Study abroad in Australia
"A guide for Indian students intending to study abroad in Australia"
This section is intended to provide students with an overview of the various opportunities on offer for international overseas students, more specifically Indian students wishing to pursue higher education in Australia. The section includes a brief outline about the country itself, the lifestyle and culture, different kind of qualifications available in Australian Universities along with the basic eligibility factors, the student visa applications and financial aspects of study abroad in Australia.
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Australia is one of the leading destinations for students wanting to study abroad. Every year, the number of students wanting to study in Australia is increasing due to the superior quality of education, life and work opportunities available there. Another factor which draws students to study abroad in Australia is the comparatively low cost of living and tuition costs compared with other countries such as USA and UK.
Australia: The country, the life and the culture
Australia is an exotic blend of natural beauty and urban jungles. Australia offers myriad options for those who want to explore the bounties of nature, and for those who want to live it up in the modern cities and towns. Australia also offers a rich culture of literature, arts and crafts, music, theatre and dance. With over 23% of the total population being foreign-born, students and tourists are able to enjoy cuisine from around the world while studying in Australia.
The vastness of the Australian continent ensures that at least two thirds of the country lies in the temperate zone, while the rest is in the tropics. There are three time zones in the country. The months from September to November are spring months, while summer is from December to February, autumn is from March to May and winter is from June to August.
Getting around in Australia: Transport, money and work
Australian cities and towns have an excellent public and private transportation system which includes ferries and boats (in the coastal towns) along with trains, trams, and buses, apart from the other standard means of travel such as road and air.
It is easy for international students to access money in Australia using the large network of banks. There are many ATMs (automated teller machines) and EFTPOS (electronic funds transfer at point of sale) outlets in all the cities of Australia. Within 6 weeks of arriving in Australia, overseas students can open a bank account by simply showing their passport and supplying a postal address. After 6 weeks, the students would need to provide other forms of identification, such as birth certificate or an international driving license. Credit cards such as Visa and MasterCard are also widely accepted along with travellers' cheques.
International students can apply for permission to work while they are studying, after they begin their course of study. Such a visa allows students to work for 20 hours per week on a casual basis and full time during vacations. In certain cases, family members or dependants of a student undergoing a masters or a doctoral course may also apply for work permission.
Australian system of recognizing educational qualifications
Australia has a unique system of recognizing qualifications which is beneficial for overseas students. The NOOSR (National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition) recognises the overseas qualifications and also promotes the recognition of Australian qualifications on an international platform. All the courses of study within Australia come under the purview of the AQF (Australian Qualifications Framework) which simplifies the process of evaluation of the levels of study in all the universities, vocational education and training institutions and schools across Australia. The AQF allows a student to move from one level of study to another as long as visa requirements are met.
The AQF covers most of the courses taken up by overseas students in Australia. However, there are some courses which are not part of the AQF, which are known as Bridging or Foundation courses. These courses help a student meet the entry requirements for their further study and often lead to an AQF qualification.
General eligibility criterion for Australian Universities
Universities and Colleges in Australia offer a variety of courses of which the Masters Degree takes either 1 or 2 years, and the Doctoral Degree takes about 3 years to complete.
To apply for a Masters Degree, the student has to have completed either a 3 years Bachelor's Degree, or a Combined Bachelor's Degree, or a Bachelor's Degree with Honours, or a Graduate Diploma or have relevant experience of employment. To qualify to apply for a Doctoral Degree, the student should have completed either a Masters Degree or have had relevant experience of employment.
English language proficiency is also required. The Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs accepts the scores of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test for the purposes of a student visa application. Most of the Masters and Doctoral Degree programs prefer a minimum overall band score of 6.0 in the IELTS or an overall band score of 5.0 in the IELTS along with a maximum of 30 weeks of ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students). The results of the IELTS tests are valid for 24 months.
Students who are planning to apply for a student visa must have been covered by the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC).
Funding and scholarships offered to international students by Australian Universities
Most Australian universities usually do not give out any funding or scholarships while accepting students, and so the students have to be prepared to pay at least a semester's fees when they receive the letter of acceptance from a university.
Basic VISA requirement guidelines for Australia
Normally, when an Indian student is accepted by a university, he / she will receive a letter called an 'offer of a place in a course' from that university. The student should then apply for a preliminary assessment to the visa processing office. The letter to this office should include the following:
- The proposed entry level of the student
- The name of the course applied for
- The CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students) course and provider codes
- The proposed start and end dates of the course
- The full tuition fees for the course
Once this information is received by the visa processing office, the preliminary assessment will be conducted. If the assessment is favourable, then the visa office will instruct the university to send the student an electronic confirmation of enrolment (eCoE) certificate.
The student may then be asked to pay the OSHC premium and undergo medical tests.
Apart from these documents, you must be able to show that:
- You can cover the costs for air fares, course fees and living costs for the duration of the stay in Australia
- Your English language proficiency (IELTS score)
- Your personal and/or financial commitments in India
- Your academic record and history in relation to the planned study course
- Your immigration history, if any
- That the course you have chosen is what you would have chosen in your circumstances, and
- That this course is consistent with and appropriate to your current education level.
Once these requirements are met, and the visa processing office is satisfied with the results, the student visa may be granted to the student.
The Australian embassy offices are open from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday (with a lunch hour from 1 pm to 2 pm).
Here are the addresses of the Australian embassies in India:
New Delhi:
1/50 - G, Shantipath,
Chanakyapuri,
P.O. Box 5210,
New Delhi 110 021
Ph: +91 11 4139 9900
E-mail: austhighcom.newdelhi@dfat.gov.au
Mumbai:
36 Maker Chambers VI,
220 Nariman Point,
Mumbai 400 021
Ph: +91 22 6669 2000
Chennai:
512, Alpha Wing, Raheja Towers,
177, Anna Salai,
Chennai 600 002
Ph: +91 44 2860 4988
Travelling to Australia: Some general tips
The baggage allowance will depend on the airline you fly. However, under normal circumstances, the baggage allowance for international flights is 20 kilograms for a person travelling in the economy class, 30 kilograms for business class and 40 kilograms for first class tickets.
Upon your arrival in Australia
Upon your arrival in Australia for your course, you are advised to attend the orientation programmes held by the university itself. These programmes usually include a welcome session, along with sessions for registration, and introduction to the life in the university. Information is given out regarding the rules, procedures and timetables for your course.
These induction programmes are often followed up by an end of orientation party, which is a great chance to get to know other students.
Go ahead - gear up for an exciting and challenging time during your stay in Australia! Get ready for a creative and independent method of learning and get set for excellent career prospects!
Do you want to read unbiased user reviews of Indian students studying abroad in Australia, please click here.
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