From excitement to frustration: My experience with faculty advisors

Aproaching professors and staff as an international student can be daunting — especially when the faculty advisors who are supposed to help you seem unhelpful or, worse, rude.

Back in 2019, I had the chance to study in Melbourne for a year, and I was both super excited and kind of nervous.

The experience was amazing; I met great people, explored new places, and, of course, ate some seriously good food. However, before leaving Malaysia, I was warned I may face some discrimination in Australia.

And while I can confidently say that most of the people I met were kind and welcoming, there were a few moments that made me uncomfortable.

My sister joined me halfway through the year, and we made many memories on countless trips together. Source: Emily

Unhelpful faculty advisors, confusion, and unwarranted rudeness

I started off as an exchange student in Melbourne, and at the end of the semester, I decided to stay and finish my last semester there. That’s when things got tricky.

My courses and majors had to be adjusted, and doing all the planning overseas was way harder than I thought it would be.

Initially, enrolling in the exchange programme was easy enough. A couple of visits to my faculty advisors in Malaysia, and I was good to go.

However, when I decided to transfer and complete my degree in Melbourne, the process became much more challenging than I anticipated.

My first stop was the faculty office in Melbourne, where I expected guidance on transitioning into their system. Instead, I was told to contact my home faculty in Malaysia.

This didn’t make sense — as I was transferring, I’d now be a Melbourne student and thus be under their jurisdiction. And I was right.

When I reached out to my Malaysian faculty, they confirmed my suspicions and directed me back to Melbourne, explaining that it was their responsibility to handle the transfer. After much back-and-forth, they gave me their final response: this “wasn’t their area to handle.”

Frustrated, I turned to my faculty in Malaysia again. They were much more helpful and provided me with a direct contact at the Melbourne faculty (who I couldn’t help but notice was Asian, unlike the faculty advisors I had met with earlier).

This new advisor made everything clearer. She patiently walked me through the electives, courses, and credit points necessary for my transition, even adding notes to my course planner to make everything easier for me to remember.

Unfortunately, my struggles didn’t end there. My ensuring experiences with Melbourne’s faculty advisors grew increasingly disheartening.

I vividly remember standing in line at the office one day, watching an advisor interact with an international student.

The student was visibly nervous, stammering as they explained their concerns. Instead of offering reassurance, the advisor’s tone grew louder and harsher, drawing the attention of everyone in the room.

People stared as the student became even more flustered, but the advisor showed no empathy.

When the next student in line, who was white, approached, the advisor’s tone completely shifted. They became polite, apologising for the wait and thanking the student for their patience.

When it was my turn, I felt a knot of anxiety in my stomach, fearing I’d be treated like the first student. Thankfully, I wasn’t; but the faculty advisor’s responses were vague and dismissive.

On another visit, I simply wanted to ask about my graduation. Even over something so simple, I was very nervous, rehearsing what to say multiple times. But my experience wasn’t any better.

The office was empty except for me, so I approached the counter, where a staff member asked me to wait while they fetched someone to help.

I sat there for 30 minutes, growing increasingly anxious, only for another staff member to eventually emerge, coffee in hand.

“What do you need?” she asked casually. When I repeated my question, her response was dismissive: “Just wait a few more days for a reply.” And with that, she walked away.

My time abroad has been a journey of growth. It gave me the space to focus on myself and embrace new experiences without worry. Source: Emily

The reality for international students

Being an international student has been a journey of growth, but it hasn’t been without its challenges.

From my own experiences and conversations with other students, it’s clear that many of us share similar struggles—feeling overlooked, misunderstood, or judged in environments that are meant to foster learning and inclusion.

One incident still sticks with me. Another student looked at me with genuine surprise and said, “Your English is really good. I didn’t know Malaysians spoke English.”

What might have been intended as a compliment left me feeling awkward as I explained that Malaysians don’t only speak Malay — we were colonised by the British, after all.

Then, of course, there was the COVID-19 pandemic, which only made everything harder. Isolation grew, and prejudice became harder to ignore.

I recall one particularly disappointing moment when a group of Chinese students was turned away from a bus, seemingly for no reason other than their ethnicity. Such incidents weren’t isolated.

Research supports what many of us experienced during that time. According to the Hostile Office Report by the Migrants’ Rights Network in the UK, 55% of international students reported negative impacts on their mental health due to anti-immigration sentiment, isolation, visa uncertainties, and financial stress. Furthermore, 41% said they had been treated differently, while 31% faced discrimination in housing.

In Australia, the COVID-19 Coronavirus Racism Incident Report conducted by the Asian Australian painted an equally troubling picture.

People of Chinese or East Asian descent and Australians of Asian backgrounds reported heightened racism, including direct racial slurs (35.7%), online harassment (25.7%), and indirect racial “jokes” (13.1%). Others experienced verbal threats, physical intimidation, and even workplace discrimination.

These experiences aren’t just statistics; they sometimes represent the realities we live through as international students.

They highlight the urgent need for more inclusive and empathetic environments where diversity is celebrated rather than misunderstood.

Melbourne introduced me to people from all over the world, but racism can ruin such a great experience. Everyone deserves to enjoy all that this amazing city has to offer. Source: Emily

International students deserve better

Creating an inclusive environment for international students is easier said than done.

It requires addressing deeply ingrained structural biases and systemic racism, challenges that can take years, even decades, to fully dismantle.

But here’s the thing: these challenges shouldn’t stop you from making the most of your study abroad experience.

With the right strategies, you can navigate tricky situations and focus on the exciting opportunities ahead.

Here’s what I wish someone had told me — to help you avoid the struggles I faced, whether dealing with rude faculty advisors or discrimination:

1. Know your rights and responsibilities

Get to know your university’s policies, procedures, and support services for international students. Knowing your rights means you’ll feel more confident speaking up if something doesn’t sit right.

One easy way to do this is by attending study abroad seminars organised by your university’s international student association.

I attended a few of them and they gave me useful tips on visas, safety, housing, work opportunities, and more.

Although you can find this information online, it’s much better to hear it from experienced advisors who can offer advice that suits your situation.

2. Build your support network

Find your people. Join cultural clubs, connect with other international students, or participate in community events. A good support system makes all the difference.

Don’t shy away from connecting with locals too, they can help you navigate cultural differences. Just like how I found out “Barbie” in Australia means barbecue grill, not a doll!

3. Don’t hesitate to escalate concerns

When faculty advisors or staff are unhelpful, don’t give up. Reach out to your international student office or student union for assistance.

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 had a Vietnamese friend who was having issues with one of her professors. She felt that the grade she got for one of her projects was unfair, and the professor wouldn’t really explain why. She also knew that this professor had issues with international students.

Instead of letting it go, she reached out to the international student association, and they investigated her case. In the end, she was able to have the grade adjusted and received a higher mark.

4. Prioritise self-care and mental health

Take time to recharge, whether it’s by exploring your new surroundings, staying connected with loved ones, or seeking professional mental health support.

Moving abroad was a new experience for me, and it was a little scary at first. But I took my time and did what felt right for me.

Weekends were for hanging out with friends or chatting with family. I had the support of those around me, so I didn’t feel alone, but I also did things that were just for me — like volunteering or taking trips to check out nearby towns.

These moments helped me feel more confident and connected to both my surroundings and myself.

5. Challenge stereotypes with patience

Sometimes, you’ll face ignorance or prejudice. While frustrating, consider these moments as opportunities to educate and shift perceptions.

Respond calmly and confidently; you might just change someone’s perspective.

When I was told that I “spoke good English”, I shared with the student that Malaysia is a country of many races, each with its own language and dialect.

The student was intrigued and began asking more questions, which I was happy to answer.