ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the challenges Australian students face while studying and engaging in the Indo-Pacific under the New Colombo Plan (NCP), drawing on both quantitative and qualitative survey data. The challenges most commonly reported by students include navigating language barriers, adapting to different cultural norms, adjusting to unfamiliar teaching and learning methods, managing academic workloads, and dealing with financial costs. However, smaller numbers of students highlighted leaving their current jobs or experiencing homesickness as challenges. The chapter also explores how perceived challenges vary across different study-abroad programs. For example, while many students encountered difficulties with language and cultural adaptation, those participating in short-term programs (2–4 weeks) generally found these challenges less intense than students in internships, who faced greater difficulties, particularly in adapting to professional work environments. For NCP scholars on scholarships up to 19 months, visa application issues emerged as the most significant challenge. This chapter emphasises the need to recognise the diverse challenges faced by study abroad students, in order to provide targeted and effective support.
