Meet some of our students

Gregory Xu, from Singapore

Degree: Master of Laws

When asked why he came to ANU to undertake his Masters degree, Gregory quoted many reasons. “The ANU Law School is internationally renowned for its government and commercial law expertise. ANU international student fees are some of the most affordable, and its extensive selection of courses also meant that I could tailor my degree to achieve my intended career and educational outcomes.”

Gregory, who is currently working as a Legal Executive for a top-tier commercial law firm in Singapore, says that the fact that he was studying at ANU was well received by his employer during his interview. He also feels that this qualification will open doors for him, should he decide to apply for work internationally.

“Studying at ANU is offering many benefits” Gregory says. “ANU’s excellent international rankings mean that my qualifications will be recognised throughout the world. In addition, ANU also acknowledges that postgraduate students have many personal commitments. Accordingly, although most classes in the masters program are conducted face-to-face, there are some courses that can be online or in a combination of face-to-face and online delivery. The careful design of assessment tasks ensures that the academic rigour is not lost.”

Brigitte, from New Zealand

Degree: Master of Laws, specialising in International Law

While undertaking her undergraduate studies in New Zealand, Brigitte read many articles written by academics at ANU and looked forward to studying under them one day. She applied to study at ANU and is now completing her Master of Laws, specialising in International Law.

“ANU has a strong international reputation, particularly in my area of study, International Law”, says Brigitte. “I feel that my studies will benefit my work by having a qualification from an internationally renowned university and the breadth and depth of the studies.” Through her studies, Brigitte is getting a wide understanding of international legal issues, and the analytical stills required to enhance any job she will take on.

“The fact that the ANU is situated in Canberra means that there are significant opportunities for me to learn outside of the classroom” Brigitte points out. “The presence of international institutes and the frequency of international speakers to Canberra mean that learning doesn’t just happen in structured classes. Being in Australia’s capital means that many of my fellow students have real and practical experience in the areas addressed in lectures.”

Ce Chen Wang, from China

Degree: Asian Studies/Law

Coming from Shanghai, a city with a population of over 10 million people, Ce Chen Wang found the transition to Canberra a little difficult. However, the more relaxed pace and compact size of Canberra soon won him over. “I still like big cities, but I also enjoy the quiet and relaxing lifestyle in Canberra,” said Ce Chen. “I think it is a good place for students, as there are less distractions compared to a big city.”

Ce Chen is doing a combined degree, a Bachelor of Law and a Bachelor of Asian Studies, specialising in Japanese. “I want to be a lawyer, working in a law firm or a court, but I also like doing languages.”

For Ce Chen, it was important to go to a university with a strong international reputation. “ANU is the best university in Australia and it is also particularly renowned for its Asian Studies program.”

Ce Chen feels at home on the ANU campus, which he describes as “big and beautiful”. “ANU is like a small town in which I can have all my needs met,” he said. The other great advantage of the campus, according to Ce Chen, is the many parks and playing fields. “I play football with my friends every week. The pitches here are very good and open to students almost all the time, whereas it is difficult to find a place to play any sports in my home town.”

Chiew Yean Lee, from Malaysia

Degree: Commerce/Law

Chiew Yean Lee always wanted to study overseas. “I knew I wanted a university education overseas, and Australia seemed like a great choice. I wanted to experience living overseas, the different cultures and lifestyles,” she said. The dream was realised when she was granted a scholarship to study at ANU. “The scholarship definitely made a huge difference,” said Chiew.

When she first arrived on campus, Chiew admits she was overwhelmed. “It was just huge, my first day.” The lasting impression was the size and natural beauty of the campus. “I was pretty impressed with the greenery.”

Chiew believes that one of the hardest things for international students is to get the confidence to express their opinions in class. “Speak up,” she advised. “Don’t be afraid to speak your mind. If you don’t ask questions, you don’t learn. Be confident,” she said.

For Chiew, one of the most important things she brought with her was her laptop, as it is vital to do assignments and essays and to keep in touch with home. She would also have liked to bring her Mum. “I miss the home-cooked meals,” said Chiew.


Phannaruemon Piamsa-Art, from Thailand

Degree: Arts/Law

When Phannaruemon Piamsa-Art, known to her friends as Rhianne, was researching the possible places to pursue her studies, one fact quickly became clear. She realised that if she was going to study Law in Australia, the ANU was the only place to go. No other place had the same reputation. Thankfully, the reputation has proved to have substance.

Even so, coming to a new country to study was not always easy. In particular, Rhianne found that there was a lot more emphasis on being personally responsibility for her studies. “You have all the control over your life, nobody tells you what to read anymore, you have to be much more responsible for what you are doing. It’s great. It is just like a big step into the adult world,” said the second year Arts/Law student.

Being able to access excellent facilities has helped Rhianne to work effectively. “I love the Law Library. It’s so useful. And the computer labs are great – you can come to the university and use the computer whenever you like,” she said.

Rhianne also found that when the challenges seemed insurmountable, places like the Academic Skills and Learning Centre were able to provide valuable support. “They are awesome. They offers various courses, like university preparation, essay writing and English for overseas students. The staff there are very helpful and also very kind. It was extremely helpful,” she said.