International Students

Synergize is a strong and diverse group of people who feel passionately about ensuring that international students are as well represented as any other ANU student group.

Tuition Fees
An Independent-lead Students’ Association and International Student Service of the ANU (ISSANU) have worked with the university to achieve a 5% cap on rises in international students’ fees. Synergize will strive to continue this cap and ensure to ensure equal standards for all overseas-fee-paying students.

Accommodation
Students form overseas face the same difficulties in obtaining accommodation at the ANU that domestic students do. In addition, international students face difficulties of language, unfamiliar local practices and sometimes outright discrimination when seeking accommodation in the rental market. Synergize will work with ISSANU and the University Accommodation Services to seek commitments from the university to look after the priorities of later-year international students.

Social
There coninues to be a distinct social divide between international and domestic students. One way to counter this divide is to organise social events that cater top a diverse range of people. This includes a good balance between alcoholic and non-alcoholic events, and to provide culturally sensitive alternatives to BBQ (vegan and halal options). We would also facilitate better promotion of events hosted by ISSANU

Language support
Proficiency in English is strongly linked to academic success. We strongly support an increase in the entry requirement for overseas students from an International English Language Test Score from 6.5 to 7 (on a band from 0-9 where 9 indicates expert user fluency)
in any case, international students currently have little support for their concerns about English language difficulties. Synergize will push for quality language support to be provided by competent advisors within each Faculty
we also believe that better collaboration between ANU College, the Academic Skills and Learning Centre and the International Education Office is necessary to ensure the value of English language courses provided to international students