How a leading Australian university is supporting international students to achieve their career goals 

Current University of Adelaide student Chengrui Chen, who is studying a master’s degree in secondary teaching, praised the “extensive amount of practical and research experiences” he has access to as part of his course.  

He explained that the course not only prepared him to be a secondary school teacher but also gave him opportunities should he opt to apply for a research degree in the future, explaining: “The research component of the degree serves as a profound and solid foundation of the potential future pathway to a PhD degree.   

“The practical part of the degree requires us to go into a local high school and teach as a teacher with the guidance and support of a mentor. This gears us up for our future teaching career, as it realistically presents and makes us experience real-life teaching.”  

Jayee Teh graduated with a bachelor’s in psychological science in 2018 and is now working as an Education Development Manager in Malaysia.  

She said: “My time at the University of Adelaide was life changing, allowing me to connect with people from diverse backgrounds, gain enriching experiences through Peer Mentor programs, and shape my identity today as a counsellor dedicated to helping those in need.”  

She added that there were several attributes from her degree which helped propel her career progression, explaining: “I developed critical thinking and problem-solving skills that contributed to decision-making and management skills in my career. These unique attributes added together are what paved my pathway to become a registered and licensed counsellor in Malaysia.” 

Jayee’s mother Lilian praised the university for contributing to her daughter’s personal and professional growth, saying that she felt her experience had helped her develop skills in leadership, multicultural competence and communication.  

She said “Jayee is a role model to her younger brothers and her experience at the University of Adelaide made her more independent, mature and caring.”  She added: “This was the best choice for Jayee’s education with a supportive environment, reasonable cost and quality of life.”  

These are just a selection of the many ways which the University Adelaide supports students to be career-ready when they graduate:  

Career Hub  

Free to all students and for 12 months after graduation, this is a 24/7 platform where students can find jobs and internships and gain practical advice through events, guides and workshops.  

Experienced careers teams  

With the philosophy that it’s never too early or too late to begin planning your next career steps, students can book virtual or face-to-face appointments to discuss their career options and ambitions with an experienced careers advisor at any time during their studies.  

International Alumni Mentoring Programme  

This is an opportunity to connect with someone who has stood in your shoes as a student at the University and gone onto forge their own career path. Through this programme, you’ll benefit from the advice and guidance of a former University of Adelaide student as you seek out your own dream role.