OVERSEAS STUDENTS FIND ACCOMMODATION TOO COSTLY IN AUSTRALIA

MELBOURNE, Feb 23 (Bernama) -- Overseas students say accommodation and living costs are too high in Australia, a survey has found.
The International Student Barometer (ISB), a survey for Universities Australia, the peak representative body for universities, received responses from more than 36,000 international students.
It found 86 per cent of students were satisfied with their education and 76 per cent would recommend their university. But 40 per cent of students were unhappy with the cost of living.
"Despite satisfaction with living overall, cost is an issue. The cost of accommodation, cost of living, difficulty in finding employment [and] visa advice all emerge as concerns," the survey says.
The Age newspaper reports Universities Australia chief executive Glenn Withers as saying that the survey showed most international students had a good experience studying in Australia.
But he said universities should not take the results for granted.
"We do not and must not see the world through rose-coloured glasses. The ISB survey also confirms there is no room for complacency and still room for improvement," Withers is quoted as saying.
The survey found a significant increase in concern over accommodation costs in 2010, which was partially attributed to the global financial crisis.
China is the top source country for international students coming to Australia.