Xia Ni Wi (25) studied medicine in Perth, Australia and graduated in 2008.

 

How is university life in Perth?

It’s a good mix between study and leisure. The university social life is active, in particular the medical student society – there are frequent events which are very well attended. Also, there are plenty of opportunities to do outdoor activities (Perth is a coastal city with great beaches and a warm Mediterranean climate). Medical school is six years, although there are post-graduate courses for four years and five years.

Is it financially possible for everyone to study medicine in Australia?
The tuition in Australia is AUD$ 7000 a year for local students and up to AUD$ 38 000 a year for international students. The Government helps local students with an interest-free loan for tuition. Accommodation expenses varies and my feeling is that the living expenses are about the same, or slightly cheaper, than living in Amsterdam. Having said that, alcohol is more expensive!
 

What do you think is the best part of the medical education in Australia?
Tertiary level hospitals and a good balance between lifestyle and study. Like many things, the experience will be what you make of it. We have a very active student society, as well as the resources for dedicated studying and research, etc.
 

If you can change one thing of the medical education in Perth, what would that be?
Streamlined teaching. I feel that there is a lot of wasted time in some years, particularly in the first year where sometimes there were six-hours-breaks between lectures. And I would rather see more focus on orthopaedics. I had only two weeks limited experience in orthopaedics!
 

What do you think that is the biggest difference in studying medicine in The Netherlands and Perth?
I think we have quite a comparable medical education although some students have commented that there is less autonomous clinical experience as a student in Perth. Students have less time managing patients on their own here. Socially, it depends on the group of friends. It’s a slightly different demographic as many students still stay at home. Fewer students travel away for university here, perhaps because Perth is so isolated.
 

Describe your life in 2020…. 
I’m doing my internship this year so my life has resolved around work then!

 

Photo by Earth Hour Global, shared under Creative Common License