Austrade Top Official Talks About Everything You Need To Know About Studying In Australia

Introduction - The Australian Government's organisation for promoting international commerce and attracting and generating investment is called the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade). Through their large global network, they produce market data and insights, advertise Australian capability, and foster connections. Melissa Banks, Head of International Education Centre of Excellence, Australian Trade and Investment Commission Australian Government provides a thorough insight on what to expect when planning to study in Australia.

What is the higher education system in Australia?

Australia has an outstanding higher education system, with 43 universities across Australia, over 22,000 courses across 1,100 institutions. The Australian education system offers primary, secondary, and tertiary education linked across the country and across the world. Our education institutions may be relatively young compared with countries such as US or UK, but they are up there with the best. The University of Melbourne, Australian National University, University of Sydney, University of Queensland, University of New South Wales, and Monash University were all ranked in the top 100 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020.

Please talk about the intakes in Australia. Which is the most preferred one and why?

There are two major intakes in Australia also referred to as semesters, depending on the course/university –

1. Starts late February/early March to late May/early June.

2. Starts late July/early August through to November.

Factors such as availability of preferred courses, academic records, IELTS scores, acceptance rates, and students’ readiness to join the program are to be considered to decide which intake to choose.

Please talk about the admission process for Australian universities.

The admission process differs from one university to another in Australia and depends on the chosen course. We encourage students to use our course search functionality on studyaustralia.gov.au to explore their study options and process at the selected university.

Please talk about the eligibility criteria and exams for studying in Australia.

Every Australian institution has its own eligibility criteria depending on the chosen course. The Department of Home Affairs accepts English language test results from a number of providers that meet student visa application requirements. There are several widely accepted English language testing providers available for Australia - IELTS, TOEFL, PTE Academic, and Cambridge English.

What are the student visa requirements for Australia?

Updated student visa requirements are available on our Home Affairs website immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas. Students are encouraged to lodge a complete application at least 8 weeks prior to course commencement.

Also, please talk about the documents required for a student visa application.

We encourage you to head to the Home Affairs Website Document Checklist Tool homeaffairs.gov.au and check the document checklist tool.

Please throw light upon the studying and living costs in Australia for international students.

The costs of studying in Australia depend on the education provider, the level of study chosen, and the study location in Australia. However, knowing the average living costs in Australia is an important part of student financial preparation. For your reference, here are some of the costs associated with living and studying in Australia.

As of October 2019, the 12-month living costs for students or guardians are AUD$21,041.

1. For Undergraduate bachelor’s degree - $20,000 to $45,000.

2. For Postgraduate master’s degree - $22,000 to $50,000.

3. For Doctoral Degree - $18,000 to $42,000.

Please talk about popular scholarships for international students.

There are many scholarships, grants, and bursaries that can help support students financially with their studies in Australia. They are offered by the Australian Government, education providers, and a number of other public and private organisations. We encourage our students to use our scholarships search tool available on our Study Australia India page Home studyaustralia.gov.au to find out what scholarships they might be eligible for.

Which are the top cities and colleges/universities in Australia?

Australian cities are consistently ranked as some of the most liveable in the world. All eight states and territories offer an incredibly diverse range of experiences for international students. Our quality of education, healthcare, transport, infrastructure, and government services are rated well above international averages.

Seven of Australia’s universities feature in the top 100 ranked universities in the world in the latest QS ranking (2020). Three Australian universities in the top 50 worldwide across the study areas of Arts and Humanities, Engineering and Technologies, Natural Sciences, Life Sciences and Medicine, and Social Sciences and Management.

The University of Melbourne, Australian National University, University of Sydney, University of Queensland, University of New South Wales, and Monash University were all ranked in the top 100 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020.

Which are the top courses to study in Australia?

Business, STEM and Accounting are the most popular courses in Australia for Indian students. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) is a large and diverse field and employable jobs in STEM are growing twice as fast when compared to other jobs in Australia. Australian research teams in STEM, many working with international researchers, are responsible for inventions like Wi-Fi, penicillin, the cochlear implant, the black box flight recorder, and the Gardasil cervical cancer vaccine, among many others

What are the job opportunities in Australia - while studying and post studies?

Australia is a great place to work as an international student. Students can work up to 40 hours every two weeks while they are studying, and unlimited hours during holiday breaks. The education provider will usually offer a range of internships, work experience, and volunteer opportunities. Many cities and states also develop and manage internship programs or student entrepreneurship programs to get students on their way to starting their own businesses.

As a graduated international student, you are eligible for Post Study Work Visa if you have completed a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Doctoral degree. For Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral, up to 2,3, and 4 years of Post Study Work Visas are available respectively.

Our educational institutions make students work-ready and understand what it takes to succeed in the global workforce. An Australian qualification will make students very attractive potential employees to employers in Australia, at home, and around the world.

What are the benefits of studying in Australia?

1. High-quality education, with tremendous facilities across most institutions, affordable, and a very luring post-study work permit offering, makes it a very popular choice.

2. At least five Australian universities feature in the Top 50 in the world, which adds further to the rising demand and guarantee of quality education

3. Australia’s lucrative post-study work policy is another key reason for students to pursue it as a destination. For students looking at studying in Australia, there are three main post-study work visa options to get familiar with.

4. Student support services - there are dedicated international student support centres, each offering practical advice and support on issues like legal rights, job skills and opportunities to meet and socialise with other local and international students.

Which are the top consultants in India for study in Australia?

Australian Government doesn’t endorse any specific consultants in India for study in Australia. Students may do their own due diligence before contacting or consulting an education agent.

For more information on study in Australia, visit us on www.studyabroad.careers360.com.