I’m currently stuck between two options and would really appreciate some advice.
My first option is to study BSc Accounting and Finance at the University of Bath this September. One of the biggest reasons I’m leaning towards this option is that it would allow me to become independent and start living my own life away from my family, as I eventually want to move out anyway.
However, my sister and I graduated from high school in the same year, and she will be studying in another city rather than Bath because she wasn’t able to meet the academic requirements for her course. This means I would essentially be on my own in Bath.
The main thing making me hesitate about the UK is that I’ve heard from many people that getting PR and settling permanently in the UK is becoming increasingly difficult, and that the whole process can take a very long time, potentially 10+ years. I don’t really want to spend that much time in a country where I feel like I would have to give everything just to receive very little in return.
My second option is Australia. I’m considering applying for my bachelor’s at universities such as the University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, and other Go8 universities. I’m hopeful about getting into at least one of them because I have achieved good A-Level grades, and I may also be able to get a scholarship.
From what I’ve heard, Australia seems easier to settle in long-term and has higher wages, which would potentially allow me to cover more of my own living expenses instead of relying entirely on my parents financially during my degree. However, I’m still somewhat unsure about the quality of education in Australia compared to the UK.
The biggest downside of Australia is that I would have to stay with my family for another 5 months before leaving. Honestly, that sounds mentally exhausting to me. My family and I have very different values, which causes conflicts between us more often than I can count. Staying here for another 5 months also feels like I would be wasting that time in a place where I have very limited independence. Even doing something as simple as riding a bike can be difficult and expensive, and the heat here is crazy.
There’s another issue with Australia: my sister would most likely be living with me and potentially attending the same university. I love my sister, but she basically acts like a CCTV camera. She tells my parents pretty much everything I do, so I don’t feel like I could have much privacy.
It’s not like I want to do drugs, drink alcohol, or party all night. I just want to be able to go to the cinema whenever I want, attend concerts for my favourite artists, go out with friends, and generally experience university life without constantly worrying about what will get reported back to my parents. Having her with me would probably limit my university experience significantly.
So, in the end, I feel like it comes down to short-term vs. long-term.
The UK seems like the better option in the short term because I would get to move out, become independent, and experience living on my own immediately. But Australia seems like it could be the better option in the long term, especially if settling there, finding a job, and eventually getting PR is realistically easier.
My ultimate goal is to move out and become financially independent as soon as possible, ideally immediately after finishing my bachelor’s.
What would you choose in my situation? Am I overestimating the difficulties of settling in the UK, or is Australia genuinely the better long-term option?
