Ndishe is a current international student from Botswana studying a Master of Professional Engineering, majoring in Mechanical Engineering at UWA. Find out what Ndishe’s experience has been like applying and studying abroad as an international student in Perth.
Choosing to study in Perth
Deciding where to study as an international student can be tricky, but for Ndishe, choosing a city came down to the location and proximity to his hometown in Botswana.
“I chose to study in Perth because of its close proximity to home, so the time difference is about six hours.”
Once he decided that Perth was the ideal city to call his new home, he had to pick which university would be the best fit.
“I chose UWA because of its high academic prestige, particularly in the Engineering space and because it's one of the Group of Eight universities.”
Applying to study at UWA
Ndishe was fortunate enough to receive the Botswana Top Achievers Scholarship and be sponsored to study at UWA. This scholarship is given to students based on high academic achievement at the high school level.
He also applied to study at UWA via an international education agent, which are official UWA representatives to help students. This helped to make the application process seamless and less overwhelming.
“They guided me through what I needed to do to apply, all the way through to getting my acceptance letter and even being able to process my visa. It was a helpful experience because just applying for university can be a bit daunting, but to have somebody guide you through it makes it easier for you to be able to have a pleasant experience.”
First impressions after arriving
After arriving in Perth, the first thing that struck Ndishe was how picturesque the city was with the iconic Swan River and “how beautiful the campus is”.
“My first impression of Perth was that it is a really beautiful city. It's situated around the rivers and the scenery and the greenery around is really beautiful.”
One aspect that he has continued to love is the warm Mediterranean climate in Perth. With more sunny days than any other Australian city (Bureau of Meteorology), it gives students more opportunities to make the most of their time and enjoy all that the city has to offer.
“I love the good weather in Perth. For most of the part I love to wear shorts and a t-shirt and being in Perth allows me to have that freedom and it just really makes you feel great when you're in an environment with great weather!”
What Ndishe loves most about UWA now
One of Ndishe’s favourite things about The University of Western Australia is the focus on industry-integrated learning.
“There is a real big emphasis on you getting work experience at the same time as you study, and I find that's beneficial because it lets you figure out what you want to do once you get out of university.”
Find out more about Ndishe
Want to know more about studying at UWA? Visit the international students page on our website, contact our Future Students Centre by submitting an online enquiry through askUWA or chat to a current international student.
