The Iglu Guide | Blog
Common challenges that international students face – and how to overcome them!
Studying overseas is an incredibly rewarding experience. There’s so much to gain beyond pure education, and it’s an amazing opportunity to develop and grow in a new and stimulating environment. But adjusting to another culture can be tough. And making new friends is not always easy – especially if that’s in a different language. It’s no surprise that international students can sometimes find the experience a little overwhelming. Here’s 8 challenges to watch out for, and what you can do to overcome them!
1. Homesickness
It’s totally normal for students to feel homesick when starting at university – no matter where they have come from. But it can feel especially difficult if you’re living overseas, your closest family and friends are difficult to reach and everything around you seems new and alien. It might not just be the language or the people; it can be the food, shops, weather, behaviours and more. All these aspects help connect us to our surrounds, making us feel settled and accepted. When any part of this feels off balance, it only exacerbates those feelings of missing home. Homesickness can also be compounded by certain external factors such as academic expectation, difficulty assimilating, or the pressure of living independently for the first time. However, a shift in mindset and some positive action can soon change all of that.
What you can do
Be sure to stay in touch with family and friends while you’re away. Set up a regular time to video call and feel free to send little messages across the day, even though you know they won’t get read immediately. Make sure you have some items in your room that remind you of home such as pictures and mementos. These can also help make the space feel like yours. If the homesickness builds up and starts to impact your day, recognise when this is happening and know what you can do to help get yourself back on track. This might range from mindfulness and exercise through to a good night’s sleep, or a conversation with friends.
2. Culture shock
Adapting to your new home can be difficult at first, and it’s easy to feel like an outsider looking in. You may be unfamiliar with the foods, language or clothing, and what you regard as perfectly normal may be viewed entirely differently by your peers. This is a very common experience for international students, and it definitely takes time to adjust to the new surroundings and expectations. Culture shock can be experienced both physically and emotionally. For some students, this feeling of disorientation can be quite extreme, affecting sleeping patterns, social integration and more. Being around other students in a similar situation can be a helpful distraction.
What you can do
Make sure you do plenty of research before you move. This will help you have a smoother transition, with fewer surprises along the way. Keep an open mind, and use this experience as an opportunity to discover new and exciting ways of living. You might even pick up some new habits! This period of adjustment can be emotionally exhausting for many international students, which is why it’s important to try and stay healthy particularly in the first year. Iglu properties in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne all have on-site Resident Leaders who are always on hand for any students struggling to adjust. Take advantage of any counselling services offered by your university.
3. Communication barriers
Many international students coming to study in Australia may not speak English as their first language. And despite achieving the required qualification level, the jargon and colloquialisms that you’ll hear around campus can cause some initial confusion and frustration. Australian English is also notoriously full of unexpected abbreviations that can be hard to catch at first. Factor in the localised slang and a different accent and it can definitely take some getting used to. There may also be some new behaviours in social settings that are completely different to how you would interact at home. This all has the potential to lead to broader communication issues that can significantly affect how well you settle in as an international student.
What you can do
Practise makes perfect, and immersion is the quickest way to improve. Try and socialise as much as possible with other students on campus, join up to clubs and societies and view every experience as a learning opportunity. Try and avoid mixing exclusively with students from your own country, as this will only exacerbate the problem. If you have time, it might also help to get a part time job as this is a great way to improve your communication skills and integrate into the local community at the same time.
4. Making friends
It’s always tough leaving friends behind, and any student going off to university faces the challenge of finding a new social scene. But it’s doubly hard for international students when your besties are thousands of miles away, and the time difference makes daily contact awkward. In these situations, it’s always easier to gravitate towards other students in a similar position, or those from your home country, for a sense of comfort and reassurance. But unfortunately, this can sometimes make you feel even more distant and isolated. Friendships play an incredibly important role at university and social integration is key to getting the most out of your student experience in Australia.
What you can do
Remember, all students are going through a similar situation. Get ahead of the game and throw yourself into student life from the get go – that means joining clubs, getting involved and making the most of everything that your uni and student accommodation has to offer. If you’re in shared accommodation, organise some activities to get to know your house mates a little better. If you’re living alone, step outside and see what’s happening in your local student community. Friendships naturally evolve through shared experiences, and before long you’ll have friends that will feel like you’ve known them forever.
5. Financial difficulties
Studying overseas can be expensive, and keeping on top of the budget can be challenging as students learn to live independently. The cost of living is having an impact around the world, and many students are finding it difficult to make ends meet. Factor in the cost of study and accommodation, and it’s not hard to see why managing the finances has such a big impact on international students. The hidden set-up costs of moving to a new country can be unexpected and unplanned, and this can really throw off the daily budget.
What you can do
Take this opportunity to learn how to budget and stay on top of your finances. If you set up a realistic budget before you arrive, you’ll have a good line of sight on exactly how much you will need to spend each semester. Check to see if your uni offers international students any scholarships or grants. Some students alleviate the pressure by getting a part time job. This is a great way to put more dollars in your pocket, as long as you can balance your academic workload at the same time.
6. Finding the right student accommodation
It’s really important to feel happy and secure in your student accommodation, especially when you are living far away from home. If you have come from a close-knit social environment, you will probably benefit from having access to a like-minded student community. If you are used to living independently and value your own company, you may want to consider self-contained accommodation. Getting the right type of student accommodation is key to helping you settle into student life overseas.
What you can do
Start by thinking well in advance about the type of accommodation that will suit you best so you don’t miss out, or make those age-old mistakes. Finding budget friendly accommodation in a new area is not easy, so do your research and prioritise what’s important to you – whether that’s location, facilities, community or security. Get this part right, and you’ll settle much better into university life.
7. Managing academic expectation and learning styles
Academic expectations can vary significantly by country, and you may find this a challenge if they are different to what you have been used to. The marking criteria may vary, or the course may be constructed differently; your tutorials may differ to what you have previously been used to, or the work outside your core subjects may change. These are simple aspects in isolation, but they can throw you off track if they are unexpected and you haven’t previously encountered them.
What you can do
The trick for all international students is to arrive prepared. That means doing your research beforehand, and understanding the academic expectation both from the course, and from your teachers well in advance of your arrival. Research how the courses are put together, how they are taught and how your work will be graded. Organisation is a study skill that will serve you well throughout your time at university. If this doesn’t come to you naturally, there are plenty of ways to get your thinking in order so that you can hit the ground running, and achieve your best.
8. Waving goodbye at the end!
Now that you’ve made all these new and amazing friends, the time will come around when you unfortunately have to say goodbye. This is equally as difficult as arriving. By this time, you will have fully adapted to your new home, and immersed yourself in all things Aussie. But the good news is, you get to return back home to family and friends and share all your exciting experiences.
What you can do
The beauty of technology is that it’s super easy to stay in touch around the world. Some students simply can’t leave the sunshine behind, and decide to stay on in Australia and pursue work experience in the country. This requires a particular visa approval which is limited in duration. However, in certain circumstances it can provide a pathway to permanent residency.
