Going somewhere new and staying there can be very tough especially when you move to somewhere far from home and your loved ones. Starting a new life abroad gives you a bit of headache and hassle. Adjusting with a new country in a new culture might make you doubt your decision. However, do not lose hope! We get it that being an international student is the biggest challenge then all others, so one thing which every student should keep in mind before going anywhere that there is a long way to go with so many different challenges.
Around 300000 international students are enrolled in different universities in Australia, as Australia is known globally for its quality education the numbers of international student are increasing with every passing year. Now, most of these students face many different challenges when they first come to Australia. Some find it difficult to adjust with culture or some find it hard to bond with people.
To help these international students and to give them tips to overcome these challenges of international student’s life. Edvise hub thought to write down about those challenges and some useful hacks to make your study abroad experience a bit less stressing.
Language Barrier/ Communication:
The biggest hurdle or challenge almost every international student face when they first arrive their study abroad destination is a Language barrier. It does not only affect the general communication but also have effects on studies. As all most, all the courses are in English and students from non-English speaking background usually face issues. It is common for international students to struggle with coursework because English is not their native language. Because of this usual students, face challenges to understand lectures and tutorials and find it difficult to communicate with others especially locals.
Different cultural norms:
Living in a country that is popular for its highest number of international students, which means its obvious to face extreme cultural diversity around you because international students mean different people from a different culture. Also, Australia is one of the most culturally diverse countries in the whole world.
All cultures are different and adjusting in a new culture and environment can be difficult for anyone. Australia has its own norms and values; at first, you might not understand much of it (especially those Aussies slangs) but gradually you will get used to of it. This place has people from almost all over the world, which means it gives the great opportunity to learn about different people from different culture, country or religion.
Finances:
Usually, students are tight on a pocket; they have limited money for limited use. Especially international students because they are usually looking after their accommodation, traveling, food or other expenses. International students do not usually get much of the opportunity to spend on entertainment and other activities. So, keeping up with your finances, be it earnings or savings, is another major thing to focus on.
Now the best part to study in Australia is, that your student visa can allow you to work 20 hours a week and provides many options of part-time jobs that can easily give you some extra bucks to have a great weekend with your friends.
Homesickness:
Yes! Living alone far from home does make you feel homesick and lonely and it is common for international students to feel that way and miss home once in a while, It’s hardly surprising. Even if you move Australia with your family, it still feels the same because leaving your comfort zone can be irritating at some point in time.
Now for the students who consistently feel homesick and lonely, many universities have different clubs and societies. Joining any of these can help you be involved with different people and make new friends that can be the best way out of homesickness. Also, we have the whole blog on the topic (How international students can deal with homesickness) Please check that out!
Making Friends:
This can be challenging for some people even if you are not an international student. However, many international students find it hard to communicate and understand students around them sometimes because of the language barrier or sometimes it can be a shy and introvert nature.
At the start of your university, you might feel that it’s going to hard to make friends here or you might be outnumbered by local students but trust me they all will be feeling just as nervous. Now in Australia people are pretty much frank and friendly so starting with simple hello can be appreciated and taken as a good gesture. Now to make friends it is better to involve yourself with different study groups, clubs or societies can be an easy way to make new friends.
Few easy tips for international students to overcome the most common challenges, that one has to face while living and studying in Australia. Edvise Hub always tries to help students with the best possible information. If you want to know about Australia and life in Australia as an international student please check our other blogs. Also, you can contact us at Contact@edvisehub.com
