITESM) is ranked sixth in Latin America and 178^th in the world, having climbed in the world university rankings in recent years. Established in 1943, ITESM has since grown to include 31 campuses across 25 Mexican cities, with a total of 91,200 students (including high-schoolers).

Despite its name, ITESM actually earns its strongest score in the QS World University Rankings by Subject for art and design (ranked 45^th in the world). It also appears in the global top 100 for business and management.

Discover more of the top universities in Mexico here.

5. Universidad de Los Andes Colombia

Location: Colombia

Heading back to Colombia for the next in our look at the top universities in Latin America, Universidad de Los Andes Colombia (often called Uniandes) climbed three places in this year’s ranking, now coming fifth in the region and joint 272^nd in the world. Uniandes was founded in 1948 (therefore celebrating its 70^th anniversary this year) in the heart of capital city Bogotá, and boasts a wide range of facilities for students to enjoy: 50,000 square meters of green space and woodland, 163 laboratories, a sports center with a semi-Olympic swimming pool, and more.

4. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM)

Location: Mexico

Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) retains its position of fourth in the Latin America rankings in 2019, and is consistently placed number one amongst Mexico’s entries. Also featured at 113^th in the overall world rankings, UNAM is first in Latin America for both the academic reputation and web impact categories. Founded in 1910, UNAM now has a huge student enrollment (346,730 students, including those in high school), and a large national and international presence, with satellite campuses and extension schools in other Mexican states and countries such as the US, China and Canada.

3. Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp)

Location: Brazil

Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) is down one place to rank third in the Latin America ranking this year, and also comes joint 204^th in the world. Unicamp has a major focus on research, which is reflected in its perfect score in the citations per paper indicator (a measure of research productivity). It’s responsible for around 15 percent of Brazilian research, and also produces more patents than any other university in the country. Like all public universities in Brazil, there are no tuition fees for domestic or international students.

2. Universidade de São Paulo (USP)

Location: Brazil

Universidade de São Paulo (USP) is up one place to rank first in Brazil and second in Latin America in 2019, earning perfect scores for all but one of the eight indicators. USP was established in 1934 (though its law school goes all the way back to 1827) and currently has more than 90,000 students enrolled across 11 campuses, making it the largest public university in Brazil.

USP performed very well in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, with places in the global top 50 for art and design, dentistry, mining engineering, law, modern languages, sports-related subjects, and more.

1. Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC)

Location: Chile

The final institution in our look at the 10 top universities in Latin America in 2019 takes us back to Chile, with Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (UC) retaining its position of first in the region. Also currently placed joint 132^nd in the world, UC celebrates its 130^th anniversary this year (having been founded in 1888), and is one of the six Catholic universities in Chile. It has four campuses in capital city Santiago and one in Villarrica, towards the south of the country, with a total of 29,655 students enrolled.

UC currently places within the global top 50 of the subject rankings for architecture, art & design, communication & media studies, education & training, law, modern languages, social policy and sociology.

*The top universities in Latin America are listed in a different order to the QS World University Rankings® due to the differing methodologies used to compile the rankings. Find out more here.

The QS EECA University Rankings 2019, released today, features 300 of the top universities in the Emerging Europe and Central Asia (EECA) region, and is based on a methodology which assesses each university on 10 indicators, including academic and employer reputations, research impact, percentage of international students and (new for 2019) its international research network.

Read on as we count down this year’s top 10, or click here for the full table.

10. Bogaziçi Üniversitesi

Location: Turkey

Down three places from last year but nonetheless in the top 10, Turkey’s Bogaziçi Üniversitesi earns the highest score in this list for its percentage of staff with a PhD (fourth in the whole ranking), and was also placed sixth for its employer reputation. Founded in 1863 as Robert College, Bogaziçi was the first American college to be founded outside of the United States. Today it has more than 17,100 students and maintains strong ties to the American educational system, offering all courses in English.

9. Czech Technical University in Prague

Location: Czech Republic

Ranked ninth in the EECA region in 2019, Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) earns the fourth-highest score in the ranking for employer reputation. One of the largest and oldest technical universities in Europe, CTU was also placed in the top five for web impact, showing that it has a strong online presence (which aids international engagement and communication). CTU was founded in 1707 and currently has about 24,000 students enrolled in 419 fields of study, with some courses available in English or Russian.

8. Middle East Technical University

Location: Turkey

Up one place this year to rank eighth in EECA, Middle East Technical University (METU) is ranked third for its employer reputation, and comes fourth for the papers per faculty indicator (a measure of research productivity). The language of instruction is English and METU is mainly based in capital city Ankara, though it also has a campus in Cyprus. Its 4,500-hectare main campus includes over 3,000 hectares of forest, including Lake Eymir, which is a popular spot for students to take part in fishing, rowing and other recreational activities.

7. Jagiellonian University

Location: Poland

A new entry in the top 10, Jagiellonian University climbs from joint 14^th to seventh in this year’s EECA ranking, and also climbed to 411^th place in the recently released QS World University Rankings® 2019. Jagiellonian is one of the oldest universities in Europe, having been established back in 1364 as the University of Kraków, and it’s educated some particularly notable figures such as Nicolaus Copernicus and Karol Olszewski. Courses are mainly taught in Polish but there are some options in English or German.

Poland was included in our list of 10 of the most affordable places to study abroad – find out which other destinations we’d recommend for those on a budget here.

6. University of Warsaw

Location: Poland

Retaining its position of sixth in the EECA ranking in 2019, the University of Warsaw, which celebrated its 200^th anniversary in 2016, is the largest university in Poland, currently hosting around 48,500 students. Also ranked joint 394^th in the most recent world rankings, the university achieves a near-perfect score for its academic reputation (third in the whole EECA ranking) and also comes sixth for the web impact indicator. Students have a broad spectrum of programs to choose from, with courses in 37 languages, including 26 programs available in English.

5. University of Tartu

Location: Estonia

The national university of Estonia, the University of Tartu (UT) is down slightly in this year’s EECA, but nonetheless stays in the top five. It gets its highest score (fifth) in the new international research network category, demonstrating its success in producing international research collaborations with other universities. UT was founded in 1632 by King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and has since established itself as one of the most prestigious universities in the region, attracting 13,000 students. The official language of the university is Estonian, but there are 23 English-taught programs available, mainly at master’s level. It also offers joint programs with universities in Estonia and beyond in subjects such as human rights and cyber security.

=3. Saint-Petersburg State University

Location: Russia

Up one place to rank joint third in EECA, Saint-Petersburg State University (SPbSU) gets the fourth-highest score in the academic reputation indicator, and also features in the top 10 for web impact. SPbSU, which features at 235^th in the world rankings, was founded in 1724 by Peter the Great, making it the oldest university in Russia. It’s known for producing some of Russia’s most notable political elite, including current president Vladimir Putin, as well as several Nobel Prize winners. And looking at the most recent QS World University Rankings by Subject, SPbSU is ranked among the world’s best for 15 subjects, including the top 100 for modern languages, linguistics and mathematics.

=3. Charles University

Location: Czech Republic

Consistently the highest-ranked university in the Czech Republic, Charles University climbs two places to rank joint third with SPbSU in this year’s EECA ranking, and is also ranked joint 317^th in the world university rankings. It gets the highest score in EECA for the international research network indicator, and is also ranked second for its academic reputation. Charles University was established in 1348, making it the oldest university in Central Europe, and it’s also the largest institution in the Czech Republic, with more than 49,000 students (7,000 of whom are international).

2. Novosibirsk State University

Location: Russia

Back to Russia, Novosibirsk State University (NSU) continues to be the second-highest ranked university in the EECA ranking, and is also ranked 244^th in the world university rankings. Known as one of the strongest Russian universities, particularly for science subjects, NSU is located in the Akademgorodok (Academic Town), the educational and scientific center of Siberia, which comprises 35 research institutes and numerous community amenities. Education is carried out in close relation with world level scientific achievements, and there are 17 English-taught programs available for international students, as well as 28 research internship opportunities.  

1. Lomonosov Moscow State University

Location: Russia

Ranked number one in Emerging Europe and Central Asia for five years in a row, Lomonosov Moscow State University (MSU) achieves first place for three indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation and web impact. It’s also been steadily climbing in the QS World University Rankings® in recent years, now ranking within the global top 100 at 90^th. Founded in 1755, MSU has been associated with 13 Nobel Prize winners in its history, and is the alma mater of numerous distinguished writers, politicians, mathematicians and physicists. It offers English-taught courses in business, economics, geology, biology and politics, and is currently ranked among the world’s best for 28 subjects.

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