Amelie Azimon and Vincent Delessy-Dorvillius have travelled across the globe to study koalas, even volunteering to monitor their behaviour for 24-hours as part of field research.

They are the latest in a long line of French internship students who have visited CQUniversity Rockhampton due to its tradition of koala research in the rural hinterland and on St Bee's Island closer to Mackay.

Amelie, Keri and Vincent discuss their experiences

Vincent, who admits nodding off during his koala watch, said he was fascinated by an animal that "looks so cute yet could tear your face apart if you try to hold them".

He is taking time out in Australia on his way to becoming an environmental engineer and has enjoyed the chance to surf.

Amelie is well on her way to her goal of becoming a vet in a rural part of France, specialising in dairy cows and companion animals, but decided to do her thesis on koalas along the way, helping with radio tracking and monitoring.

"They do move at night and it's actually hard to keep track of them," she said.

Meanwhile, the French interns have been visiting CQUniversity's Centre for Environmental Management alongside American intern Keri Massie, who has been collecting data about potential water use by natural gas plants for credit towards her degree in the USA.

Keri is also keen to explore a career in environmental science after graduation, probably as an environmental consultant for a mining company.