Studying abroad to complete your higher education can be a life changing experience. By accessing superior quality of education in highly ranked universities, you can avail the resources that you could never before. Furthermore, staying abroad gives you the opportunity to become independent and flourish in a new atmosphere, learning about another culture and meeting new people from all walks of life. Australia has recently been emerging as a popular destination for international students, not only due to its renowned universities, but also due to its culture and opportunities for permanent settlement. If you are thinking about completing your higher education in Australia in 2022, here all all the things you need to know:
Applying for admission in an Australian university has a similar process to applying to other countries like the UK or the US. Since the application process is online, you will first need to go through websites of the universities you wish to apply to and then, following the eligibility criteria, fill forms, submit documents and essays in order to get admission. Once an offer letter has been received, you can apply for a student visa using the documents provided by the university.
Each university would have its own eligibility and admission criteria in Australia. For starters, each course and degree would require a minimum level of qualification and scores obtained in the same. Furthermore, the student essays and interviews would also play a part in whether or not admission is granted. It is important to go through the websites of the universities you are interested in and ensure that you have completed all requirements.
Most Australian universities require an English proficiency test to be taken and minimum scores achieved. For example, most universities require a 6.0 or higher score on the IELTS (International English Language Testing System). Apart from this test, colleges may also accept scores of TOEFL (Test Of English as Foreign Language) or PTE (Pearson Test of English Academic) or OET (Advanced and Occupational English Test). This criteria may vary from college to college and so, you must find out which test scores are required for your particular university and degree.
International students are allowed to work while pursuing their higher education in Australia, within the boundaries of the visa rules. Students can usually work up to 20 hours per week and full time during holidays. Students can get jobs at supermarkets, cafes, restaurants, or any such places that hire part time workers.
The Australian higher education system is similar to that of India or the UK, in the sense that Bachelor’s degrees generally take 3 years and Master’s take either 1 or 2 years. Thus, Australia accepts the basic 10+2+3 year education system found in India.
International students can apply for undergraduate, postgraduate as well as research and PhD courses. Furthermore, students can also opt for certificate or diploma courses, which might sometimes be clubbed together with an undergraduate or postgraduate degree. However, each of these levels of education has different eligibility criteria and application processes, which students should examine before applying.
As part of the visa requirements in Australia, international students must pay for Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) during their stay in the country. Students can also opt for private health insurance if they wish to do so.
Universities in Australia usually allow students to transfer credits and switch colleges. However, these transfers also are governed by certain rules set by the Department of Immigration and the visa conditions of the student visa.
