Pre-Brisbane Dramas Part 2

When talking with your student advisor, be it local ones or from the uni itself, make sure you ask as much as possible. They are there to help you. Just because their service is free to YOU. It doesn't mean they don't get paid for helping you.

Remember this, it is in their best interest to help you sign up to the right course and right university. By the way, in case you don't know. The univeristy you sign up with, pays the student advisor a fee for signing you up.

Don't just ask about the courses itself. Ask about accomodation, locality of the Uni itself, what are the average living expenses like in that area, international student support, clubs and societies, number of international students from your home country, whatever you can think of, ask.

Of the 3 unis in Brisbane, the majority of Asian International Students are Singaporeans, Malaysians & Hong Kongers. European students tend to be Norwegians and Swedes. There's also an influx of African students these days. Koreans students are also rising, but mostly in the English courses in private schools in the City.

Pre-Brisbane Dramas Part 1

Throughout the years, I've always found something to be common with many students going overseas to study.

Your parents are probably more anxious than you.

While, you're all excited and psyching yourself for a new adventure and new people, your parents are worried about your safety, your personal growth, your future, the money etc etc.

It is a HUGE undertaking to study overseas, and not everyone has that kind of dough.

Most courses these days costs about AU$15,000 - AU$20,000 a year. If you add living expenses, travel, books, etc.. you're looking at easily AU$30,000 a year. That's no joke! A lot of people in singapore don't even earn that much the whole year.

I tell you, your parents will have a lot of questions to ask. And many times they would not get a satisfactory answer.

It should be up to you to provide them the answers. Hopefully I can help somewhat.

Do I make $$$ on this Blog?

Some of you who are reading this might have bumped into me at one of those Study in Australia Fairs, which happens regularly in Singapore and Malaysia. You'll see me walking around, talking with people in the industry and might even answer some of your questions.

I am not affiliated to any commercial entity and make no money out of having this Blog or taling with people in those fairs.

It might change in the future and some business minded people might want to pay me money to promote their company.

I will tell you if these advertisements are sponsored or not.

I do this because I enjoy it.

International Student Experience

Besides being an International Student myself and having to go through all the issues International Students have to go through, I have also been a Senior Student Advisor for many years while at QUT helping new international students get settled in and giving them advice on how to make the most of their time in Brisbane.

I was in QUT for a total of 4 1/2 years, which means 9 orientations. I've been a volunteer for 8 of them. Of course, all except my own 1st semester.

Why do I do it?

I went to Brisbane without any friends. Most of my friends were either in NS or local unis or in Monash/RMIT.

I had a lot of assistance from the people volunteering at the ISS (International Students Services). So I figured.. I'd like to give back by volunteering as well.

So I hope by publishing this Blog, new students going to Brisbane will be able to get a feel of what to expect before even reaching there.

Now.. while I studied in QUT, my Blog is about Studying in Brisbane as a whole, which includes Griffith Uni and University of Queensland as well. I do have many friends from the other 2 unis as well and we all share similar experiences.

Quick background check

Alrighty.. you are reading this blog..

Just in case you think I'm full of shit and I don't know what I'm talking about, I should tell you a bit about my background.

Born in Johore Bahru.

Moved 10 times around Malaysia in my first 20 years.

Moved to Singapore in 1991 for A levels.

Went to Brisbane in Jul 1993 to study a degree in Business (Management) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

Failed really badly for the first year. 3 out of 8 subjects. And one of them was a pre-requisite to go on to year 2.

Switched courses in Jul 1994 to Business (Advertising) after using a barrage of persuasive skills on the Dean and the Course Coordinator. They told me later that they agreed because they were impressed at my ability to persuade.. which was what Advertising was all about. Hahha..

Quit uni without graduating in Jun 1997, due to some personal reasons.

Worked in Singapore between Jul 1997 and Jun 2002.

Went back to QUT in Jul 2002 and graduated in Dec 2002.

Wanted to stay on in Brisbane but was difficult to apply for PR or get a work visa.

Took a Certificate 3 in Commercial Cookery at College of Tourism and Hospitality (COTAH) at South Bank Institute of TAFE for 6 months and found a job meanwhile.

Even though I had a full time job, it was difficult for me to get a work visa. Had heaps of red-tape to go through but finally after going back and forth every 3 months, I got it.

Got a 2-year work visa.

In June 2005 I decided I had enough of Australia and came back to SIngapore to set up my own business.

What is this blog all about?

I've always wanted to do something online to help people make better decisions with the right information.

So, here it is... the start of my Study in Brissy (Brisbane) Blog.

Why a Blog?

I figured, rather than try to design a website, which I would really suck in doing, I might as well use existing avenues such as this.