Agriculture student’s love for Adelaide keeps growing

Following her passion for nature, international student Chau Anh Cao found her perfect study match at the University of Adelaide.

Now in the second year of her Bachelor of Agricultural Sciences, Chau shares with us all the amazing opportunities she has experienced whilst living and studying in Adelaide.

Why did you choose your degree? 

I like to work with plants and nature. I think that agriculture is a meaningful industry, essential for human survival and wellbeing.

Why did you choose to study at the University of Adelaide? 

Adelaide is a beautiful city and the prices here are affordable. The University has excellent teaching staff and is a leading university in Australia and the world.

My campus, the Waite campus, is the largest research centre of agriculture, food, wine and natural resources in the Southern Hemisphere.

What was the most valuable source of information you had when deciding which degree to study?

I think university reviews and information given to me by the agent helped. I also chose my degree based on my interests and ability. 

Tell us about your journey to get to the University of Adelaide

I studied high school in Singapore and chose Australia when I graduated because I wanted to experience life in another country. I was interested in natural science and biology; therefore I chose to do a degree in agriculture.

I also received the Global Citizenship Scholarship so got a discount on my course fees and decided to come here. 

I worked with Duc Anh who were amazing. They helped me to get to Australia.   

What are your top three favourite things about being a university student? 

Flexibility: University enables us to arrange our timetable and most of the study is done independently. This allows me to have some flexibility in time management and freedom when studying.

Working opportunities: I have more time to work while at university to earn some income to cover my living expenses. There are a lot of opportunities being advertised on the university's CareerHub and students are always encouraged to look for jobs.

Friends: I have made a lot of friends from different interests, nations and cultures. We have many social events that can help people find new friends and explore university life.

What are your top three favourite things about your life in Adelaide?

• The city is very affordable.
• The people: I have been interacting with many locals as well as people from other countries here during work, my internship and study. They are very kind and helpful.
• It is beautiful, with some classic buildings and nice parks. The view of the city makes me feel calm.

What was the best piece of advice you received about adapting to university life/study? 

If you're new to an environment, don't be afraid to ask for help from teachers, students or... anybody. I think it is a large transition from high school to university, so asking questions and interacting with people is a good way to make friends and to integrate yourself into university life. 

What advice would you give to other international students starting their studies in Adelaide?

"You can be confident in expressing yourself in Adelaide. People here are very friendly and respectful towards different cultures, so international students like me can feel confident in expressing our opinions and interests. At the same time, we can also learn about the culture of the locals and other countries from around the world.Chau Anh Cao

Did you complete an internship during your studies? If yes, what was the experience like?

Yes, I have been working with the Waite Arboretum and on some farms. The experience is meaningful to me as it has helped me to gain skills and practical experience beyond my theoretical knowledge. I can see how new technologies have made changes and how people are taking initiatives to make changes for a more sustainable industry.

How do you think a degree from the University of Adelaide will assist your future career?

So far I have learnt not only the knowledge, but also practical skills that will be necessary when I graduate. I also have had the opportunity to do an internship and work with industry bodies to better understand how the industry works and what employment opportunities are available.

What are your plans for the future?

I would like to be an agricultural scientist or agronomist who can give advice to farmers in the future. I may also want to study further later on so that I can proceed further in my career and help to adapt new practices into the industry to make it more sustainable in the future.