Study in Australia

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What is the cost of studying in Australia?

Studying abroad can be expensive. Quite naturally, it is instead the studying+living abroad expenses that affect the strength of our financial threshold. And in this section, we cover this important aspect which can either make or break your dream of studying abroad.

Compared to the USA and the UK, the cost of education in Australia is lower. As a matter of fact, Australia is known for providing high-quality education to international students at excellent values. Expensive courses, on the other hand, are known to have strong laboratory or computer components, which again justify the cost, which is comparatively lower.

Although these costs are dependent on the course or institution, we are providing an approximate value to get a fair idea of the actual cost.

Australian University fees are in the range of AUD 19,000 for Graduate Certificate to AUD 28,000 per year for a Doctorate Degree. The list below addresses a few other options:

• Undergraduate programs of duration 3-5 yrs: AUD 22,000-24,000 approx
• Postgraduate programs of duration 1-2 yrs: AUD 25,000 to 30,000 approx

Let us accept it. Finding accommodations is the worst part of shifting spaces. We often do not put our mind to it but it is officially a headache for most students ready to study abroad and their parents. But Australia is known for the variety of accommodation options it has to offer the international students. While they can always buy a house in the country, but staying on the campus, meaning, in the college or university hostels is the most popular and sought after option for accommodation. And the next to that is: Renting a flat or apartment. But between these two polar options, international students also have the option to live in Home Stays with the families residing near the institution.

It is always advisable to pre-arrange accommodation to avoid last-minute hassles.

Now that we have a fair idea of the tuition and accommodation fees, we move on to the next elephant in the room: Living costs. As per our recent studies, we have found that an average international student spends somewhere between 19723 AUD/year to 22,312 AUD/year. However, this is just a mathematical solution and the real numbers may vary depending on person to person.

As per the laws of the land, international students must have health insurance for the intended period of stay. It is termed in Australia as an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). In case, the students have dependents with them, the dependents also must have an OSHC. PSHC premiums are usually supposed to be paid once the students accept the offer. Presently, the cost for OSHC ranges from AUD 600-800 approx. per annum depending on your stay period.

But which course is best to study in Australia?

The advantage of studying at a high-quality education system like that of Australia is that students have myriads of programs and courses to choose from. While several of these are offered through specialist colleges and universities, almost all the top-ranking universities offer specialized programmes within themselves. This means students can choose any programme which best matches their interests and capabilities and then hone them further.

The students can also opt for either full-time or part-time courses, the latter allowing students to accomplish other feats parallel to their studies. Here are a few of the top generic courses and fields which are popular among most of the international students (in no particular order).

1. Engineering - Civil, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, Computer, Automotive, Aeronautical, Mining, Industrial, General Engineering, Structural, Chemical, Telecommunications, Mechatronics, Polymer, Environmental, etc.

2. Law & Administration - Economics, Management, Accounting, Administration, Marketing, Finance, HR, Commerce, etc.

3. Hospitality & Tourism - Hotel Management, Tourism Management, Commercial Cookery, Culinary arts, etc.

4. Mathematics & Computing - Mathematics and Statistics, Computer-based Information System, Computer Science, etc.

5. Visual & Performing Arts - Fashion Design, Art, Graphic Arts, Crafts, Performing Arts, Music, etc.

6. Information Technology - Information Technology, Information Systems, Networking, Security, Software Development, etc.

7. Health Sciences - Nursing, Personal and Family Health Care, Pharmacy, Veterinary Science, Public Health, Physiotherapy, Nutrition, Environmental Health, etc.

8. Agriculture - Agriculture, Forest, Horticulture Business, etc.

9. Education - Education Studies, Special Education, Teaching, Early Childhood, etc.

10. Communication - Media, Journalism, Public Relations, Corporate Communication, etc.

11. Science - Environmental Science, Biotechnology, Pharmacology, Chemistry, etc.

12. Social Studies - Behavioural Studies, Sociology, Geography, Welfare and Counseling, Sport and Recreation, etc.

13. Humanities - English, Psychology, History, Foreign Language Studies, Philosophy, etc.

Which examinations/tests are required to apply and study in Australia?

To study in Australian Universities, and in most of the English-speaking countries, international students are required to crack English proficiency tests like International English Language Testing System, also known as, IELTS, Pearson Test of English, also called PTE or Test of English as a Foreign Language, popularly known as TOEFL. While each University has particular score band requirement for each of these tests, these tests are nothing to be afraid of. Almost each of these tests is concerned with the English reading, writing, listening and speaking skills of the students.

To study in Australia, a student may opt for any of the tests, as per the requirement and take the first step towards achieving the dream of studying in the Aussies.

There are also certain other examinations which students might need to crack before being eligible to study in Australia (depending on the program they wish to study), GRE and GMAT being two of them.

What about scholarships to study in Australia?

Got big dreams but worried about how to achieve that financially? All thanks to the various scholarships offered by Universities and colleges and certain government bodies, meritorious students can avail education at a lower cost. Although the amount or percentage and the eligibility differ from one scholarship to another but they are extremely helpful in taking the financial load off the students and their parents.

Australia is no exception when it comes to scholarships. Australian Universities offer more than 400 scholarships yearly to international students, with some of them covering half the expenses, some covering only the tuition fee and multiple scholarships covering the entire studying abroad expense, including tuition, accommodation and other miscellaneous expenses.

Similarly, there are Government-funded scholarships for international students announced from time-to-time and most of these are full scholarships. In Australia, there is the International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) scheme for postgraduate research students.

But like everything else, these scholarships are highly competitive as a large number of students apply. There are certain scholarships that are offered on the first-come-first-serve basis and then there are others which are offered post cracking tests. It is always advisable to contact your study abroad consultant to know more about such scholarship opportunities and apply accordingly. 

Visa to study in Australia

Now that we have covered the academic and financial aspect of studying in Australia, once you are done choosing the right course and university, the one thing you need to take care of is the visa. Think of it like a ticket which allows you to stay in a particular country for a particular period of time. And Australia is no exception to this rule. Here we discuss in brief how to apply for a visa, what are the requirements for a visa and which visa to apply for to study in Australia.

The visa process is a lengthy one and the time frame varies from case to case. Although we have helped students get their visas processed in 48 hours, there were a few cases when it took almost 30 days due to complications. And so, it is always advisable to keep this time window in mind and then proceed.

To study in Australia, you need to apply for a student visa (subclass 500). Apart from that, for students sponsored by the Foreign Affairs and Defence and school sector, there is specific information.

To acquire a visa, students are required to fulfil certain other criteria including providing genuine financial capacity information, English language requirement, health insurance, justification for gap years (if any) among others.

One should be aware of certain uncertified agencies which claim to provide shortcuts to visa acquisition. Using fraudulent means is punishable by law and any person involved in such cases is banned by the concerned country.

Since Global Reach is a certified education agency; we guide you to the right path and do not make false promises.

Eligibility criteria to get an Australian student visa

To apply for a student visa, you must have an offer letter to study full-time at an Australian university or college

If the student is under 18 years of age, they must have appropriate welfare arrangements organized for them for the duration of their intended stay in Australia.

How to apply for an Australian student visa?

1. The first step is to be in possession of all the necessary documents and prepare them.
2. They need to make all the necessary payments and apply at the concerned department.
3. If required, they need to provide any additional documents
4. It is advisable to keep a track of your application

Life, Transportation and other Necessities

Apart from being a hotspot for quality education, Australia is also a great catch if you love scenic beauty. Blessed with great weather and fantastic lifestyle and being a multicultural hub, it is undoubtedly one country which attracts millions every year either as travelers or students. The welcoming nature of the host country and its people, along with the immigration-friendly policies add to its spark. People move to Australia each year to seek out the many opportunities and the Australian visa system is structured with this in mind, encouraging all individuals and families who can add value to the country to move to Australia.

When it comes to moving around the country or its cities people favor Public transport as in most of the cities it is very good and several of the capital cities provide fully-developed train and tram services. Several cities are also investing to upgrade their public transport systems.

People in Australia love eating out and they have their reasons. When the food culture from across the globe is available to them, eating out becomes more than just a hobby. A typical restaurant meal costs approximately $30 to $60 per head, with starters ranging from $9-$15 and main course dishes from $20-$40.

Apart from the pubs and bars, soccer clubs and bowling joints clubs are also social and entertainment options for people of all ages due to the cheap drinks and meals offer.

So, are you planning to study in Australia? Let us help you with it.