Sydney/Canberra universities for introverted uk student

[discombobulado]

Hi guys, I was looking for some advice about Sydney.

My husband has been given an interview for a job in Sydney. We have been struggling financially for three years in the UK and are keen to try and make it work although the timing is bloody awful. As things stand I’d probably stay here with my son until his a levels are finished.

From the outside it seems quite an extrovert society and am wondering if my introverted teenager would find it hard to make friends. I keep reading how hard it is to form lasting friendships and that Australian universities tend to have students staying within their school groups.

My son would be coming over after his a levels so would not be in a formal educational setting initially so would be thrown in at the deep end socially - but is interested in going to university in Australia. Is this likely to be a mistake? He’s interested in politics/history and from what I read Canberra might suit him? Does anybody have any honest advice?

(Not taking the job would not be an option)

Just bumping your thread for you OP.
MNHQ

I have had children in both Sydney and Canberra universities and attended uni in both cities myself. Australian National University (ANU) is the higher ranked uni in Canberra and is 1st in Australia for politics and is known for being very theoretical in some subjects. University of Canberra (UC) is what you would call an ex polytechnic, a good uni that seems to look after students, it has a politics and government department but I'm not sure if it has history though. ANU has the traditional university residential colleges as well as halls accommodation, there is a lot of societies and I am sure he would find his tribe, UC only has hall accommodation and not as much of a campus life.
There are many unis in Sydney - in some order of prestige: University of Sydney and University of NSW (both traditional and academic with residential colleges that would suit most types), University of Technology Sydney (UTS) is city based with only halls and has a design focus and Macquarie University has certain specialties, and a couple of residential colleges. There are many others including: Western Sydney, Notre Dame and Australian Catholic University (which I think mainly do nursing and education).
Students come from all over Australia and further to every university, the only ones with probably a more local student body would be UC, Macquarie and Western Sydney. Neither myself, my husband or our children ever went to the same university with someone from high school, he will be amongst many others that have moved for uni and we are not all extroverts.

Ok thank you that’s very helpful and actually very reassuring… i’m probably too informed by Reddit really but I worry about him so much and I feel as though we’re turning his life upside down at a critical point but on the other hand we need work and money and financial security and currently we have none of those things

He is a very serious kind of person who craves intellectual stimulation but has poor social skills and I’d like him to find similar people instead of being like a bit of a lonely loner as he is at the moment. I can’t decide if a move like this would be the making of him or if it would be a disaster, he is just so quiet.

Unlike the UK, many Sydney uni students live at home, not in halls (assuming the parents live in Sydney obviously). This would be another thing to consider because it would reduce living costs considerably, but you'd need to check the commute/drive. Greater Sydney is vast and what might be considered 'Sydney' could be a 2hr drive from another part of 'Sydney'. Do you know where you'd be living or where DH's job would be?

We would be inner west, we know it would be cheaper to have him at home but he really needs to learn to mix with others

My daughter lives in the inner west and loves it.
I understand about the concern over your son, I have one similar, and he found his people through a shared hobby.
Some of the unis may have open days in the second half of the year, which I gather is when you will come over so you might be able to visit before applying to start the next February (you do know our academic years are calendar based so he will have 6 months to acclimatize). Unfortunately, ANU's is about March/April I think as they have an early entrance program. If he craves intellectual stimulation, ANU sounds like it would suit him, apply early to the course and residential colleges.

Do you know what he is planning to study? There will be students of all types at university and lots of clubs and activities for him to find his tribe. Most kids live at home if they can and commute to uni.
At UNSW there are clubs including anime, AI, environmental activism, programming/engineering, hip hop, debating and heaps and heaps more. Plus all the sports. If he joins a few of these, he will make friends I’m sure.

He’d be doing politics or history so probably Canberra or university of Sydney. he’s incredibly bright but has poor social skills and often feels lonely amongst peers. He’s got incredibly low self esteem…I keep imagining that a load of confident Aussies will be too much for him - yes I know it’s a stereotype but I’ve nothing else really go to on!

As time goes on, it’s becoming increasingly apparent that this might actually happen and 1/4 of us could end up feeling miserable, it’s a total worry.

Thanks for listening

I really don’t have anybody I can speak to to IRL as they’ll either be heartbroken or faintly judgemental. My best friend thinks I’m being selfish

Have you tried looking for expat groups either on facebook or online? I've never used them but found these:

https://britishexpats.com/forum/australia-54/sydney-uk-733551/

https://www.expatforum.com/threads/moving-to-sydney-from-the-uk-couple-of-questions.36468/?nested_view=1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=organic#post-233727

My grandson is off to ANU in Canberra next year and he too wants to study Political History and Canberra is a brilliant hub for students who have an interest in Politics Having said that, there are some great universities here in Australia and students come from all over the world to study here.
Living away from home when at Uni can be expensive, but there are plenty of part time jobs that students slot into. I know both my son and dtr studied (at different universities) and worked part time jobs to make ends meet.

I hope your family love Aus as much as I do, I came here on my own from UK at the age of 20 and had little option but to make friends. Best move ever.

Good luck with your intended move and when your son starts Uni, he will be like hundreds of other kids all starting a new course. This may be the very thing that gets him out of his shell.

UNSW is a great uni. Plenty of students use the train and journey in from home - which is the rule more than the exception

As for Aussies being extrovert, you get the full range of personality there as you do anywhere else.

Agree about UNSW, my DD studied there for years gaining her Doctorate. She loved it so much she ended up working there & is still there 20 yrs after she first stepped inside the doors.
The social aspects of UNSW are incredible and a very welcoming environment, as well as lots of support provided for students who find it hard going.

Public transport to UNSW is also good with buses and Light Rail.

All good wishes for your intended move and good luck to your son in his future studies.