Study In Australia

Study In Australia: Australia is a country and a continent by its own right, encircled by the Pacific and Indian oceans.  Roughly the size of the United States, the country’s landmass is 7 million square kilometers, and the estimated population is only 24 million. The country is one of the most sparsely populated countries in the world, only 3 people live per square kilometer.  

Australians enjoy one of the highest standards of living and rank highly in quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, and civil liberties as well as political rights.  It is the world’s 13th-largest economy, has the ninth-highest per capita income making it the most sought-after destination to study, live, work, operate the business and raise your family. 

Australia ranks second-highest human development index globally and is considered one of the most liveable places on earth.  Its climatic zones range from tropics in the far north to the cool temperate conditions of the south. One-third of the country’s landmass enjoys a semi-Mediterranean climate year-round making it the perfect setting for camping, bushwalking, and water sports.  89% percent of Australians are urban dwellers, however, population density is quite high in coastal cities. Life expectancy is about 80 years.

Australia is a stable, peaceful, and prosperous country with a federation of six states and two territories. Despite its vibrant economy, the shortage of skilled workers is the underlying reason for various immigration programs promoted by the government.

Strong democracy coupled with state-of-the-art networks of roads and highways, inter-connected communications hubs, and railways have enabled the country’s mining and manufacturing sectors to be competitive, strong, and diverse. Sophisticated business and service industries have created a perfect condition to attract foreign investments.

Australia is by far the most attractive destination for study. There are 43 universities in Australia: 40 public universities, two international universities, one private university. The largest university in Australia is Monash University in Melbourne: it has five campuses and 75,000 students. Study cost is relatively cheaper compared to other developed countries. 

Australia is a perfect melting pot because of its multi-ethnic cultural diversity that makes it the most desirable place for the considerable number of international students. Australia is the 3rd most popular destination in the world for international students. The country offers around 22,000 courses at 1,100 institutions.  In terms of University System Ranking, Australia features 9th in the world ahead of Germany, New Zealand, and Japan. Its universities can be found in the top 50 ranked universities in the world spearheading tuitions in the following areas:

• Arts & Humanities

• Clinical, Pre-clinical & Health

• Engineering & Technology

• Life Sciences 

• Social Sciences

Cost

The institution and the level of study you choose largely dictate the costs of studying in Australia. 

The following list gives you an idea of approximate costs for different types of qualifications:

• School – $7,800 to $30,000 AUD

• English language studies – Around $300 AUD per week depending on course length

• Vocational Education and Training (Certificates I to IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma) – $4,000 to $22,000 AUD

• Undergraduate Bachelor Degree – $15,000 to $33,000 AUD

• Postgraduate Masters Degree – $20,000 to $37,000 AUD

• Doctoral Degree – $14,000 to $37,000 AUD

In addition to that, the living cost is around 19,000 AUD per year. 

Application process

Studying in Australia calls for both admission to an academic or vocational institution as well as applying for a student visa from the Australian Government

Below is the list of steps one has to go through:

• Selecting the desired course and institution.

• Forwarding your application to the institution of your choice.

• Obtaining and accepting a Letter of Offer.

• Obtaining electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE).

• Finally, applying for a student visa.

Entry prerequisite for application to the desired institution and your visa application include:

• Academic requirements.

• English language requirements.

• Evidence of funds to support your study.

• Overseas student health coverage.

English language requirements:

International students from non-English speaking countries are required to provide proof of English language proficiency.

Below is a list of English Language test providers and the minimum score required:

The TOEFL paper-based test only accepted from limited countries:

**The Occupational English Test includes a mark between A and E. An A or B is considered a pass.

The test must have been taken no more than two years before applying for a student visa.

Evidence of funds to support your study

Students have to prove that they are financially well-off to support their studies in Australia. This means they must have enough money to pay for travel, course fees, and living costs for the period of stay in Australia. Students will be required to make a statement and provide evidence of their financial capacity for the first 12 months. 

Overseas student health coverage

All international students must have adequate health insurance while in Australia. One must obtain Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), which provides medical and hospital insurance, prior to arriving in Australia.

Working Part-time

Students on a student visa are allowed to work a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight and unlimited hours on holidays. However, for Postgraduate research students, there is no limit on the number of hours they may work.

Studying in Australia opens up a whole host of many opportunities for international students. Post-study work opportunity allows them to work after completion of Bachelors, Masters or Doctoral degree, it also creates new avenues like taking up permanent residency. 

Warning: It is not a good idea to choose a course of study targeting a skilled-based migration program in the hope of obtaining permanent residency.  Immigration rules are subject to change, skills relevant to your field of study may not be in demand by the time you have completed your study.   

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