The Realities of Studying Abroad: A Closer Look at International Students in Australia

Australia has traditionally been one of the most popular countries for overseas students seeking global-standard education and a cosmopolitan experience. Underneath the glitz of its world-class universities and stunning scenery, however, many international students—especially with regard to rising tuition rates, inadequate accommodation, and persistent employment problems—have to negotiate an unpleasant reality. This essay looks at these problems, offers first-hand student experience, and highlights sometimes overlooked facets of Australian education.

Rising Costs of Education: An Ongoing Burden

One of the main issues that worries overseas students in Australia is the fast-growing expense of education. Experience of Clover van Rijsbergen, an international student from the Netherlands, shows how education expenses can reach about $60,000 year. Moreover, since students have to pay these costs upfront, it is also financially intimidating. Every semester the fees rise, adding more uncertainty and stress. Since rising expenses can compromise their financial security, most international students worry of running out of money before finishing her degree. For students who find themselves working several part-time jobs simply to pay for tuition, most of the time the expense becomes too much to handle.

Here the hard realities of Australian life gets much more difficult. To make enough, Van Rijsbergen worked in a sex shop and then an IGA supermarket combining academic obligations with lengthy working hours. This is a world apart from the aspirations of many students arriving to Australia, where they hope for a comprehensive university experience. Living Conditions: Accommodation Is Bad Apart from the rising tuition costs, another cause of worry for overseas students is lodging.

Accommodation: Substandard Living Conditions

Van Rijsbergen’s experience with a poorly kept, wetly rented apartment draws attention to the sometimes disregarded housing standards students live in.

Renting as an international student is far from perfect, from black mould and faulty wiring to flooring cutting her feet. Much greater worry results from lack of support from landlords or rental firms who neglect to properly handle these problems. Van Rijsbergen’s protest concerning these hazards was received by the rental agency with a message to remove extra carpets, a completely scornful of her worries reaction. While everyone has unique circumstances, the problem of inadequate housing is shared by overseas students all throughout Australia. Apart from inadequate upkeep, rent rises every six months add even another cause of emotional and financial burden.

As demand for student accommodation rises, students become caught in subpar living circumstances that hardly improve their health. Variability and Employment Problems Another amazing fact that international students have to cope with is discrimination in the Australian employment scene. Van Rijsbergen’s experience of having to change her last name from “Van Rijsbergen” to “Smith” in search of employment reflects the larger problem international students face—searching for jobs hampered by non-Australian background. Such discrimination compromises students’ capacity to fend for themselves financially as well as their mental health and general Australian experience.

Discrimination and Employment Challenges

The epidemic just compounded these difficulties since international students were not included in the JobKeeper programme, a financial aid programme meant to help Australian workers survive the COVID-19 epidemic. Separating this vulnerable segment also reflected the government’s posture, memorably expressed by then Prime Minister Scott Morrison: that of international students should “go home.” When universities moved to online courses, students discovered they paid more tuition with less expected usual face-to–face interaction.

The Emotional and Psychological Toll

Even if the logistical and financial difficulties are obvious, one should never undervalue the psychological and emotional expenses of studying overseas. Like Van Rijsbergen, most foreign students struggle with rising expenses, inadequate living quarters, few employment prospects, and significant estrangement. The stress to strike a balance between academic obligation and financial survival can have long-lasting effects on a person’s mental health, resulting in isolation and hopelessness.

Still, most foreign students, like Van Rijsbergen, are driven to continue their education in spite of great obstacles. They are driven towards realising their dreams for world-class education even at great personal and financial expenses. Such persistence emphasises the need of protecting the rights of overseas students and making sure their efforts towards Australian society are appreciated.

Moving Forward: A Call for Reform

The stories Van Rijsbergen tells serve as a wake-up call for Australian government and academic systems. Legislators, rental agents, and universities especially should pay attention to the systematic problems foreign students experience.

Fair treatment of foreign students in their living circumstances as well as in their study requires reforms.

Open communication on tuition prices, improved rental accommodation management, and student help programmes for those experiencing prejudice constitute essential initial steps towards a more fair environment. Especially in crisis like the COVID-19 epidemic, rules protecting overseas students against labour market abuse and enabling financial access are desperately needed. Value the difficulties experienced by overseas students and carry out significant adjustments to help Australia start to be a friendlier and more encouraging place for students from all around the world.

Conclusion

At last Although Australia is still a top choice for overseas students looking for first-rate education, living and studying here is usually far from perfect. All of which affect their academic and psychological welfare: rising tuition expenses and inadequate housing to job market discrimination; international students must thus overcome many obstacles.

Stronger support systems and better policies will help us to guarantee appropriate treatment of overseas students and the possibility for their success in Australia.