Alipriya Biswas, a 21-year-old journalism student from India, faced severe financial challenges when she first arrived in Melbourne, Australia. With no local support network, she survived on rice and tinned tuna for a year, highlighting the harsh realities of living on a meager budget. “Two hundred dollars a week is nothing for an Australian to live on,” she said. “But that’s all I had.”
Now, four years into her studies at the University of Melbourne, Biswas believes the struggles of international students in Australia are often misunderstood. “Many people think we come here with endless money from rich families and have everything set up when we get off the plane,” she explained. “But that’s not true.”
International students have frequently been blamed for contributing to rising costs in Australia post-COVID-19, despite evidence suggesting otherwise. Reports indicate that they have not been significant drivers of higher rents and inflation. Yet, many international students continue to share their experiences of grappling with Australia’s cost-of-living crisis, struggling to make ends meet.
Financial Strain and Academic Pressures
Research into the financial pressures faced by international students in Australia reveals a precarious situation. According to Alan Morris, a professor specializing in urban and housing studies at the University of Technology Sydney, many students endure significant stress and anxiety as they juggle academics and financial survival. “There is a lot of suffering out there amongst international students,” Morris said, referencing a 2020 report he co-authored, which found that one in five students were skipping meals due to financial constraints.
International students are required to demonstrate financial capacity to secure their visas, including access to $30,000 for living costs. However, they are limited to working 48 hours a fortnight during their studies, a rule intended to prioritize their education. Despite these measures, many students find themselves in financial distress.
The Reality of Working While Studying
Biswas’s parents made significant sacrifices to fund her education, cutting back on meals and surviving on lentils and rice. Although she secured her visa by proving access to $30,000, her family could only provide limited financial support once she was in Melbourne. After six months of job hunting, she found a bartending job to support her studies.
“About 36 percent of students relied on paid work for their main income, and for students from low-income countries, that figure was 78 percent,” according to a 2020 report on international students.
Professor Morris noted that students from low-income backgrounds are particularly vulnerable, as they cannot easily seek additional financial support from their families. Some students, like one from China studying at the Australian National University, resort to working the maximum allowed hours to manage costs, rather than asking their families for more help. “I couldn’t really sleep well and … I was very anxious about many things,” she shared.
Queenie Kwan Yee Siu, a researcher at ANU, emphasized that even students who work often find their income insufficient to cover living expenses. “Some students find themselves working two to three jobs, and of course, their academic results suffer dramatically,” Morris added.
Exploring Solutions and Innovations
As international students continue to face financial hardships, experts warn against simply allowing them to work more hours, which could detract from their academic performance. Phil Honeywood, CEO of the International Education Association of Australia, cautioned, “They’re here to study first — work is there to supplement living costs.”
Alternative solutions are being considered, such as requiring students to have more savings before arriving in Australia. However, Professor Gaby Ramia from the University of Sydney argued that this approach could limit opportunities for students to study in Australia. “It’s robbing Peter to pay Paul,” he said.
Housing Challenges and Potential Solutions
My Huynh Ngoc Giang, a 21-year-old IT student from Vietnam, chose Australia for its comfort and opportunities but was unprepared for the high living costs, particularly in housing. “The rental market is so competitive,” she noted. Initially, she lived in student accommodation costing $500 a week, which she described as “a tiny space.”
Professor Morris suggested looking to international models for solutions, such as Canada’s practice of housing international students with older people. “It’s a win-win situation,” he said, advocating for more innovative solutions from universities.
Professor Ramia also recommended offering international students public transport concessions and healthcare benefits, similar to those available to domestic students, to alleviate financial pressures.
Adapting and Moving Forward
Despite the challenges, Australia remains an attractive destination for international students, with over 1 million enrolments last year. “We’re one of the only countries where students can bring their partners, who can work full-time,” Honeywood highlighted. Australia also provides two to three years of full-time post-study work, aiding graduates in repaying loans and establishing careers.
Ms. Siu noted that many students are using the cost-of-living crisis as an opportunity to acquire new skills, such as cooking or driving, which help them manage expenses. “That’s still very attractive to international students,” she said.
For My Huynh, adapting to her new environment involves finding ways to save money, like taking advantage of late-night supermarket discounts. “You just have to be proactive and try things you never thought you would before,” she advised.
