Why Study In Australia :
There are plenty of top reasons to study in Australia. With a wide range of vocational courses and degree programs to choose from, Australia is emerging as an attractive destination for Indian Students, second only to the US and the UK. Many overseas students are looking forward to study in Australia because of its friendly nature, high standard of living and outstanding education system
Education System in Australia:
To study in Australia is talk of the town nowadays among the international students who want to Study Abroad. Australia is emerging as a new crowd favourite for Graduate and Undergraduate candidates. With 7 universities in top 100 World’s top, Australia is surely a place you should look forward to when thinking about higher studies. However, before that, let us have a look at how Australian Education System
Higher Education in Australia
This is what comes after you have completed your schooling, and if you are an international student, looking to study abroad in Australia, your journey will probably start here.
There are six levels of Educational titles rewarded by the public and private institutes. They are as follows:
1. Certificates 1-4
There is no fixed duration for these types of courses, and as the name suggest, they are certificate courses. They teach basic skills and knowledge, and are mostly vocational. Mostly provided by TAFE (Training and Further Education) colleges, community and private colleges.
TAFE Organization
Mostly offering Vocational and skill based training courses; Training and further education are organization for diploma, associate diploma and certificate courses. Some TAFE in Victoria offer higher level of academics, too. They can be known as a college or University, depending on the state / territory they are in. They are owned and operated by state / territory governments.
2. Diploma and Associate Degrees:
The duration of these courses, Diploma and Associate degrees, are from 2 to 3 years. The diploma courses comprise more of technical skills, while the courses that are more academic in nature, are taught under Associate Degrees. Diplomas are generally equivalent to two years of Degree Education. Many universities, along with TAFE, Community centers and private RTOs (Registered Training Organization) provide these courses.
3. Bachelor Degree and Honors:
This is the standard university qualification, which is recognized worldwide. They normally take three to four years. Honors are awarded on completion of the degree, or after a year of research or thesis. Traditionally, Bachelors were mostly provided by universities, but TAFE and private institutions also provide them with equivalent credibility.
Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas come at the same level as these. Sometimes, admissions in those are given basis the field of specialization or work experience.
4. Masters Degree
Study in Australia master degree is done after the completion of a bachelor degree, and sometimes honor, it requires two years of study after graduation. This involves academics and some kind of research work, too. Most of the times, Universities provide them. Masters Degree in Dentistry, medicine and optometry allows candidates to use “Doctor” as a title. For more information click: study in Australia for masters
5. Doctoral Degree
This is the highest qualification one can achieve in Australia. Holders of a doctoral degree are allowed to have the title “Doctor”. It is mostly done by honors and / or masters in a specialized field of study. Candidates, experts in a field, will have to submit a research-work or a thesis on a particular subject. Professional doctorate is achieved with a project work, rather than a thesis. These are mostly awarded by Universities.
Benefits of Studying in Australia:
Since English is the native language of the country, student life in Australia is pretty manageable for Indian Students who are usually fluent in the language. The mode of study in most Australian Universities is also English and students can generally keep up easily, once they get used to Australian accent. To top it off, there’s a flourishing community of International students in Australia and it is unlikely that one will feel homesick.
Quality of Life in Australia
Life is nothing short of an adventure for those who chose to study in Australia. From people of several cultural backgrounds to the magnificent natural wonders of the island, the country is full of surprises. Australia is famed for its beaches, and most big cities are close to coasts. Lovers of the summer season will have fun at the Bondi beach in Sydney and wildlife enthusiasts will want to visit the Great Barrier Reef. If you enjoy an active nightlife, most cities in Australia have great options.
Economic Power
Australia boasts of the world’s biggest and most highly developed economy. In terms of wealth, it is second only to Switzerland. As a country with a wealth of natural resources, it’s economy is also one of the the most stable in the world. Service sector forms the dominating sector of the economy with the biggest contribution towards GDP and employment of almost 80 percent of the total labor force in the country.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA TO STUDY IN AUSTRALIA:
Many students nowadays are opting to Study in Australia for the obvious reason. Top-ranked Universities, research facilities and excellent career and future opportunities are few of the many reasons why more and more international students want their further study abroad option to be Australia.
English Language Proficiency:
Like most of the Counties, if you want to Study in Australia, You will be asked to take an English Language Proficiency Test to prove that you can listen, read, write and speak English enough to understand what is being taught to you, as most Universities in Australia are English Spoken.
Academic Requirements:
Schooling:
Entry requirements will change for school to school. However, there might be a requirement for English proficiency and some academic performance requirements.
UG Programs:
Australian equivalent to Class 12 is required to get into UG programs in colleges and Universities in Australia. In some cases, institutions can ask for pre-requisite subjects.
PG Programs:
At least one undergraduate degree from a recognized institute from anywhere in the world is required. In some cases, colleges and Universities will ask for work experience. Eligibility criteria for MS in Australia, one of the most preferred courses, is also the same as a masters degree in Australia for international students in many cases.
Minimum Percentage Required for Australia:
There are some academic requirements fr the bachelor’s courses. Minimum percentage required for that is around 65% depending on the course. For the master's programs, minimum requirements will also vary with courses and universities, and it is best to check officially first, before applying.
VET (Vocational Education and Training):
No entrance examination or criteria required for most of the VET programs to Study in Australia.
Bridge Courses:
Mostly offered for duration of a year, bridge or Foundation courses in Australia are intensive courses that are required to meet admission standards for the particular college or University in Australia.
Student Visa in Australia Requirements:
Proof of Acceptance that you have accepted by a college / university in Australia
Genuine Temporary Entrant: written proof that you intend to leave once your studies are over.
English Language Proficiency. (IELTS / TOEFL / PTE)
Financial independency: Proof that you have enough funds to pay for your flights, tuition fees and living expenses. However, one can study in Australia for free with fully paid scholarships.
Health Requirements and OSHC: Basic medical Exam and a mandatory Overseas Student Health Cover from listed providers.
Character Requirements: You will be asked some questions on your application for your character assessment and you might be asked to provide police certificate.
INTAKES IN AUSTRALIA:
There are Two main Intakes in Australia for international students
February Intake
July Intake
February intake is the Primary (main) Intake in Australia, and as the name suggests it starts in February, the secondary intake falls in July. Like most of the countries, the Primary intake will have the most number of the courses offered by almost every University.
The July intake will have limited number of Universities offering limited number of courses to choose from. These two are major intakes in Australia.
There are other intakes like September and November intake in Australia, too, with even fewer courses. Vocational Courses have the intakes for January, May or July, depending upon the course and University.
COST OF STUDYING IN AUSTRALIA:
University tuition fees in Australia
With over 40 universities, 3 of which are private and the rest public universities, Australia offers over 20,000 Bachelor’s and Master’s programs for students. While fees for these programs is generally high, the government has left no stone unturned in making students planning to study in Australia feel welcome by providing several scholarships in Australia as well. The cost of study in Australia for international students may be bit high but can use these scholarships to decrease the financial burden.
Tuition Fees At Public Universities in Australia
Funding for all 38 public universities is provided by the national government of Australia. The quality of Australian universities can be judged from the fact that 7 out of 100 best universities in the world are located in Australia. A bachelor’s degree can cost between 10,000 to 30,000 AUD while a postgraduate degree falls between 22,000 and 37,000 AUD per year. PhD students can expect to pay between 14,000 to 37,000 AUD for their course.
Tuition Fees At Other Types Of Institutes
Private universities cost more than public ones, as is the case everywhere in the world. There is just one private non-profit university in Australia, Bond University, for which the cost of the course can come to around 12,000 AUD. Vocational courses in Australia cost anywhere between 4,000 to 22,000 AUD depending on levels of courses, and English language courses cost 300 AUD per week.
Cost of studying in Australia for international students
The fee structure of colleges in Australia is such that it gives International students proper practical knowledge and the fee worth for it. Some institutes may charge high amount of fee but the course duration is also long then as compared to the other institutes. Below we have mentioned average cost of studying according to educational levels:
Cost of Living in Australia:
Living in Australia is expensive, and average monthly costs usually depend on the city of your residence, with the most expensive city being Sydney. Students should create a budget between 2,000 to 2,500 AUD to cover living costs.
Accommodation in Australia for Students:
Students have the option to stay within a campus, rent as an apartment with a friend or stay with a local family amongst others, and depends on which city you are in. The cost distribution is as follows:
Home Stays - 500-1,000 AUD per month
Student Halls - 300-1,000 AUD per month
Guest Houses - 300-600 AUD per month
Apartments - about 2,000 AUD per month
Food Cost in Australia:
Students on a budget can usually be seen shopping for groceries in the cheap supermarkets like Aldi and Woolworths for 100-200 AUD for a week’s worth. Australia has a huge variety in cuisine and its restaurant scene is one of the most diverse in the world. As a student, eating out at small cafes and restaurants can cost you from 20-80 AUD.
Transportation in Australia:
While calculating the total cost of study in Australia transportation cost must also include. Most universities in Australia provide students with the facility of private university transport in case someone lives faraway or wants to stay late. International students who enroll in the ACTION programmed are provided free transport by the national government, and several states like Queensland and Melbourne have discounted travel costs for foreign students.
A pass for public transport can cost 30 to 70 AUD for students. Fitness freaks and more outdoorsy students have the option to rent bikes for as low as 40 AUD, and most Australian cities are bicycle friendly.
Extra Costs And Savings
Students can expect to spend a lot on their textbooks and course material, but the good thing is that these are usually one time costs, and will cost about 500-1,000 AUD in a year. A lot of shops in and around campus usually sell books at discounted prices, as well as secondhand editions so students can save up.
Getting a health insurance will also drain some funds, but it is a valuable investment and will only cost 25-30 AUD a month.
Australian Student Visa New Rules
Since 2016, there were some changes introduced by the Australian Immigration for an easier framework for students. The subclasses for the visa were reduced to two from the eight for convenience. The two visa subclasses are Subclass 500 (for students) and Subclass 590 (For Student Guardian). The package courses were also introduced, in which students can apply for two or more courses together one after the other, under a single student visa application.
Australia Study Visa:
The Australian visa application process can seem quite complicated, but Australia has simplified its system in the recent years and students can enter the country by applying and successfully being approved for a Student Visa (Subclass 500). The best part about this is that you can apply for your student visa online.
Requirements for Student Visa in Australia:
Don’t worry, the list might look long and confusing, and some of it is time-consuming, but it is fairly simple. Plus, the payoff is a successful application and great education in Australia. For Indian students, here’s the list of requirements for getting a student visa for Australia:
1. Confirmation of Enrolment- There are limited exceptions, but all students looking to obtain a student visa must have a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from a course that is registered with Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
2. Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE)- You must show the intention to leave the country once your course is finished. For this, you may need to write a statement to prove that you comply with the temporary status of your education visa. If you wish to work after graduation, you must apply for a different visa; you can do this while in Australia or out.
3. Band Requirement for Australia Study Visa- You must show you have adequate knowledge of the English language by producing your results for IELTS or TOEFL. Unfortunately, it is not possible to successfully apply for a student visa without proof of proficiency. The minimum Australia student visa band requirement is 6 bands in each of the modules in the IELTS.
4. Australian Student Visa Financial Requirements- To be considered for a student visa, you must be able to provide proof of sufficient financial funds to cover the cost of travel, living and school expenses in Australia for 12 months. Students can work while studying to earn extra money. The amount in general is around AU$20,290 for international students.
5. Health Requirements- You will need to have a basic medical exam done and the assessment to be submitted with your application. Additionally, students must register with an OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) insurance provider as a part of the visa application process. The OSHC is specially designed for international students to help cover any potential medical visits you might need.
6. Character Requirement- As a part of the visa application process you will be assessed for your character based on answers to questions on the application form. You might also be asked to provide police certificates.
You will need to ensure you have a valid passport and passport sized photos handy should you need to submit any proof of validity. Australia study visa requirements after 12th are also the same.
Australia Student Visa Processing time
The entire process can take up to 3 to 4 weeks. This processing time can vary based on the nature of your study and the courses you are taking in Australia It is probably a good idea to make sure you gather all the documents you may need ahead of time.
Once you have submitted all the relevant documents and visa forms, your student visa for Australia application will be allocated a unique Transaction Reference Number (TRN). You can use this number to track the status of your study visa application online. Don’t worry, once you have finished submitting, if you’ve followed all the steps, you are several steps closer to study in Australia. The sooner you start the process, the better it is for your prospects as at the last moment you can simply focus on your relocation rather than worrying about your visa woes. Studying in Australia can be a truly fulfilling experience. Make the most of it while you can!
Status of student visa for Australia
Students can visit the homepage of the Australian Government's Visa Entitlement Verification Online(VEVO). Then track the application by entering the Reference Number (VLN Number) on the receipt you received from the Visa Application Centre and your birth date by using the tracking system online.
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