'I arrived late because of my visa': An Indian student shares the early challenges of studying in Australia

For many Indian students, the decision to study abroad is shaped by trial, revision and uncertainty. For Anvitha Reddy, now pursuing a Bachelor of Design at Monash University in Australia, the journey began with keeping every option open. “Initially, I applied to around 15 universities and I was keeping my options open,” she says. Over time, her focus narrowed. Australia stood out, and she began concentrating on institutions known for design education, particularly in Sydney and Melbourne. The application process itself demanded persistence. “I was literally spending days and nights rewriting my SOPs, deleting, editing, and starting all over again,” she recalls. As a design applicant, she also had to prepare a portfolio, which added another layer of work. Once she shortlisted un