According to the Department of Education, there were over 600,000 international students studying in Australia at the start of 2023. Many of them faced and overcame unique challenges while studying here.

Among them was Yimi, an international student from China studying Media and Communications Public Relations. She graduated this year and told me her first-hand experience and advice for other international students, plus her thoughts on finding a job with her degree.

What are the main challenges studying as an international student?

The main challenges international students may face when studying in Australia is the language barrier and the difference in culture, but Yimi also described feeling lonely and needing to overcome problems alone.

Like many students Yimi closely studied English growing up, but pointed out that not all English is the same. As an international student you may be surprised to learn that British English and American English aren’t the same. It wasn’t until after Yimi’s degree started that she realised the difference.

“When I was studying English in China, my English teachers were American and British. So my vocabulary and pronunciation are often confused,” she said. “When I learned that British English was used in Australia, I changed the input method of my computer and mobile phone to British English proofreading and search[ed] for the differences between the two.”

How can you find community as an international student?

School isn’t just a place where you’ll study either. For Yimi, and everyone, it’s an opportunity to make friends and not feel as lonely while you’re studying away from home.

“The school will often organise some activities, there are many opportunities to meet new friends and enrich the life outside class,” she said.

Yimi pointed out to me in our conversation that less people live in the entirety of Australia than in Shanghai. We compared population heat maps of where we were from in awe of how different they were. This small moment between us simply shows how different life can be studying abroad, but also how exciting.

How can you find a job as an international student once you’ve graduated?

Once you’ve graduated as an international student you may be stressed about finding work, but there are resources out there (within your university and online) that will help you reach your goal.

Yimi would travel to Australia in her summer and winter vacations since she was a child.

“I like[d] Australia very much when I first travelled to Australia, so I want to study and live here later,” she said.

Having now graduated, Yimi said she’s “confused and afraid” when trying to find a job with her degree in Australia.

“Because this is a new life stage that needs to be faced after leaving school, and everything is unknown. And as an international student, I am not familiar with the process of finding a job in Australia.”

It can be hard knowing where to even start sometimes as an international student but there are resources out there to get you going on the right foot.

• Attend one of GradConnection's bi-annual 'Meet the Employers' events (held in March and July). There is a day at these events dedicated specifically to International Students and employers that hire international students and grads.
• Stint Community is Australia’s largest community of international students dedicated to helping international students find relevant jobs and internships. For students feeling the same as Yimi coming up to graduation, Stint Community can also help you build a strong professional and personal network as you look to enter the workforce.
• Study Australia has advice for international students who haven’t yet graduated. They can also help you find your ideal career and what steps you should be taking to find work in Australia.
• Online creators, such as Sarvani Swayampakula, who are trying to help international students study and work in Australia based on their own experiences.

While Yimi may be uncertain about the future, she’s hopeful, and continues to overcome the challenges that face her.

“This makes me feel like coming to Australia for the first time. Although everything is strange and helpless at first, I believe everything will get better and adapt gradually.”

About The Author Sam is a Media and Communications (journalism) student at La Trobe University. He's been writing for various outlets since he was 16 and recently completed an internship at the Herald Sun. He's passionate about what makes people tick, from their interests to their motivations.