Australia offers students the opportunity to study over 22,000 courses across 140 universities.
Australia offers students the opportunity to study over 22,000 courses across 1,100 learning institutions. Each university adheres to the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) – which means that all of them are interlinked by one single qualifications standard. Because of this, transferring from one university to another is easy. Further, all these institutes are accredited by the Australian Government. Together, these institutions have so far produced 15 Nobel laureates – a testament to the quality of education provided.
A majority of Australian universities have an international student support unit. This team helps international students by answering their questions and directing them to whichever service they require. Another popular service offered by Australian universities is the student hotline. Additionally, under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework, colleges are mandated by law to adhere to the student protection best practices.
Several towns and cities in Australia also have dedicated student support centers that offer practical advice and support on issues like legal rights, job skills and opportunities to meet and socialize with other local and international students.
Degrees from Australian universities are recognized and highly valued by companies and other educational institutes across the world. As a result, Australia is an exceedingly popular destination for international students and currently hosts 2.5 million international students.
With over 30% of the population born in other countries, Australia is among the most culturally diverse cultures in the world. It is home to people from around 200 countries. The country has a reputation for being safe and peaceful. Australians are known to be welcoming of international students.
Many Australian degrees and vocational courses include work experience programs and internships so you can gain hands-on industry experience and grow your professional network while you study. Once you complete your degree, you may also be eligible to stay and work in Australia.
While studying, you can work up to 20 hours per week during the semester and full-time during the semester break. This can be a great way to find study-related work or simply pay for your lifestyle in Australia.
Australian colleges and universities offer admissions to students across two intakes as given below:
Most Indian students prefer the July intake since it falls in line with the academic cycle in India i.e. students often graduate by May or June in India and can then to fly to Australia in July. However, the February intake is equally suitable.
It can get confusing to decide which intake to opt for. Students are thus advised to compare the courses offered, number of seats available for your program, and the scholarship offered across both intakes to simplify the decision making process.
Studying abroad can be expensive. However, planning in advance will help you manage your living expenses more effectively. This starts with understanding how much you will need to pay for your education. The primary driver of cost is tuition fees. The tuition fees you pay will depend on the following factors:
Level | Annual Tuition Fee Range |
---|---|
Doctoral Degree | AUD 14,000 – AUD 37,000 |
Postgraduate (Master’s) Degree | AUD 20,000 – AUD 37,000 |
Undergraduate (Bachelor’s) Degree | AUD 15,000 – AUD 33,000 |
In addition to this, students incur an annual cost of living between AUD 15,000 and AUD 20,000 per year. The amount depends on the city / town you stay in, whether you live on campus or off campus and on if you stay alone or with roommates. The cost of living mentioned includes accommodation, groceries, social activities, books and supplies, transportation, personal expenses, and incidentals.
You don’t have to fund your entire education on your own. There are several scholarships that you can apply to. In fact, the Australian government doled out AUD 300 million (INR 1,455 crore) in scholarships last year! Further, several financial institutions specialize in providing education loans at low interest rates to students.
Coming into effect since July 1, 2016, a student subclass 500 visa lets you stay in Australia for the duration of your study program. It is crucial for you to ensure that your visa remains valid and you abide by the conditions as mentioned on your student visa.
When applying for your student visa for Australia, you will need:
In addition to the above, you will need to undergo a health checkup at an empaneled clinic.
Once you get your visa, there are several things you need to do to ensure it remains valid, including: