Financial Challenges Faced by International Students in Australia

PUB600 Assessment Task 2
Research report
ABSTRACT
A discipline-specific practice-based research report
that identifies and critiques research evidence in your
chosen field
Your name

Contents
Introduction...........................................................................................................................................2
Literature Review..................................................................................................................................3
Appraisal of Qualitative Article..............................................................................................................6
Appraisal of Quantitative Article...........................................................................................................8
Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................10
References...........................................................................................................................................11
Appendix 1: Basics of searching completed template.........................................................................12
Appendix 2: Critical appraisal of qualitative article using McMaster template...................................14
Appendix 3: Critical appraisal of quantitative article...........................................................................17
1

Introduction
The purpose of this report is to investigate the financial related problems faced by
international students in the University and Australia at large. In the current years,
international students have increased by 65% since the year 2000 globally accounting for
more than 3.3 million students (1). Australia has become one of the best global markets for
international students after the United States of America (USA) and the United Kingdom.
Students often prefer to study overseas than locally for better education and international
experience(2). Studying as international students has better benefits in terms of jobs
market. However, International students are subjected to various deficits while studying.
One of the major hindrances is the financial associated challenges which may lead to stress
and poor performances. In addition, due to financial constraints, international students are
subjected to other problems like lack of accommodation, physical health problems,
insufficient basic needs like clothing and food, poor or lack of convenient transport system
and lack of educational materials like equipment and computers(3). This report seeks to
address the above current financial associated problems that international students
encountered.
2

Literature Review
Most of the international students in the university are always having various
challenges majorly associated with financial constraints. There are various reasons as to why
international students face this challenge. First, most of the international students come
from the poor backgrounds and largely depend on scholarships and donations(1,4). The
money given through scholarship is largely used for tuition purposes only thus the students
are forced to look for other sources of income in order to cater for basic needs. Due to
cultural differences, language barriers, the burden of school work and lack of expertise,
finding a part-time job while studying becomes a problem(5). Secondly, international
students do not get government loans. Most of the government spending priorities are
under Medicare and current expenditures thus allocating money for international students
loans becomes a problem. Thirdly, the tuition fees for private international students is much
higher as compared to the local students(3). Due to this fact, students spent more money on
paying for school thus remaining with little amounts which cannot cater for other needs.
Lastly, most of the international students use foreign currency. The cost for exchange rates
may be high leaving them with minimum amounts of money thus affecting their financial
stabilities(1,6). Therefore, international students are more disadvantaged when it comes to
financial status as compared to the local students.
Due to financial problems, there are other associated problems that international
students face. According to current health surveys, most of the international students stay
in poor accommodation facilities. International students tend to go for accommodation
facilities that are cheap due to financial difficulties(3,4). Those cheap houses often have
3