OVERVIEW

Australia is the world’s smallest continent and the sixth largest country. It is often referred to as the “island continent” because of its isolated location. Australia is a highly developed nation and one of the wealthiest countries in the world. Economically too, Australia stands its ground with a relatively high GDP and low poverty rate. In fact, it is the twelfth largest economy in world and ranks high in terms of average wealth.

Why Study in Australia

Many Indians prefer to study in Australia because it is not as stringent with entry requirements as other places such as the United States and United Kingdom. Apart from that, Australia does have a lot to offer Indian students, such as:

• Good standard of living
• Globally recognized education
• Top notch universities with a wide variety of courses
• Attractive scholarship schemes
• Affordable education
• Opportunity to work during the course of study
• Research oriented educational system
• Use of advanced technologies in university courses
• Weather conditions are not too extreme for Indians
• Good availability of post-study job prospects
• High number of international students
• A growing Indian community
• Cost of living is affordable when factoring the foreign exchange rate

Courses Offered

Australia provides a host of different courses that cover a wide variety of domains. Some of the higher education courses offered in Australian universities include:

• Polytechnic Diploma
• University Degree
• Diplomas
• Degree Courses
• Masters Courses
• PHD Courses

Education Requirements

Each course would have its own basic academic requirements. Apart from that, there is also an English language requirement as English is the primary medium of communication in Australia.

To assure competency in the English language, students may have to present their results for any of the following tests:

• TOEFL – Test of English as a Foreign Language
• IELTS – International English Language Testing System
• PTE – Pearson Test of English (Academic)

Cost Of Education

The cost of studying in Australia depends on various factors such as the course domain, university ranking, and city of education. The average cost of education in Australia starts at 9 lakh rupees per year. Note that this is only the basic annual tuition fee, and some courses such as medicine might cost a bit more than others.

Application Procedure

The application procedure for international students to study abroad is quite straightforward. Here’s a rundown on what needs to be done.

• Decide on the university and preferred course
• Verify the educational requirements
• Fill in the application form and send it to the university
• Receive the offer letter from the university
• Verify entry and visa requirements
• Get an overseas student health insurance
• Receive the visa
• Coordinate with university and plan accommodation
• Plan travel and book flight tickets

Work Rights

Currently, student visa holders can work up to 20 hours per week( 40 hrs in a fortnight) during the term of their course. However, they are permitted to work unlimited hours when the course is not in session. Dependent family members, PhD candidates, and post doctoral students are allowed to work full time.

Depending on their level of education, students may also be eligible to work for up to 4 years after they’ve completed their university course.

• Students who have completed a regular Bachelor/Master degree can work for 2 years after their course.
• Students who have completed their Masters by course work can work for 2 years after their study, that can be extended for another 2 years.
• Students who have completed their Masters by research can work for 3 years post study.
• Students who have completed their Doctorate get to work for 4 years after their course is done.

More About Australia

Australia has a very low population density and the residents are a friendly, vibrant bunch. Thousands of Indians have made their home in Australia, and there are thriving Indian communities in all major Australian cities and suburbs.

With respect to the climate, as Australia is located in the southern hemisphere, the seasons are diametrically opposite that of North America and Europe. The areas of the country closer to the equator experience tropical weather, while the areas under the Tropic of Capricorn experience temperate weather with all the four seasons.

Australia is certainly one of the top places Indians would like to settle in, for education or for work. People get to lead a good quality of life in Australia with easy access to education and health care. The government also takes good care of its residents by protecting their political and civil rights, and giving them complete economic freedom.