What is a GSR interview?

Most students will be required to attend a GSR interview. Your GSR interview is very important and you will usually only get ONE opportunity. You are expected to prepare for your interview and be able to provide evidence that you have conducted diligent research into your course and its benefits, your campus, your finances and life in Australia. We strongly recommend that you read all of the information on this page in preparation for your GSR interview.

The structure of the GSR interview

The interview will last for approximately 10 – 15 minutes.

The GSR interview is the most important part of the admission process after the assessment of your academic and English qualifications. You only get ONE CHANCE at the interview and your application will be denied if you fail the interview. We want to ensure that ALL students have the best possible chance to pass the interview and move on to accept their offer.

The interview is NOT difficult! BUT – it DOES require preparation and some thought. You cannot pass the interview if you don’t prepare.

We strongly recommend that you READ the information below CAREFULLY and that you follow the tips given here. Don’t listen to what your friends tell you – listen to the advice we give you so you have the best chance to pass.

The format.

To ensure that we are able to conduct your GSR interviews as quickly and efficiently as possible, the interviews are now conducted in a group format. This means that you will be in an online ‘waiting room’ with up to 50 other applicants. The entire process may take up to 2 hours, so it is very important that you are available for the WHOLE time on the day of your interview.

Once you are in the waiting room, we will give you some information about the process.

You will wait in the online waiting room until you are called into a new ‘interview room’, where you will be met by your interviewer and the interview will begin. The interview will take 10 – 15 minutes only, so it is important that you answer your questions clearly and concisely.

Your camera MUST be on for the whole duration of the interview. You MUST have access to reliable internet. If you don’t have this at home, you will need to arrange to do your interview somewhere where there is stable internet. If you encounter any technical issues, such as dropping out of the breakout room, don’t panic. Simply click on the same link to re-join and you will be assigned back to your interviewer to resume your interview. You MUST Be alone in the room when your interview is being conducted. If it is suspected that someone else is in the room, the interview may be terminated.

You are advised NOT to read from prepared scripts. You may have some notes with you to help you remember, but reading off a prepared script will result in you losing points and possibly failing the interview. This should be a conversation between you and the interviewer.

IMPORTANT: If you have had a previous visa refusal to Australia or any other country, it is ESSENTIAL that you tell the interviewer. Disclosing this information does NOT mean that you will fail the interview. We need this (truthful) information to help you. If you have had a previous visa refusal for Australia or any other country and you DO NOT disclose it, we will refuse your application and cancel your offer when we find out. This may result in you losing any deposit you have paid.

You must receive a pass mark in EACH of the 5 sections to pass your interview.

Your interviewer will do their very best to make you feel comfortable and relaxed. Don’t be afraid of the interviewer – they are there to help you and they will prompt you as much as possible to ensure that you stay on track and answer the questions.

The questions.

We obviously cannot tell you exactly what the questions are, but we can tell you what they are about and how they are scored.

The main tip here is LISTEN TO THE QUESTION. Answer only what has been asked. You will lose points if you talk about things that you weren’t asked about.

You MUST prepare for the interview. There are only 5 sections in the interview, but you need to do some research on these. The 5 sections are:

Your academic background.

We will ask questions about how your previous study and employment (if applicable) is related to your proposed course and future employment. There are 7 questions in this section and they will focus on things like your future career plans, your expected salary when you graduate, whether or not your proposed future employment is in demand in your home country, why you have specifically chosen to study at Southern Cross University and whether or not you have considered other universities.

Your financial capacity.

In this section, you will be asked about your financial background, your financial sponsors and the source of their funds. There are also 7 questions in this section. You will be required to answer questions about the total cost of your study and living expenses in Australia, your expected return on investment, your sponsors and their financial background. The questions are simple, but you MUST research and prepare.

Your purpose of study in Australia

There are 3 questions in this section and we will ask you to explain in some detail about your reasons for choosing to study in Australia and the benefit of your proposed course to your future.

Ties to your home country.

There is only one question in this section and it is designed for us to get a better understanding of your family, social and economic ties to your home country and your incentives to return upon completion of your degree.

General questions

We will ask you 2 questions which are about your previous visa history and any ties to Australia.

So, that’s it! Simple, right?

It should be! As I said, the interview is not difficult, and the interviewers will do all they can to help you through. BUT – you MUST be prepared. Do your own research and prepare your own answers.

At the end of the day, your future is in YOUR OWN hands. No one can do the interview for you. It is the first step in learning about what will be expected of you as a student in Australia – independent thought, being able to express your own ideas and showing evidence of research!

Good luck, everyone! We are sure you will do very well!

Tips for a successful GTE interview

Your GSR interview will be scheduled for you. You should attend on the date/time scheduled.

Your GSR interview will be conducted by a member of the Admissions Team and will take approximately 10 – 15 minutes.

Your GSR interview will be conducted online and you will be expected to have your camera on and there should be no one in the room with you. If the interviewer thinks you are reading responses, your interview may be terminated.

To help you prepare for the GSR interview, we suggest you are familiar with the following points:

• The structure of your course, including the units you will study
• Why you have chosen this course and how it will help you find a job when you return to your country
• The employment conditions and expected salary in your home country
• The cost of your course and your living expenses in Australia
• Your campus and its location and why you have chosen that campus in particular – you should be able to explain what you know about your campus and its surroundings.
• The education system in your country compared to the education system in Australia
• Australian life and culture

How can I prepare for my GTE interview?

If you use the tips below as a guide, you should have no problem passing the GSR interview. It is all about being prepared.

• Research. You cannot pass your GSR interview without research. To prove that you are a genuine student, you must provide evidence that you have thoroughly researched your course, your university, your campus, your finances, employment conditions in your home country and life and culture in Australia.
• Be specific. Making general comments will not result in a good interview score. For example, if you are asked about the difference between the education system in your home country and the education system in Australia, it would NOT be suitable to simply say “the Australian education system is more about practical and in my home country it is more about theory”. Even if this is true, you need to explain this. Your answer needs to show that you understand what you are being asked.
• Give examples. When answering a question, be prepared to give examples where it is appropriate to do so. General comments without examples will not result in a good score.
• It’s about the facts. Always be prepared to back up what you say with evidence. For example, if you were asked “what can you tell us about Australian culture?”, it would not be enough to say that “Australians are generally easy-going and friendly”. We would expect you to provide evidence. Who told you that? Where did you read it? What information source did you get that from?
• Speak clearly. Remember that you will be speaking with someone who may not understand your slang. Speak in formal English and ensure that you speak clearly and not too softly.
• Do not read. The interviewer will be watching you for signs of reading your answers. It is expected that you will have prepared for your interview. You must NOT read or refer to any notes or websites during your GSR interview. Your interview may be terminated if you are found to be reading. It is expected that you should evidence of independent understanding and not reading off notes.
• Be calm. We understand that you may be nervous, however it is important that you remain calm and think clearly so you can express your answers well.
• It’s ok to ask for clarification. If you don’t understand the question, it is fine to tell the interviewer. Feel free to ask the interviewer to repeat the question if you didn’t hear it clearly or to explain the question if you are not sure exactly what they are asking.