by Teachers Unavailability: Struggle to get appointment.
In the pursuit of academic success, effective communication between teachers and students is vital. For a struggling student unfamiliar with the Danish education system, accessing teachers for guidance is crucial. However, our interviewees found it challenging to consistently connect with their instructors. Mest required significant guidance from his teacher, as he was working on his project independently, – “The teacher is not available for you all the time; it was difficult to get their appointments. As an international student I also have to think about my tuition fees, so I have to work certain hours in a day. So, it is difficult to match the timing. And to get an appointment from a teacher you have to send a mail at least one week before, and then the teacher will give you a time, it is difficult, because I am facing a problem right now, but I get an appointment week later.”
Crist´s experience is not different than Mest. “In my case I had to suffer a lot, because my supervisor was the head of the department, and he is always busy with so many works and meetings, which is understandable, but for me it was difficult to get an appointment from him.”
Ronald has blended experiences, during his bachelor´s he struggled to get an appointment, but in his master’s program it’s become easier for him. He says, “Most of the Bangladeshi students are working here to earn their tuition fees, as they don’t have enough support from the family. At the same time, there are also difficulties with accommodation and many other, which make them look tired all the time. So, notion build up among the teachers that these students are not serious about their study, that’s why teachers also don´t take them seriously. I have done my bachelor’s here, so I know the education system much better than other internationals in my class. So, I have a good reputation, and I don’t have to face struggle to get an appointment from the teachers in my master’s program.”
Agency Misguidance: A Hurdle for Bangladeshi Students
In Bangladesh, many unregulated agencies aid students in their applications for studying abroad. These agencies sometimes mislead students with inaccurate information in pursuit of easy profits. For instance, if a student wishes to study in Denmark but the agency has financial ties to a Norwegian institution, they may entice the student with false promises to pursue studies in Norway. Due to a lack of proper understanding, students often fall victim to their deceitful tricks.
Mest was informed with so many false information, but he knew it from the beginning; – “The agency tried to have fooled me, but I would say they couldn’t, but only one the agency told me about the income of Denmark, but they didn’t mention about the high taxes here. Which I discovered after reaching here. But you cannot only blame them, if one student believes them blindly, it’s his or her fault, not the agency´s, because they are doing their business, so it’s the responsibility of the student to do good research before coming here. Nowadays it’s easier to get information from internet.”
According to Ronald there should be monitoring from the Bangladesh government on these agencies. “Agencies are looking for students all the time, they are advertising openly with false information to attract the students. Not all the students are smart enough to search for all the information, in my opinion there should be a proper monitoring from the Bangladeshi government on this. And if both country makes some awareness program, it would be beneficiary for the students who are interested to come to Denmark.”
Crist experience was different because of his uncle presence in Denmark. “I know these agencies from Bangladesh the mislead the students with false information. But most of the students from Bangladesh are coming here to study in master’s program, so they are smart enough to get the information from internet.”
Challenging Danish Language
The study program is in English, but to get a job in Denmark Danish is required. It is not easy for a student to learn this language fast, especially for Bangladeshi students because of the pronunciation. Crist couldn’t secure a relevant job because of this after finishing his master’s with good character. “When I have done with my education I started to apply for the job, but I find out without knowing the Danish language it is not easy, then I started my Danish language school, it took me almost 2 years to finish, but between this time the market became more competitive, and I am not anymore fresh graduate which the companies are looking for.”
According to Mest, Danish language should be included on the study program for the international students. “Though Danish language school is free, but after managing classes, job, and others, it is not easy for one to go to language school again. So, it would be better if we get the language included to our study program.” Mest Said.
Ronald´s opinion was also similar to Mest´s, “In the beginning it was difficult to purchase grocery, as all are written in Danish, it took while to understand this. If we get to learn at least the basic in our study program, it would be easier for us to survive. And also, we can save time after the graduation, to get a job.”
Speak up: Advice from the Experienced
Navigating the path of an international student is undoubtedly challenging. Each international student faces their own set of hurdles. While students must shoulder their responsibilities, its equally important for authorities to constantly work on easing the process.
Mest is currently working in another country but still dreams of completing the education he once dropped out of.
“It was very difficult for me to manage the tuition fees, and my result was constantly poor, later I decided to opt out from the study program, then after I have tried to get a work permit, but I failed, later I moved to another country with a job visa.”
Mest emphasizes the importance of financial preparedness before embarking on studies in Denmark. “Make sure you have a solid financial backup, ideally covering your tuition fees upfront. While working during your program might seem like an option, it can impact your academic performance,” he advises. Additionally, he cautions against blind trust in agencies. “Don’t rely solely on agencies; remember, they’re businesses. Do your own research before making any decisions,” Mest suggests, drawing from his own experience. Despite his own challenges, he acknowledges that many have successfully completed their studies and are leading fulfilling lives in Denmark.
Crist, on the other hand, encourages new students to be proactive in seeking advice. “Reach out to students who have already completed their degrees and are now living in Denmark. They may not all have had smooth journeys, but speaking to them can help you avoid common mistakes,”
Studying isn’t always smooth sailing, but Ronald’s story teaches us that with determination, challenges can be conquered. Despite high tuition fees at his non-Danish college, he pushed through and earned his bachelor’s degree. Now, he’s tackling with his master’s studies, showing us that resilience pays off in the end. “I believe students need to be more proactive in communicating their needs. Some Bangladeshi students tend to be shy and hesitant to reach out to teachers or classmates, even when facing challenges. It’s important to speak up and inform teachers about any problems you encounter. This openness can lead to finding solutions and overcoming obstacles more effective.” Ronald said.
Sabbir Irfan, BA & M.Sc. History and Culture, University of Chittagong, DDRN intern.
