Deakin University student Sahil Balotra was selected to share his story of life as an international student on the Australia Network website.

The Student Postcards program is a great place to find out what it is really like to study in Australia, with video postcards revealing everything from study style, food and work to culture shock and friendships.

Sahil is studying biotechnology at Deakin University’s Geelong campus, just outside of Melbourne. Originally from Punjab in the north of India, he found it hard to adjust to the many differences at first.

“There are many cultural differences,” he says in his video postcard. “They enjoy so much freedom here – every child can follow their own dreams. They treat everyone as equal. The teachers treat the students like their friends.”

As part of his course, Sahil is researching potential cures for cancer, looking to find a way to switch off the cancer gene. He hopes to gain work experience in Australia before returning to India.

“I would like to find some way to commercialise biotechnology products. I chose Deakin because they offer the latest course, latest equipment, very good labs and they are getting input from industry about what industry people want.”

Sahil shares a house with three other students. “We have to share because we don’t have much money – it’s student life!” He works part-time as a pizza delivery boy. “My parents no longer have to send me money. I’m feeling independent now. And I’ve learned time management from Australian culture, because I need to study as well as working.”

Deakin is becoming an increasingly popular choice for students, as the latest VTAC figures reveal. The number of students who put Deakin as first choice for their undergraduate studies increased 14.8% on the previous year.

“First preferences for Deakin courses have increased by 54.9% over the past five years, which is more than any other university in Victoria,” says Vice-Chancellor Professor Sally Walker.

And for Sahil, his reason for studying at Deakin is very clear; “I’m very positive about my future, because your future depends on how much you have invested in your present.”

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Tags: Deakin University, Geelong Campus

Posted January 20th, 2010 in Deakin University, Geelong Campus