Study Guide to Australia
Student Guide to Australia for International Students
Australia has the third-highest number of international students in the world after the United Kingdom and the United States. Australia also has seven of the top 100 universities in the world. Students have a wide range of options when they choose a college or university at the higher education level.
Some of the popular Australian universities are as follows:
The Australian National University
The University of New South Wales
The University of Melbourne
The University of Western Sydney
Monash University
Safety in Australia
Australia is a multicultural society that welcomes people from other cultures, countries, and backgrounds. While the majority of Indian students studying in Australia have a positive experience of living and studying in Australia, there were several incidents of assault as well as robbery during 2009 and 2010, which affected not only Indian students but also members of the larger Indian community in Australia. Presently, no such incidents have been reported and active efforts have been made by the Australian government to prevent such untoward incidents from happening in the future.
Weather in Australia
Australian Capital Territory – This region covers Canberra. It has hot, dry summers, and cold winters with occasional fog and frequent frosts. The average temperature in summers would be around 30°C to 15°C; in winters it would be around 11°C to 0°C.
New South Wales – This region covers Sydney and its weather is very relaxing all around the year. The average temperature in summers would be around 22°C to 40°C; in winters it would be around 17°C to 8°C.
Northern Territory – This region has a tropical climate, and has two distinct seasons, the 'Wet' and the 'Dry'. The Wet season spans from November until April and is characterized by increased humidity followed by monsoonal rains and storms. From May until October, the 'Dry’ season is characterized by warm, dry sunny days and cool nights. This region covers Darwin. The average temperature in the wet season would be around 33°C to 25°C; in the dry season, it would be around 35°C to 21°C.
Queensland - Warm summers and mild winters are what you can expect here. This region covers Brisbane. The average temperature in summers would be around 20°C to 30°C; in winters it would be around 20°C to 10°C.
South Australia – This region experiences mild weather with sunshine all year round and covers Adelaide. The average temperature in summers would be around 17°C to 30°C; in winters it would be around 15°C to 6°C.
Tasmania - Snow falls in the mountains in winter. However, most people in Tasmania live in towns and cities near the coast. The ocean moderates the temperatures there. It covers cities like Hobart and Devonport. The average temperature in summers would be around 25°C to 10°C; in winters it would be around 11°C to 4°C.
Victoria – This region covers Melbourne. It enjoys warm summers, pleasant springs, mild autumns, and crisp winters. The average temperature in summers would be around 26°C to 15°C; in winters it would be around 13°C to 6°C.
Western Australia - This region covers Perth and is famous for its long days of sunshine, spotless blue skies, and brilliant beaches. The average temperature in summers would be around 31°C to 18°C; in winters it would be around 17°C to 7°C.
Accommodation for International Students in Australia
Firstly, you need to decide whether you want to live in university-managed accommodation, or with a private landlord. Choosing university-managed accommodation can also give you a catered or self-catered option. Catered accommodation offers the benefits of your meals being cooked for you and a degree of certainty with meal costs.
If you have an idea about what you prefer, the accommodation office at your university will be able to tell you what accommodation they have available - so that’s the place to start. If you are thinking of renting from a private landlord or if your chosen university can’t offer you anything in its own residential facility, the accommodation office should be able to provide you with a list of private properties and landlords in the area.
Admission Requirements for International Students in Australia
These vary between study programs and levels. For each course, Indian students will need to meet a minimum English language requirement. Along with that, a minimum academic record of 65% and above in class XII will be required. Foundations and Diploma programs are available for students who have secured below 60%. The student should have completed 18 years of age before joining a degree program.
It is important to note that these numbers are just for reference purposes, the actual numbers may differ from university to university.
The following documents also need to be submitted as part of your admission process
Attested copies of mark sheets of class X, XII, and the Bachelor's degree (if applicable)
If you have work experience then two letters of recommendation from the employer/manager who knows you well and can comment on your professional abilities
Statement of Purpose (SOP)
Resume
Photocopied score reports of GMAT / IELTS / TOEFL scores
Portfolio (in case of Students applying for art and design courses & architecture programs)
Others (certificates/achievements at the state and national level and extracurricular activities)
Proof of funds
Application fee: Not all colleges in Australia require you to pay an application fee while applying. Only 6-7 universities in Australia accept application fee from students. The fee amount will differ depending on the college and course being applied to, so check with individual colleges about their application fee.
Steps to Apply for Admission to Australian Universities
The common steps to applying for admission are as follows:
Search for colleges and courses
Contact schools and visit websites for information
Narrow down your list of schools
Take the entrance exams like SAT, GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS
Write SOPs and ask for LORs
Apply to the colleges which fit your interests
Appear for video interviews with the colleges that shortlisted you
If accepted, apply for a student visa
SOP: A Statement of Purpose (SOP) is your introduction to the college and admission officers. It is always written in the first person and describes the reason for applying to a particular college. It needs to highlight why you are a perfect fit for the college and why the college should accept you. The style of writing could differ from formal to casual, but it is important to remember that it should reflect your personality as well.
Essay: Essays are also required to be submitted by a prospective student. Essays are an important part of the university admissions process. Students may be required to write one or two essays, along with a few optional essays too. Common topics include career aspirations, strengths and weaknesses, skills, experiences, and reasons for considering a particular school.
LOR: A letter of recommendation (LOR) is a reference letter written by a third party describing the qualities, characteristics, and capabilities of the prospective student to recommend him to the college in terms of that individual’s ability to perform a particular task or function. The third party could be a professor, direct manager, etc.
Intake Seasons for Australia
Australia generally has two intakes i.e. February and July, with few universities offering multiple intakes in September & November. You should start your admission process around six months before the application deadline. Typically most universities have three deadlines, during one intake. It is up to the convenience of the students, which deadline to aim for. You should be done with your language and aptitude tests by three months before the deadline. The last three months should be dedicated to filling out the application form properly.
Language Exams for Australia
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and Pearson Test of English (PTE) are all standardized language tests, which are required to be taken for the purpose of getting admission into colleges. These follow different formats, structures, and result bands. These tests are different in various ways but many colleges ask for anyone of the results. So it's up to the student to decide which exam to appear for.
General exams
GMAT - The Graduate Management Aptitude Test is used to measure the abilities of the potential MBA aspirant to undertake higher education in the field of business or management. It measures the mathematical, English, and reasoning skills of the student.
GRE - The Graduate Record Examination is another test required to be taken by students applying to graduate schools to pursue an MA or MS. Increasingly many business schools are also accepting GRE scores for the purpose of granting admission for an MBA.
Cost of Living in Australia
Some of the basic elements for living as an international student in Australia are:
Accommodation rent (on campus or off campus)
Groceries and food
Utilities like electricity, water, gas, internet
Phone bills
Text and reference books
Airfare for travelling back to India
Other elements which may differ from person to person would be:
Dining out
Travel and Vacation
Car rental and Car insurance
Cable TV connection
Living expenses in Australia
The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has financial requirements you must meet in order to receive a student visa. You must have AUD 21,041 per year to study in Australia.
Health insurance
Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) is compulsory and you will not be able to apply for your student visa until you have purchased a policy recommended by your host university. It includes cover for visits to the doctor, some hospital treatment, ambulance cover, and limited pharmaceuticals (medicines).
Cost of Studying in Australia
The tuition fee varies according to different universities, courses, and the city. The tuition expenses in Australia might be up to 14.35 Lacs per year for an undergraduate course. And if you are thinking of applying to a postgraduate course, the cost would be 17.30 Lacs per year approximately.
Scholarships for International Students in Australia
Fee waivers are awarded to international students based on the criteria of merit and need for it. Scholarships in Australia are offered to those candidates with strong academics, good performance in standardized exams, and extracurricular achievements that would be eligible for scholarship awards and financial assistance. To benefit from these opportunities, one has to make sure to send all the required documents by particular deadlines. In addition to this, the presentation of the application is also important because one is judged by the image one projects.
Documents required: The documents usually needed for a scholarship application are as follows, although the requirements may differ:
Academic records and photocopies
A recent CV
A letter of intent, which acts as a cover page
Certificate of Language Proficiency (TOEFL or IELTS scores)
Letters of Reference
Education Loans for International Students in Australia
Student Eligibility criteria: The first thing is to be aware of whether you are eligible to apply for a loan in Australia to study or not. The general eligibility criteria that are followed by all the banks are –
You should be an Indian national
You must have a strong academic record
You must be seeking admission to professional, technical, or other courses of study. Most banks maintain that the selected course should be job-oriented.
You must have secured admission to foreign university institutions.
You must be above the age of 18 years or else your parents can avail of the loan.
Eligibility for the course: You may not get a loan on every course. Here are the kinds of courses that qualify for the education loan.
For Graduation: Job-oriented professional or technical courses offered by reputed universities
For Post Graduation: MCA, MBA, MS, and also diplomas
These courses could be from foreign universities or institutes approved by the state and central government.
Loan amount: If your total fee is Rs 10 lakh, the bank may offer to give a loan of 80% of the amount and you will have to put in the balance 20%. This is called the margin amount. The maximum loan amount offered by banks for studies abroad is generally around Rs 20 lakh.
If your tuition fee amount is Rs 30 lakh, you’ll have to manage the rest of the funds by yourself. Some banks charge a processing fee, while others don’t. it may be a fixed amount or a percentage of the total loan amount. So if the bank charges you 1% as a processing fee that will be an additional cost you’ll have to cover.
Documentation required: You will have to provide the acceptance letter sent by the University reflecting that you have been selected for the course and the schedule of fees. You will also need to show the mark sheet of the last qualifying examination to show your academic record.
All banks have different requirements for documentation, so you need to confirm with the bank first.
Repayment: Repayment starts only after the course period. If the student got employed within one year after completion of the course, the repayment should start immediately after the expiry of one month from the date of employment.
If you do not secure a job within a year of completing the course, then repayment starts irrespective of whether or not you are employed. The loan is generally to be repaid in 5-7 years after the commencement of repayment. If the student is not able to complete the course within the scheduled time, an extension of time for completion, of course, may be permitted for a maximum period of two years. Generally, you will get up to a maximum number of 10 years to repay the loan.
Student Visa in Australia
If you want to attend a university or college in Australia you will need a student visa. The following documents will be required as part of the application process for your Australia Study Visa.
Valid Passport - Your passport must be valid for at least six months beyond your period of stay in Australia.
Nonimmigrant Visa Application
Application fee payment receipt, as you are required to pay before your interview
Confirmation of Enrolment Form (COE) To obtain a visa to study in Australia you must be fully enrolled in an Australian institution and receive a “Confirmation of Enrollment (COE)”. These forms are issued by the Australian institution you will be attending. The forms are usually issued after the tuition fees have been received.
An acceptance letter from your host university will include the proposed study plan
Letter from your current institution confirming your status as a Study Abroad Student
Overseas health insurance receipt
2 or 4 passport-sized photographs
These may be documents to prove evidence of academic or financial status -
Transcripts, diplomas, degrees, or certificates from schools you attended
Scores from tests that your college required, such as the TOEFL, SAT, GRE, or GMAT
Your intent to depart Australia upon completion of the course of study
How you will pay for all educational, living, and travel costs
Placements Options in Australia
Indian students are used to the concept of campus placements and on-campus recruitment for getting jobs. There is no concept of placements in Australia, like most other countries. Most Australian Universities have a cell called a Career Services Center, which helps you get jobs and help you prepare for interviews. The on-campus recruitment is always driven by student interest. Companies that recruit through the university do not offer a job directly. What they offer is an internship or co-op. Companies like to see your work for a few months before they hire you full-time.
Post-Study Work Visa in Australia
Graduates who have completed a Bachelor’s degree, Master’s degree may be eligible to apply for a two-year post-study work visa. Graduates who have completed a Master’s by research degree or a Doctorate may be eligible to apply for a three or four-year post-study work visa respectively. Other graduates may be eligible to apply for an 18-month subclass 485 Visa through the graduate work stream.