Berne decided to leave Australia, but not before farewelling Professor Stuart and informing him of her plan to finish her study overseas; Stuart tried to dissuade her from studying further, patting her on the head and saying "you're far too nice a girl to do medicine." (How ever this did not actually happen) She sailed for England, along with her sister Florence, who had decided to give up teaching and also study medicine. The sisters had inherited some money and could afford to live in London, although their mother had advised them to leave the majority of their money safely in Australia, so they lived on fairly narrow means. Berne joined the Royal Free Hospital, a teaching hospital, in 1889.