For many of us at Western Sydney University who packed our entire lives into suitcases, said goodbye to our loved ones and moved to a foreign country, the feeling of confusion is quite normal. One day you are sleeping in your family home, and the next, you’re catching a 16-hour flight to Australia and taking the first step to the dream life, you’ve always imagined. What no one tells international students is how overwhelming everything starts to feel when you are navigating life on your own, away from the familiar support systems, and how reality is very different to the dream life that you had planted in your head.
Most students are prepared for the financial burden of tuition fees as part of the university application process. But factors such as finding jobs, cultural barriers, housing issues, academic pressure and mental health challenges further exacerbates the issue. The cost of living in Australia is at its highest and in recent years basic groceries and weekly rent have become difficult to pay for most students. According to a 2024 survey by Meagan Lawrence, a Consumer Editor from Canstar Blue, shoppers were seen to be paying an average of $107 for weekly grocery bills. On top of that, living on campus comes with its own expenses. The average weekly rent for dorm tends to be around $300. Even apartments near university campuses are expensive too.
Given these factors, the major difference in exchange rates makes it difficult for families to support their children from overseas, if they can afford to do so.
This brings us to our second concern – employment. Trying to find a job in Sydney feels increasingly difficult. No matter what you apply for, it can take 3-5 months to land a job after applying for hundreds of positions per day. Furthermore, international student visa holders are restricted to working 48 hours per fortnight during teaching periods, as required by the Department of Home Affairs. This creates a hindrance for students, as employers often search for candidates without visa restrictions. Moreover, there have been cases of exploitation in the workplace where unethical businesses offer cash-in-hand jobs to international students, typically below the minimum wage. ABC journalists Natasya Salim and Hellena Souisa reported on these unethical practices in 2021, identifying international students who felt they couldn’t report unethical practices to the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO). Cash-in-hand operations may also take advantage of international students’ ignorance of Australian workplace policies and rights.
The biggest challenge for most international students is adapting to a new environment. Students from abroad may struggle to speak English, and understanding Australian slang can be difficult. This can make it hard to build meaningful relationships with Australian citizens. Even in university, it’s not easy to befriend domestic students, who tend to hang out with other domestic students. This social grouping creates cultural barriers for international students which could lead to isolation. Native-English speakers may also discriminate against international students in workplaces, public spaces or housing. Findings shown by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, reveal that the Muslim community makes up a large percentage of international students. Women who wear the hijab (headscarf), risk facing racial injustices. According to a report in The Guardian by Mostafa Rachwani, community affairs reporter, multiple Muslim women encountered hate crimes in Melbourne where they were physically abused, one being pregnant at the time of the incident. Islamophobic sentiment raises concerns about the safety of Muslim students and those from other racial backgrounds in the country.
Balancing work, studies and social life is also another aspect new to international students. It can get overwhelming at times when it feels like everything is falling apart and you are handling your responsibilities and tasks poorly. If your family had to contribute financially for you to study abroad, the burden of guilt and despair can quickly creep in when you feel like you’re failing at the only task you were sent to accomplish. International students may start to reconsider life decisions and question their abilities and potential. Homesickness and missing out on life and events happening back in their home country is something every international student faces.
As exciting as life may feel while studying abroad, it’s hard to prepare for the feeling of loneliness and being left out of family gatherings and festivals. All this can cause international students considerable emotional and psychological stress.
While there may be countless other factors that contribute to the struggles of studying abroad, it is important to stay mindful of the opportunities life has in store for us. Several services are offered at Western for students who are struggling with these burdens. There is a student club at the university for literally almost everything you can think of. And if it doesn’t exist yet, you can make one yourself! There is even a club specifically for international students called Western Sydney International Student Association, and it can be accessed through WESTERNLife. Students are encouraged to take part in clubs which foster connections and build friendships. Being more involved with university extracurricular activities is a great way to pass time outside of studies. Not only is this a great way to engage in communities and make new friends, but it helps students learn and explore new experiences during their studies abroad. University is supposed to be the best years of our lives, and it is up to us to make the most of our time and enjoy it to the fullest.
Check out Western’s student support resources here.
