Arriving as an International Student

Have a read of some of our international students’ testimonies on settling into law school!

Istill remember my first week in UNSW Law and it was definitely daunting- starting law school is already challenging enough on its own, but adapting to a new culture at the same time made it even more so! However, with time it became easier and I slowly became more comfortable with my new academic and personal environment. To incoming international students- don’t fret! There are a myriad of wonderful activities conducted by UNSW Lawsoc that international students can get involved in. The international portfolio organises annual activities to help international students integrate into Australia, while giving them an opportunity to relax and have fun amid the stresses of the academic year. This year, the international portfolio has some exciting events lined up: In Term 1, we will be conducting a Buddy programme which pairs up domestic and overseas students with the aim of encouraging cultural exchange between both parties. There will also be a T1 Welcome Drinks session for international students as well! Other events that we will be running later in the year include barbecues, an online games competition and information sessions in collaboration with other societies- so stay tuned for more updates on those!

Jessica, (3rd year Commerce/Law student from Singapore)

Joining UNSW as an international student is as exciting as it is challenging. Though the inevitable language barrier and foreign education system may be unfamiliar at first, international students will always be delighted and proud of the progress that they will surely make. The unique experience that studying abroad provides will enable international students to view things from an entirely different perspective.

UNSW’s welcoming community, flexible learning pathways and educational resources available allow international students to feel supported while enjoying study and life. In the case of commencing law students, UNSW’s Law Society offers a range of educationally stimulating, socially interactive and fun events to help them better adapt to university life in Australia. In the upcoming 2021 year, the international portfolio has multiple events planned, including a morning tea with international alumni, an outreach mentoring program tailored to international students, a law essay competition probing intellectual minds and more. They are designed with the aim of helping international and exchange students to better integrate into the UNSW Law program. Engaging with Lawsoc activities will enable international students to develop academically and offer them chances to interact with a wide range of like-minded students as well as benefit from the expertise of their predecessors. Martin Li and Yuna Zhao

(Student Development Directors Law Society)