Why study in Australia?

Australia is one of the leading destinations for students who are looking to study abroad, and every year the number of international students increases. Over 500,000 international students, including 85,000 Indian students, chose to study in Australia last year. There are many factors that contribute to the popularity of Australia as a study abroad destination, with the low cost of living and tuition fees and excellent lifestyle and weather being important contributors.

Major cities include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, Darwin, Hobart and the country's capital, Canberra. The population of the country is small, at approximately 21 million, and is mostly found along the eastern and south-eastern coasts of the country, while the interior is flat, barren and sparsely populated.

An outdoor lifestyle and love of sports punctuates Australian life. With more than 80 per cent of Australians living within 50 kilometres of the coast, urban and secluded beaches are popular for leisure and holiday activities. The most popular watched sport in Australia is Australian Rules Football, with rugby, cricket, tennis, swimming, and of course surfing and yachting all popular participant and spectator sports

Australian culture

Australia's original inhabitants, thought to be the world's oldest civilisation, the Aborigines, have been in Australia for over 50,000 years. Their strength and determination enabled them to thrive on such an inhospitable continent. European settlers arrived in the late 18th century, and Australia continued to grow, with migrants arriving from Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Today, Australia has a large multicultural population: approximately 23 per cent of the population are foreign born and almost 40 per cent are of mixed cultural origins. With such a mixture of people, you'll find a rich cultural scene on offer with a number of literature, arts and crafts, music, theatre and dance festivals celebrating indigenous, colonial and other cultures.

Quality of life in Australia is extremely high, with excellent public services, low crime rates and very affordable living. Food plays an important part in the social scene, and Australians enjoy relaxed and informal barbeques, or 'barbies' with friends and family. Local gastronomy includes seafood, local produce and internationally famous wine production. Various ethnic groups have also contributed to the richness of Australia's cuisine, from Greek to Vietnamese and Cantonese to Indian.

Getting around Australia

Flying time to Australia from India can vary between 15 to 20 hours. Many international airliners offer frequent flights to Sydney, Perth and other major airports in Australia, with most of them having stops in Malaysia, Singapore and Dubai. Flights to Australia often vary greatly in price, so it pays to shop around for the best fare.

Australian cities and towns have excellent public and private transportation systems, which include ferries (in coastal towns) along with trains, trams and buses. Using public transportation is often the cheapest way to get around. Some cities, like Melbourne, also have a very developed network of bicycle paths.

Because of the large distances, most Australians travel by air between cities to save time. However the country has an excellent system of roads and bus and train services.

About Australian institutions

Higher education in Australia

Higher education in Australia is marked by top quality and an excellent reputation worldwide, and for international students, it offers extremely rigorous consumer protection. This means that as a fee-paying international student, you will be guaranteed the education you paid for by law, as well as superior student support services to help students adjust to living and learning in a new country.

If you have already studied at tertiary level, the National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) recognises international qualifications. The institution you apply to will assist you in determining your equivalent Australian qualification.

All the courses of study within Australia come under the scope of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) 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 you 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, known as Bridging or Foundation courses. These courses help students meet the entry requirements for their further study and often lead to an AQF qualification.

Most of the universities in Australia are publicly funded. There are 38 publicly funded universities and 4 private ones. International students, however, pay full tuition fees which are not subsidised by the state.

Technical and further education (TAFE) Institutes

Technical and Further Education or TAFE institutions provide a wide range of predominantly vocational tertiary education courses, recognized internationally but approved by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). Fields covered include hospitality, tourism, construction, engineering, secretarial skills, visual arts, computer programming and community work.

Individual TAFE institutions (usually with many campuses) are known as either colleges or institutes, depending on the state or territory. TAFE colleges are owned, operated and financed by the various State and Territory Governments. This is in contrast to the higher education sector, whose funding is predominantly the domain of the Commonwealth government and whose universities are predominantly owned by the state governments.

TAFE education can be used as a pathway to university or higher education. Many Australian universities count previous studies at a TAFE institution as credit towards a degree.

Private Colleges

Each year, more than 2 million students choose to study at private colleges in Australia.

Private providers offer accredited courses in both higher education and vocational study across a wide range of industries, including niche courses targeted to specific industry needs.

As independent organisations, private colleges can readily adapt to the needs of industry and students. Since many teaching staff at private colleges also work actively in the fields they teach, they are inherently aware of changes in market forces across all industries and quick to reflect such developments in their curriculum.

Many private providers have partnerships with public or private universities which recognise prior learning, while close industry ties and an outcomes driven approach often lead to job opportunities for graduates from private colleges.

Academic calendar

There are usually two semesters a year at Australian universities: late February to June (Semester 1) and July to November (Semester 2). Short, intensive summer courses are sometimes on offer between November and January.

Types of courses

English language courses

If your English level is not high enough to enter a higher education course in Australia or if you only want to take an English immersion programme, you may want to attend English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS).

There are other English language programmes besides ELICOS that you can take, but the Government of Australia has an official ELICOS student visa especially for students who study one of these courses.

There are five different types of ELICOS courses:

• General English
• English for Academic Purposes
• English for Specific Purposes
• Secondary School Preparation
• Examination Preparation

There are more than 150 registered ELICOS institutions, which are monitored by the National ELT Accreditation Scheme (NEAS). You can enrol on English language courses at any time of the year, and courses usually last between four and 25 weeks.

ELICOS application procedure

Each institution will have its own application procedure. Check your preferred institution's website for more information.

Vocational courses

Australia has a number of vocational and educational training courses (VET), which provide students with hands-on learning experiences in subjects as diverse as business administration, science and technology, art and design, and tourism and hospitality.

VET courses are offered at private colleges as well as technical and further education institutes (TAFE).

Vocational courses available to international students vary in length from six months to two years. These include Certificates I, II, III, IV; Diploma; Advanced Diploma; Vocational Graduate Certificate; and Vocational Graduate Diploma.

Eligibility criteria

Secondary education

Entry into a VET course usually requires either 10, 11 or 12 years of secondary education. Some courses, such as art and design, may require that applicants submit a portfolio. Others may require significant work experience. You should check with your institution regarding exact entry requirements.

English language ability

Applicants to VET courses must have prior English language knowledge. IELTS is the only test recognised by the Australian Department of Immigration for your student visa application, so it is recommended that you take this test, even if your institution accepts another form of English language proficiency.

Institutions set their own English language requirements, which may be different from the score you need to secure a student visa. To obtain a student visa for a VET course you need a minimum IELTS overall band score of 5.5 or 4.5 plus 30 weeks of English language courses (ELICOS) in Australia.

VET application process

Applications to VET courses are made directly to the institution. After you submit your application, the institution will check that there are places available on your chosen course and if you meet the academic entry requirements and English language proficiency level.

VET applications usually include:

• Application form
• Application fee
• Academic credentials, usually called transcripts. For Indians this is your Secondary School Certificate (minimum 10 years of education), Senior School Certificate (minimum 12 years of education) or IB Diploma

• Work experience (if applicable)
• English language proficiency exam (IELTS)

Undergraduate education

The basis of the Australian university qualification is the bachelor degree.. It usually consists of three years of study. Unlike American undergraduate degrees, students start studying their chosen major right away, with little general education courses.

A bachelor degree with Honours requires an additional year of study and usually requires the student to write a thesis based on research that is done during that additional year.

Courses

Most international students will find that they have less contact hours with their professors than they may have initially expected. An Australian university education focuses on fostering creativity and independent learning.

Classes at undergraduate level will be a mixture of lectures and tutorials. Lectures are usually held in large halls and can have upwards of 200 students. Tutorials are usually held in smaller groups with around 30 students.

University qualifications

• Associate degreeM

  This is a two-year qualification which usually follows the completion of your secondary education and can lead into a bachelor degree.

• Bachelor degree

  A three-year qualification which forms the basis of university education.

Eligibility criteria

• Higher Secondary Certificate / IB Diploma / Indian Bachelor degree

  International students are required to have completed 12 years of primary and secondary education before applying to an Australian university. For Indian students, this usually means you need to present your Higher Secondary Certificate or a bachelor degree from an Indian university. Check with your institution regarding qualifications for direct entry to an undergraduate degree programme.

• English language ability

  You will also be required to submit your IELTSInternational English Language Testing System). Some universities may accept TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or Cambridge examresults, however these will not be accepted when you apply for an Australian student visa. For a bachelor degree you will need IELTS 6.0 to 7.0.

Undergraduate application process

You should start your application process anywhere from six months to a year before your intended study date in order to research the different institutions and complete your IELTS exam.

Each institution will have its own application deadline. However, to start courses in Semester 1, application deadlines are generally between September and November of the previous year. For Semester 2, application deadlines are usually between April and July. It is always a good idea to submit your application as soon as possible.

Postgraduate education

Graduate certificates and diplomas last between six months and one year of study. They generally provide a more intensive study of previous knowledge or new professional material. They can also be stepping stones to further postgraduate studies.

At degree level, there are two types of postgraduate qualifications in Australia: master's and doctoral degrees.

There are three types of master's degrees:

• Coursework: consists of coursework and project work
• Research: consists of at least two-thirds research with a thesis
• Professional: may consist of a work-based project

Maste's degrees usually involve two years of study after a bachelor degree, or one year of study after a bachelor degree with Honours.

There are two types of doctoral degrees offered:

• Research: consists mainly of supervised research
• Professional: consists of a combination of coursework and research

A doctoral degree is the highest award offered by Australian universities and is usually a research degree which typically lasts three years.

Eligibility criteria

Previous university studies

You will usually be required to have completed a bachelor degree of three years in length to enter a two-year master's programme or a bachelor with Honours degree to enter a one-year master's degree. Some universities also provide pathways to entry via graduate certificates or diplomas or to those who have relevant work experience.

English language proficiency

You will have to prove you have sufficient English language ability by providing your IELTS score or other approved English language test. Most master's and doctoral programmes require a minimum overall band score of 6.0.

Depending on the type of postgraduate degree you choose to study, especially at doctoral level, you may need to fulfil additional entry requirements such as preliminary research proposals, prior contact with a prospective supervisor and proof of correspondence as well as letters of reference, list of published works, and possibly a CV.

Postgraduate application process

You should start your application process between 12 to 18 months before your intended study date in order to research the different institutions and complete any necessary tests as well as to research potential funding and scholarship opportunities. Once you have made your shortlist of institutions you wish to apply for, you'll have to prepare your application.

Each institution sets its own application deadline. These are usually between September and November of the previous year to start in Semester 1 and between April to July to start in Semester 2. It is always a good idea to submit your application as soon as possible.

Applications are made directly to the institution, and usually include:

• Application form
• Application fee
• Academic credentials: certified copies of original diplomas, degrees or professional titles and university transcripts (grade awarded)
• English language proficiency scores (IELTS, TOEFL)
• Personal statement where you must clearly outline your academic ambitions goals and achievements
• Recommendation letters, usually from a teacher or employer who will be able to write about your work and potential
• Some universities may require a financial statement to confirm you have the funds to cover your undergraduate education
• Some universities, especially business schools, will interview candidates internationally. University staff or alumni may conduct these interviews

Online courses

Online courses incorporate a range of delivery methods and many programmes can be studied entirely in your own country. You may therefore be able to complete the whole course without travelling to Australia, Singapore or the UK and the USA for workshops or seminars, while others may require some form of attendance in Australia, Singapore or the UK and USA or at local partner institutions. Check with your chosen institution to find out if the course is 100% online or if any attendance is required.

Full-time and part-time study options are usually available. With both you'll be supported through a range of media included printed study materials and the internet, and you'll communicate with your tutor and other students by mail, email or online via video conferencing and chat facilities.

You can study courses at every level including: undergraduate certificates, diplomas and degrees; postgraduate masters and MBA's and professional qualifications via online learning.

Eligibility

The entrance requirements to take a online course will vary depending on the institution and the qualification you're interested in pursuing. These requirements are designed to ensure that once you're admitted onto a course, you'll be able to manage your studies successfully. Most institutions will require a good standard of English language, because of the way the course material is delivered and they way in which your work is assessed.

Rankings

University rankings

There are many rankings of universities and colleges which qualify institutions on any range of factors from academic research, student performance, surveys of educators and current/prospective students. Other rankings and league tables qualify specific academic programmes or departments.

An institution's ranking usually figures highly in the decision-making process of prospective students, however it is important to be aware if the ranking had the input or support from the institution itself.

• Times Higher Education/QS, Top 200 World Universities
• Academic Ranking of World Universities, Jiao Tong University
• Professional Ranking of World Universities, Mines Paris Tech
• Ranking Australian Universities, Melbourne Institute

Applying for an Australian student visa

There are seven types of student visas to enter Australia:

• Subclass 570 Independent ELICOS: for international students undertaking ELICOS
• Subclass 571 Schools: for international students studying at primary or secondary school
• Subclass 572 Vocational education and training: for VET students
• Subclass 573 Higher education: for bachelor and associate degrees, graduate certificate, graduate diploma and master's by coursework
• Subclass 574 Postgraduate research: master's and PhD by research
• Subclass 575 Non-award: Foundation, bridging, or other courses that do not lead to an award
• Subclass 576 AusAID or Defence sponsored: for students sponsored by AusAID or Defence

Indian students at ELICOS, VET and bachelor's level of education have been categorised as Assessment Level 4 by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship. Students at school level are classified as Level 3 and at postgraduate research level at Level 2. This means that you must send your application to the Australian Visa Office in Islamabad. Student visas take approximately 12 weeks to process and it is very important to submit all the information required at the time of application

To be granted a student visa you must meet evidentiary requirements and general requirements.

Evidentiary requirements

• Proof of your capacity to cover the cost of airfare, tuition fees and living costs. Your living costs in Australia are set at AUD 12,000 per annum
• Proof of your capacity to cover the cost of airfare, living costs and school fees for any dependents (if applicable)
• IELTS score
• Your personal situation in your home country, for example, personal or financial commitments that may prompt you to return home
• Your academic records
• Your previous immigration history in Australia

General requirements

• You are of good character
• You are of sound health
• You have health insurance through the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) (Australia has a special system of health cover for international students called OSHC. You must have health cover for the duration of your enrolment as a condition of your visa requirements)
• You have no outstanding debts to the Commonwealth of Australia, or have made arrangements to repay such debts
• Where you are under 18 years of age, you have acceptable arrangements for your accommodation, support and general welfare in place

For more information on the procedure, go to www.immi.gov.au/students

Additional consular information can be found at http://www.india.embassy.gov.au/

Australian High Commission 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

Financing your studies

The two main costs you will incur while studying in Australia will be tuition fees and living expenses.

All international students will be required to pay their tuition fees up front. Besides the cost of your course, you may also be charged for other fees such as sports facilities and library fees.

Tuition costs

Below is an outline of tuition fees for international students studying in Australia. Contact your institution of choice for more details.

Vocational
Certificates I to IV/Diploma/Advanced Diploma	AUD 5,500 to 18,000 a year
ECLIOS
English language training	Varies significantly
University
Foundation studies	AUD 9,000 to 14,000 a year
Bachelor (e.g. arts, business, law)	AUD 10,000 to 13,500 a year
Bachelor (laboratory-based)	AUD 11,000 to 16,500 a year
Graduate certificate/diploma	AUD 9,000 to 16,000 a year
Master's/Doctoral degree	AUD 11,000 to 18,500 a year

Source: Study in Australia (www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/Sia/en/StudyCosts/TuitionFees)

Accommodation

Where you choose to live in Australia will greatly affect your living costs. International students usually live in campus accommodation, homestays or in private rental accommodation.

Costs vary greatly, but expect to pay:

Campus accommodation	AUD 80 to 250 a week
Homestay	AUD 110 to 270 a week
Shared private rental	AUD 70 to 250 a week
Single private rental	AUD 100 to 400 a week

Source: Study in Australia (www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/Sia/en/StudyCosts/Accommodation)

Financial assistance

To offset the cost of studying and living in Australia, there are a number of scholarships international students can apply for. Check with your institution if they have any specific scholarships for international students.

Additionally, check the scholarship database on the Study in Australia website.

Finally, the Government of Australia provides Australian Scholarships to international students. There are three programmes under this scheme:

• Endeavour Awards: a merit-based scholarship for citizens of Asia Pacific and the Middle East regions
• Australian Leadership Awards: support postgraduate students and short-term fellowships
• Australian Development Scholarships: support students from Australia's partner countries to promote good governance, economic growth and human development

Part-time work in Australia

Students who are enrolled on a full-time programme are entitled to work part-time (up to 20 hours a week) during their studies, and full-time during vacation periods.

Dependents of undergraduate students are allowed to work part-time, 20 hours a week during the entire year. Dependents of postgraduate students are allowed to work full-time during the entire year.