There’s no end to the list of reasons why Malaysians love studying in Australia.
Top-ranked universities. Internationally recognised programmes and accreditations. A warm and welcoming community. An eight-hour flight away — considerably better than other popular study abroad destinations that take double that time.
In 2023, over 16,000 Malaysian students could be found studying in Australia, and the number only grows if you look at how many have already graduated from universities in the Land Down Under — the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade estimates put it at more than 300,000, and who are we to argue with that?
If you’re hoping to join those numbers, we’re excited for you. But first, you might want to check out what your fellow Malaysians have to say about studying in Australia.
Spoiler: it’s not all good, but it’s not all bad either.
What 7 Malaysians have to say about studying in Australia
Desmond Ng studied accounting and finance at Monash University Clayton campus in Melbourne, Australia. Source: Desmond Ng
Desmond Ng
Degree: Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting and Finance
University: Monash University
Studying abroad comes with the fear of leaving home and being on your own, but if you choose the right university — in the case for Ng, Monash’s Clayton campus — you’ll be in good and familiar hands.
“To adapt is very easy because you get to meet a lot of Malaysians,” says Ng. “You have just the right amount of comfort in the Malaysians that you meet in Melbourne, but at the same time, the space to explore out of your comfort zone, to learn more about the locals, to explore their culture and everything else.”
One thing he was unprepared for, however, was what his surroundings were going to be like.
“I have never been to Melbourne, so I had no clue that Clayton was actually hidden in a sort of jungle, a very rural area,” he says. “So that was quite a bit of a culture shock.”
Xin Lyn Lai beat homesickness with help from great friends and housemates. Source: Xin Lyn Lai
Xin Lyn Lai
Degree: Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Management
University: University of Melbourne
Lai‘s advice is to familiarise yourself with even the smallest of things because those make the biggest difference.
“Seriously — just knowing to tap your myki card on the tram can save you from random fines,” she says.
But the bigger things are what you want to take good note of.
“In my first semester, I was told to take an accounting subject. But I had already studied accounting back home in Malaysia.” And after a few back-and-forth emails, they finally agreed: Lai didn’t need to take the subject after all.
“That experience taught me that it really pays to know what you can question and how to advocate for yourself.”
When she wasn’t studying, Lai was out making the most of Australia’s adventures. “I went skiing at Mount Buller, snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef and even attended the Taylor Swift Eras Tour in Melbourne.”
Travelling as a student came with its own perks, too. “I really recommend others to take advantage of student packages,” she says. “I’ve used MHexplorer and KrisFlyer for discounts and extra baggage allowances. Once, Emirates even upgraded me to business class on my way back from Europe to Malaysia — completely free.”
Puteri Sofia Binti Amirnuddin is now the Acting Head of Digital Innovation at Taylor’s University. Source: Puteri Sofia Binti Amirnuddin
Puteri Sofia Binti Amirnuddin
Degree: Bachelor of Laws (LLB)
University: University of Tasmania
After completing her South Australian Matriculation in Malaysia, Amirnuddin knew what the next step was — she wanted to go abroad to further her studies.
All the cool kids were going to Melbourne or Sydney, so she made the cooler decision to go to Tasmania — which she knew nothing about.
Travelling there for the first time proved to be a challenge. Looking back, Amirnuddin wished she had done more research on the travel times and luggage allowances — factors that she felt most students tend to gloss over when studying in Australia.
“It’s very different from the cities,” she says. “It’s very quiet, and to get there in the first place, we had to fly into Melbourne, and then take a connecting flight there. At that time, there weren’t any direct flights because it was just so out of the way.”
However, she still enjoyed her time in Tasmania. What awaited her was clean air, rolling hills, and a beautiful expanse of blue skies and ocean – in her words, it looked like a postcard. Compared to the main Australian cities, Tasmania was quiet, meaning it was the perfect place for her to settle down and study.
Before studying in Australia, Felicia Chiew did business foundation studies at Taylor’s University Malaysia. Source: Felicia Chiew
Felicia Chiew
Degree: Bachelor’s in Business, Information Systems
University: RMIT University
What surprised Chiew about Australia was that, despite English being their native language, locals still struggled with things like grammar.
“When you pick Australian students for your groupmates in university, it doesn’t mean you don’t have to correct their grammar,” she said half-jokingly. “They’re pretty laid back here. It wasn’t something I expected, and I feel like I settled in pretty easily even though I don’t speak English every day.”
When Mar decided to start studying in Australia, she definitely hadn’t expected to face the problems she ended up encountering. Source: Emily Mar
Emily Mar
Degree: Bachelor of Arts and Social Science, Communication, Writing, Journalism
University: Monash University
For all the exchange students who are making the big jump to transfer to your university abroad officially, Mar‘s been there and done that, and she has some crucial advice for you to heed.
“When I decided to transfer and complete my degree in Melbourne, the process became much more challenging than I anticipated,” she says.
Mar had to deal with the faculty in charge of her transfer in Melbourne, but was quickly told that she had to contact the Malaysia office instead — something which raised her brows, as she was now a Melbourne student and thus under their jurisdiction.
After much back and forth, Mar was finally able to talk to an advisor who didn’t push her problem to someone else. The moral of the story? Don’t give up — “Reach out to your international student office or student union for assistance,” says Mar. “If needed, take your concerns to higher authorities. You deserve clarity and support; after all, you’re already paying so much in fees to study abroad.”
“I would never trade my experience in Melbourne for anything in the world,” says Azman. Source: Hani Nadhirah Azman
Hani Nadhirah Azman
Degree: Master of Marketing Communications
University: University of Melbourne
Like many international students who suddenly find themselves somewhere far from home and away from their usual community, Azman found it hard to make new friends, especially since she hadn’t done so in a handful of years.
Her solution? Hop onto TikTok and find a community she could relate to near her, like the Melb Matcha Girlies.
“I went to the first meetup on my birthday last year,” says Azman. “We are a group of girls who share the utmost passion for anything matcha. We go on cafe dates, picnics, pilates, and do artsy activities together.”
“By joining this community, I also get the inside scoop on the best matcha around the city.”
Darren Lee is the first person in his immediate and extended family to pursue his studies abroad. Source: Darren Lee
Darren Lee
Degree: Bachelor’s in Microbiology and Immunology and Bachelor’s in Biomedicine
University: University of Melbourne
If anyone’s deserving of giving you advice about studying in Australia, Lee is on that list. Having spent six years in Melbourne, he looks back at his time there with a fond introspection.
“If I could offer a piece of advice to my younger self before embarking on my studies abroad, it would be to embrace courage more openly and explore as many places as possible,” he says.
Lee realised that his initial hesitance to travel limited some of the great adventures he could have experienced, and given another chance, he’d encourage himself (and people like you!) to plan more trips around Australia to see its diverse landscapes and cities.
“Moreover, I would stress the importance of networking,” he adds. “Connecting with a wide range of people offers not just professional opportunities but also enriches your life in unexpected ways. So, I’d tell myself to seize every opportunity to engage in various activities, meet new people, and fully immerse myself in everything the experience has to offer.”
