How Chinese international students navigate their experience in Australia

How Chinese international students navigate their experience in Australia

From Ear to Asia by Asia Institute, The University of Melbourne

May 12, 2025 · 47 min · Season 2025 · Episode 162

About this episode

The episode explores the experiences of Chinese international students in Australia, focusing on their social and academic challenges.

Despite all the talk of trade wars and other tensions, China remains the largest source of international students worldwide. In Australia alone, there are over 125,000 China nationals attending higher education, representing 22% of all international uni students. Needless to say, these large international numbers provide a massive revenue boon for Australia's cash-strapped institutions of higher learning. But what is the experience of Chinese students here in Australia? Given their large numbers, and their origins from a country that many Australians may view with some ambivalence, how are they being received, embraced or excluded? How are the Chinese students themselves finding ways to cope, or thrive, in the Australian social and academic environment? University of Melbourne researchers Dr Qiuping Pan and Dr Eric Fu join host Sami Shah to explore the complex, often overlooked lived experiences of Chinese international students in Australia. An Asia Institute podcast . Produced and edited by profactual.com . Music by audionautix.com .

People in this episode

Host: Sami Shah

Guests: Dr Qiuping Pan, Dr Eric Fu

Topics covered

  • Chinese international students
  • Australia
  • higher education
  • cultural experience

Keywords

  • trade wars
  • international students
  • education
  • cultural integration

Mentioned in this episode

Places: Australia, China

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