Why I'm Leaving Australia after 3 Years | Is it Worth it?

Overview

An international student in Melbourne (Shatakshi), now finished with a Bachelor’s in Biomedical Science, discusses whether studying in Australia was “worth it” and why she’s leaving after three years.

Why She’s Leaving

1) Job and residency pressure after graduation

Her most likely pathway was to stay via temporary residency and look for work. However, she says it’s difficult for international STEM graduates because:

• Employment often requires sponsorship.
• Entry-level roles may demand advanced degrees or prior experience.

2) Career alignment with her interests

She considered medicine (via the GAMSAT) as a traditional route, but she says she didn’t want to follow the academic/research-heavy trajectory common in Australia, typically:

• Honours → PhD

Through internships and coursework, she realized she doesn’t want traditional academic research.

3) Limits on long-term settlement (PR)

She argues that graduating alone doesn’t guarantee permanent residency for life science/biomed pathways. In her view, it requires:

• A qualifying high-skilled role in Australia
• A time-sensitive “countdown”

This creates anxiety, especially because each day without a job can mean additional money pressure.

4) High cost of living and tuition

She emphasizes that living costs in Melbourne—particularly housing—are a major problem, including the potential need to live far from the city to afford rent. She also notes:

• Rising grocery prices
• High tuition fees, especially for a master’s degree in Australia

5) Student life and campus culture challenges

She says Australia’s culture felt less student-centered than expected, taking her a long time to adjust. She also reports difficulty participating in campus life because:

• Many students aren’t regularly on campus
• Expensive rent and schedules can limit availability

What She Still Values (Benefits She Acknowledges)

Safety and independence

She says she felt comparatively safe and appreciated being able to move around independently at night with friends. However, she also notes a concerning increase in violent incidents in Melbourne, including machete-related attacks that she says are becoming more common.

Personal growth and resilience

She describes studying abroad as building independence and resilience. She arrived at 18 with little familiarity and no friends, and after three years she feels stronger and more self-driven.

Some academic flexibility

She says the academic environment can be more laid-back, which may allow part-time work and more flexibility. The tradeoff, she notes, is:

• Lower class attendance
• Harder opportunities to meet people in her program

Overall Conclusion

She presents her decision as a combination of meaningful experiences and real-world constraints. While she can’t “put a price tag” on her growth and memories, she ultimately believes the:

• Financial pressure
• Job/visa/residency uncertainty
• Mismatch with the academic pathway

…make staying less worth it for her future plans.

Presenters/Contributors

• Shatakshi (speaker/presenter)