The Australian government has approved a plan to let 160 international students back into the state of South Australia, in a small but hopeful step forward towards a larger return plan in the future.

Studying abroad is not only a great chance to pursue your academic studies, but an opportunity to build a network of diverse contacts and mentors to help kickstart your graduate career.

This can be done through contacting university alumni now working in positions you’re interested in or attending on-campus career fairs and networking events.

All job interviews are different and they are a common stage in internships, work experience and full time roles. Depending on what kind of industry you are planning on joining, the interview questions will vary. However, the main aim of the interview is to work out if you will be a good fit for the role and the company. And there are only a few ways you can really work that out in an hour.

The UK Home Office has announced that the deadline for university students to arrive in the UK to qualify for the UK graduate route visa has been extended to 27 September 2021.

The graduate work visa, also known as the post-study work visa or PSW visa, allows all international students who have successfully completed a degree in the UK to stay in the country for work for up to three years post-graduation.

Internships can provide you with a range of skills necessary to succeed in the workplace that you often can’t get from academic studies.

They can help you build your understanding of workplace culture, develop your communication, time management, problem-solving skills and expand your global fluency.

Crucially, internships also offer students the opportunity to network with people in relevant professional circles, which can potentially lead to additional work placements and career opportunities.

Which skills should you develop beyond the knowledge you gain during your degree at university?

Many people will tell you that you need to be a problem-solver, that you need to develop critical thinking, data analysis capabilities and inquiry skills. There are also many important emotional intelligence skills, such as empathy, self-awareness and motivation. 

Work experience is key to getting into graduate work. However, the Covid-19 pandemic has put a huge dent in the number of internship and placement opportunities offered by employers. Lack of relevant work experience is now a top concern of job-seeking students.

There is, however, some good news on the work experience front. The Institute of Student Employers (ISE) has said that in some sectors the shrinkage in opportunities has levelled off, while they are increasing in other sectors.

Sustainability is becoming more important across the university sector and students today are increasingly engaged in tackling social and environmental issues and expect their university to do the same.

Here are just some ways that students can be part of the change.

Research your university’s actions on sustainable development

Sponsored content: created in partnership with Newcastle University.

“We can watch our marine systems disappear, or we can come up with solutions so that they are functioning in the future,” stresses Pippa Moore, a marine community ecologist at Newcastle University.