International Students

• Why La Trobe
• Courses and research
• Apply and accept
• Fees, scholarships & US Financial Aid
• Predeparture and arrival
• Accommodation & life in Australia
• Education Abroad programs
• International student services
  • Community engagement
  • Programs and activities
  • Support services
    • Individual student support
    • Academic expectations
    • Career Support
    • International Student Advisory Network (ISAN)
    • International Student Barometer (ISB)
  • Sponsored Programs
  • Leaving La Trobe
  • ESOS Compliance
• Contact La Trobe International

What is the ISB?

The ISB is the world’s largest student survey providing benchmarks for international student satisfaction. More than 1200 universities and colleges in 24 countries have adopted the ISB, collecting and comparing feedback from over 1.3 million students to date. All levels and years of study are covered, from first year undergraduates to final year PhD students.

The ISB provides La Trobe University with an understanding of the whole international student experience. Through the confidential information our international students provide us, we are able to evaluate what we are doing well as a university and in what areas we need to improve. Feedback from past surveys has resulted in the University providing more resources to improve in certain areas and build on our current strengths. La Trobe University has participated in the ISB since 2008.

The 2012 ISB results

In 2012, 125 students (27% of onshore La Trobe international students in Victoria) responded to the survey. La Trobe University received positive results from the 2012 ISB. Compared to other Australian universities, our international students identified arrival, learning, and living area as having greater or equal satisfaction level with Australian or worldwide universities.

Key area	Number of La Trobe international students who responded	La Trobe satisfaction	Australian universities satisfaction	Worldwide universities satisfaction
Arrival	273	91%	88%	85%
Learning	1042	86%	85%	86%
Living	1026	89%	87%	86%
Support	979	87%	88%	88%

There were several elements within each area key area of student satisfaction at La Trobe which students identified as very satisfactory. These included:

Key area	Element with very high student satisfaction
Arrival	University orientation and first night Setting up bank account
Learning	La Trobe University’s expert lecturers Facilities: laboratories, virtual learning, technology, and online and physical library
Living	Overall great campus environment, a good place to be Eco-friendly attitude
Support	Disability support Student Guild IT Support

Our international students did identify some key areas within the University that were less satisfactory, and
La Trobe has made steps to improve these key areas and is continually aiming to improve its services.

Key area	Elements which could be improved	Steps La Trobe University has taken/will be taking to improve this area
Arrival	Accommodation Office	Finding suitable accommodation, especially for newly arrived international students, can be particularly challenging. International Student Services helps enable students coming to the University to create links via our Facebook/Renren Transition@Latrobe program. All students will have our comprehensive publication, My Life at La Trobe Guide, posted to them in their country, and receive invitations to attend our Pre-departure Webinars during which questions are answered by Residential Services staff. During these sessions, students also have the opportunity to make friends and look for potential housemates. La Trobe University is undergoing a review of accommodation services to improve services as well as investigate the possibility of further developing on-campus accommodation. International students’ needs are a key consideration of the review committee.
Learning	Curriculum design	In May 2009, the University’s Academic Board approved an ambitious program of curriculum review and renewal across the University to ensure that undergraduate students benefit from the best possible curriculum design under the Design for Learning (DFL) project. The overall project, which is ongoing from 2009 – 2013, consists of a number of inter-related initiatives (sub-projects) across all faculties. It will address, among other things: the first year experience curriculum design guidelines course mapping and the evaluation of learning outcomes and standards.
	Career advice	Over the last 12 months the La Trobe Career Development Centre has undergone many changes and offers students more opportunities to participate in career events and workshops, a Career Mentoring program, and career advice. La Trobe International is presenting alumni career workshops, at which international alumni answer questions about how they found their current employment and what helped.
Living	Financial support and living costs	In 2012 La Trobe University expanded the International Student Services (ISS) team. More staff are now available to meet with international students and discuss any issues, including those related to students’ financial circumstances. The ISS team provides international students with resources and accurate information regarding the cost of living in Australia. International Student Services assists students with financial difficulties by providing advice as to what support is available both on and off campus.
	Interaction with students from other cultures	La Trobe has set up the LACE program to facilitate social events that match up international students with students from other countries, including Australia. Students who participated in the LACE program experience many benefits, including increased confident when socialising with students from different cultures. To learn more visit the LACE webpage. ISS  has a coordinator responsible for developing community engagement opportunities, including volunteer work that counts towards the La Trobe Award and provides work experience, as well as a great way to meet more people, both local and international. ISS is also looking at funding a theatre project in 2013, following on from the success of Life’s a Gamble.