Australia has long been the number one destination for Singaporeans. As of November 2008, there were a total of 8848 Singaporean students enrolled to study in Australia. The largest number of Singaporean students in Australia (over 85%) are studying in the higher education (university) sector.

In a recent research paper released by the City of Sydney (Turnic, S. Needs Assessment of International Students, 2008), several issues and challenges for international students were presented. These issues remain true and very present to today, as they were in 1993 when I first arrived in Western Australia. Regardless of the state in which students study in, the challenges are identical. Hence, the information presented by the City of Sydney is adaptable for Perth. Here is a list of challenges cited and presented (follow the links for more information):

Adaptation to Learning Methods

International students may also find it challenging to have a very casual and relaxed attitude toward their lecturers and tutors… Read More

Struggle with Accommodation

Accommodation has always been a major problem for most international students. On-campus housing can sometimes be hard to secure as spaces are limited. Fees will vary depending on which school you attend, and most provide meals and some furniture… Read More

Struggle with Transportation

Challenges with public transport remain mainly around its cost and accessibility. The best scenario for many international students is to live on campus so they can get to and from lectures and classes with ease…Read More

Safety Issues

The issue of safety has certainly increased over the years in Australia. Certainly, Australia is a wonderful country to live in, and is regularly rated as having some of the safest and most liveable cities in the world…Read More

Dealing with Social Isolation

Majority of international students reported issues of social isolation. Factors leading to their social isolation included not having any support network…Read More

Struggling with Financial Hardship and Unemployment

For many international students, having an income would relieve some of their financial hardship. International students in Australia can expect to spend around $400 per week on accommodation, food, clothing, entertainment, transport, travel, telephone calls and other costs…Read More

Confronting Culture Shock

Many international students experience culture shock but some more than others. It is observed that the students from Asian countries are more vulnerable to culture shock then students from Europe…Read More