August 6, 2012

From Foreign Students, Hardly a Ringing Endorsement for Australia

Australia Loses Its Luster as Foreign Students Feel Unwelcome 1

Patrick Hamilton for The Chronicle

Catherine Nguyen, 20, a Vietnamese business student at the U. of Melbourne, says foreign students "come to Australia and observe all these patterns of culture, and we're really intrigued by the differences." Australians, however, "do not really appreciate us back."

By Susan Woodward

Melbourne

After four years in Australia, Catherine Nguyen, a 20-year-old student from Ho Chi Minh City, says the country and its education system are starting to lose their charm.

Yes, she agrees with official student surveys that show most international students find Australia relatively "safe" and "friendly." Yes, her education at the University of Melbourne is "high quality." But Ms. Nguyen says something deeper has been missing. Halfway through her bachelor's degree in commerce, she can't