𝐌𝐲 𝐉𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧 𝐒𝐲𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐈 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝟕.𝟓 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐒 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐨𝐭 𝐌𝐲 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚

Hello everyone,

I’m Anushka Ansary, and this is the story of how a confused student with little knowledge of international admission processes made it all the way to getting her Australian student visa to study a Bachelor in Information Systems with a major in Cybersecurity at Western Sydney University (WSU) — and scored an impressive 7.5 in IELTS along the way.

If you’re reading this because you’re feeling overwhelmed, uncertain, or just plain scared about your future—don’t worry. I’ve been exactly where you are.

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐭 𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐧

When I first stepped into IGC, I didn’t have the slightest clue about what studying abroad entailed. Words like “GTE approval,” “COE,” and “SOP” sounded like alien terms to me. Honestly, even deciding which country to go to felt like a mountain I couldn’t climb.

Should I go to the USA? Or maybe Canada? What about Australia?

The options were endless, but the clarity was missing. That’s when I met Talha sir, the MD of IGC. He didn’t just tell me what to do. He listened. He patiently heard out my interests, my strengths, and more importantly—my confusion. And with his guidance, Australia became my dream destination.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐄𝐋𝐓𝐒 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞: 𝐀 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐈 𝐇𝐚𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬

Before anything else, I had to face what every international student must: the IELTS exam.

Now, I wasn’t bad in English—but scoring high in IELTS is a different ball game. The pressure, the structure, the techniques—it all seemed overwhelming.

Then entered Abrar sir, the Chief Instructor of IELTS at IGC. Under his guidance, IELTS prep no longer felt like a burden—it became a process of growth. Every day, every mock test, every feedback session brought me closer to my goal.

I still remember the moment I got my scorecard.

𝟕.𝟓 𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞.

I was stunned. Overjoyed. Relieved.

That one result gave me wings.

𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐜𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐲 𝐏𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐲𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐲

With my IELTS in hand, it was time to choose a path. But guess what? I still wasn’t sure what exactly I wanted to study. IT? Business? Something else?

That’s when Talha sir again stepped in. This time, he helped me see something I hadn’t noticed in myself—a strong interest in technology and a passion for problem-solving. He told me about Cybersecurity, and something just clicked. Then came the big question: 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒖𝒅𝒚?

There were many options, but one stood out — Western Sydney University (WSU). Its reputation, the course structure, and the support system made it a perfect fit. With Talha sir and Masum sir, the CEO of IGC, I applied, and soon after..

𝐈 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐲 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫.

I couldn’t believe how fast things were moving. From being confused about countries to having an offer from one of Australia’s leading universities—it felt surreal.

𝐓𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐓𝐄 & 𝐂𝐎𝐄 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬: 𝐀 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬

Now came the most intense part of the process: GTE approval and obtaining the Confirmation of Enrollment (COE).

And let me be honest—it was not easy. So many documents, requirements, financial proofs, statements—it felt like an endless loop of paperwork. That’s when my dream team—Talha sir, Masum sir, and my lovely counsellor Jannat apu—became my pillars.

They helped me collect everything from bank statements to affidavits to SOPs. Every single detail mattered, and they made sure I didn’t miss a beat. Before the GTE approval, I had to give an interview. And I was terrified.

What would they ask? Would I mess it up? How should I answer?

But Jannat apu wasn’t going to let me panic. She sat down with me again and again—making me practise, correcting my tone, building my confidence.

Thanks to her, I aced my interview and got my GTE approval. And with that, I received my COE. Another milestone checked off!

𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝟏𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠

After getting the COE, the final step was applying for the visa. It felt like the finish line was in sight.

We submitted everything carefully, reviewed each detail, and waited.

And then it happened—

𝑾𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏 𝒋𝒖𝒔𝒕 10 𝒅𝒂𝒚𝒔, 𝒎𝒚 𝒗𝒊𝒔𝒂 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒈𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒅.

I was going to Australia.

I was going to Western Sydney University.

I was going to study Cybersecurity.

That moment? It was everything. Every struggle, every doubt, every document, every IELTS session—it all led to this.

𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐁𝐞𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐌𝐲 𝐒𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬

As I reflect on my journey, one thing stands out the most: I was never alone.

From Abrar sir who helped me master IELTS,

to Talha sir who shaped my direction,

to Masum sir who guided the university application,

to Jannat apu who practiced interviews with me,

to Arnima apu and Nupur apu, who always supported me with patience—

They were my team.

They were my strength.

And I will be forever grateful.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐃𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐎𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞

If you’re someone just starting out and feeling unsure—just like I was—remember this:

You don’t need to have all the answers on Day 1.

Find the right people, and don’t be afraid to ask for help.

Every great journey starts with one brave step.

I didn’t know much about studying abroad, IELTS, or even what I wanted to study. But I walked into IGC, took a chance on myself, and trusted the process.

And now, I’m on my way to becoming a Cybersecurity professional at Western Sydney University.

So if I can do it, you definitely can too.

This is Anushka Ansary, signing off—dreaming bigger, reaching higher.