u/Independent-Ear-4194

Chinese international student here. For context, I applied with an IELTS 7.5 overall, currently studying Mechanical Engineering with a Power and Energy Systems minor, Year 3 Semester 2, no underloading, WAM 78 and GPA 3.45.

I want to point out a simple fact: international students are largely on the same side. We do not hold much real voice in university decision-making, especially when it comes to tuition increases, faculty funding cuts, course restructuring, and support services. From a rational point of view, dividing international students by English proficiency, nationality, accent, or academic background only weakens our collective position.

Yes, some Chinese international students may not be highly fluent in English. But this should be understood in context. China is not an English-speaking environment, and many students are young people who are still adapting to a foreign academic and social system. Their English may not be perfect, but that does not make them lazy, worthless, or deserving of mockery.

It is also worth being honest: many Chinese students come here because Australian universities have high QS rankings, internationally recognised degrees, and relatively accessible entry pathways. That sometimes means students arrive with different levels of preparation. But if there is a structural issue, the responsibility should not be placed entirely on individual students. Universities actively recruit international students, charge extremely high tuition fees, and profit from this system.

So for those who keep verbally attacking harmless Chinese students because of their English, I sincerely hope you can direct some of that energy toward more meaningful issues: faculty funding cuts, rising tuition, reduced teaching quality, fewer experiments, and the weakening of academic support.

International students should not be fighting each other at the bottom while the real decisions are made above us.

Kind regards.