Australian institutions have an excellent reputation for quality international education and as a provider of globally recognized qualification. An interesting fact to prove this is the recent ranking of top 100 Universities in the world which comprised 8 Universities from Australia. Studying in Australia promotes innovative, creative and independent thinking -valued by employers worldwide, Furthermore, for many students, studying in Australia is about the opportunity to live a multicultural and unique lifestyle – explore the natural wonders of its oceans and rainforests, enjoy weather like home and the buzz of its cosmopolitan cities. One of the best things about Australia is that it has a multicultural study environment and multicultural communities that provide comfortable learning and living for international students without having a language problem. The decision to study in Australia opens doors for students to choose from approximately 1100 institutions offering around 22000 courses. International students who study and live in Australia soon find that their education is challenging, fun, and rewarding and can expect to live, grow and learn in a young and friendly country full of opportunities.

Why study in Australia

Australia is a global leader in education and there are many reasonable facts that make Australia as one of the most attractive destination for the students around the world. Starting with some fact about Australia, it is the 6th largest country in the world and home to over 23 million people and is the only continent governed as a single country in the world.  Economically, it is the 13th largest economy in the world. While, thinking of Australia, normally, it comes to mind of a large spaces, beautiful sand beaches, sunny days, kangaroos, sky-scrapers, clean air and water; however, Australia has so much more to offer than just that. Many international students are choosing to study in Australia because of its friendly, laid-back nature, excellent education system, and high standard of living. Here are some common reasons why students choose Australia as their study destination.

• Quality of Education
  Australian Universities and institutions are recognized as world leaders in a large, diverse range of subjects, including Business, Information Technology, Nursing, Psychology, Mining Engineering, Accounting and Finance, Physiotherapy, Geology, Geography, Social Work, Tourism and Environmental Science to name a few. If you are working toward a career in one of these fields, studying in Australia could give you the best possible start.
• Global Recognition of Qualification
  Graduates from Australia are highly sought after due to the impressive international reputation of Australian education and qualification system which is regulated carefully by Australian Government in order to maintain the high standards of education. Employers as well as other Universities and institutions all over the world recognize and accept Australian qualification in high merit making it highly saleable.
• Cost of Living
  Whilst the standard of living in Australia falls amongst the highest in the world, the living expenses and tuition fee is considerably lower than that of other English speaking study destination such as U.S.A and U.K. There are various scholarships available for the students to facilitate their study whereas international students are also allowed to work part-time to support their living expenses during studies.
• Diversity and Flexibility of Education
  Australia offers students with wide variety of courses and degrees which helps international students to find their suitable courses and institutions easily. Students have choices between Universities, vocational education and English language training along with many pathways that makes Australian more flexible, as students, if necessary, can move between one qualification levels from one institution to other as well as have flexibility to change the courses.
• Reputation as fast-growing study destination
  Australia is currently the third most popular destination for international students in the English-speaking world, behind the United States and the UK. An interesting fact to prove this is the recent ranking of top 100 Universities which comprised 8 Universities from Australia. Many international students choose to study there because of the cultural diversity, friendly natives, and high quality of education. The quality of life is amongst the best in the world.
• Quality of Life
  Apart from the quality of education, Australia also provides a quality of life for the international students. Australia falls amongst the happiest country in the world every year whereas six of Australian cities rank amongst the forty best student cities in the world whereas 4 of world’s top 10 livable cities are in Australia. A 2012 survey revealed that 88% of student respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with living in Australia. Aside from these, the country and its government also make investments into international education. For example, there is more than $200,000,000 invested by the government annually for international scholarships. With these reasons, Australia falls amongst the top 3 student destinations in the world and is growing in very fast pace.
• Innovation, Research and Technology
  Australian education has reputation of highly innovative and research-based education that is appealing to the international students with the quality of scientific research. Australia is one of the leaders in innovation and is at the forefront of new technology and innovations therefore, students can have advantage of the country’s impressive technology and research resources.
• Work
  International students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week to support their living expenses while they are studying whereas they are allowed to work full-time during holidays. It provides a great opportunity for students to earn some money to support their living expenses as well as to gain valuable work experience in their field of interest in their studies.

Cost of studying in Australia

As studying and living in Australia would involve a high cost, students should be aware of the cost of the studying and living in Australia before they make applications as self-financing students. Although, there are some scholarships available in Australia too, they are mostly very competitive and The Currency of Australia is Australian Dollar which is briefly called AUD. The cost of education in Australia, payable as tuition fees is quite variable depending upon the courses, levels and institutions. For an instance, English Language Courses are available at $300/week, Vocational training or education will cost around from $4,000 to $22,000. Similarly, Bachelor Degrees will have spending of $10,000 to $33,000 a year whereas Master’s degree would cost from $20,000 to $37,000 per year. These costs are quoted in general and are changeable during the times whereas it can be expected to pay higher costs if pursuing your degree at a private university.

Living Expenses

Generally, the Department of Immigration and Border Protection requires $18,610 as the minimum cost of living to issue a student visa. Your living expenses in Australia will depend highly on which region you plan to live in. For example, more urbanized areas will have higher costs for accommodation. The type of accommodation is also important. Hostels and guesthouses range from $80 to $135 a week, while shared rentals and on-campus accommodation will cost $70 to $250. More expensive options are home-stay ($110 to $270 per week) and rental ($100 to $400 per week).

Major Cities

• Sydney
  As of 2013’s QS City Index, Sydney is the world’s fourth best city for international students. It is the most populous city in Australia. A famous tourist destination for structures such as the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbor Bridge. Destinations such as Bondi Beach and the Royal National Park are also popular.
• Melbourne
  Just behind Sydney is Melbourne ranked at fifth. Considered an international center for arts. The city is recognized as a UNESCO City of Literature. It is also home to the National Gallery of Victoria and the Royal Exhibition Building. Melbourne also has the world’s largest tram network. The city is also known for its weather which can change drastically due to the city’s location.
• Brisbane
  With three major universities Brisbane’s student ratio is one of the highest in the world. It is the world’s 26th best city for students. Brisbane is popular with tourists for its proximity to the world’s most famous beaches. A mix of urban and outdoor lifestyles, Brisbane has an active outdoor culture mixed with the city’s nightlife.
• Perth
  The world’s 30th best student city is also Australia’s fourth largest city. Isolated from other Australian cities, Perth offers access to numerous natural beauties. The city also boasts of a local world-class wine industry. In a recent list provided by the Economist Intelligence Unit, Perth was ranked 9th most livable city in the world.
• Canberra
  Australia’s national capital is considered as the 37th best student city. Home to the Australian War Memorial, Black Mountain Tower and the National Library of Australia. Other attractions include the National Gallery and the Parliament House. The city also has emerging dining scenes to complement its regional wine scene. The country’s highest ranked university, Australian National University, is located here.
• Adelaide
  Right next in the list at 38 is the country’s fifth largest city. It was also included in the Top 10 of the World’s Most Livable Cities from 2010 to 2012. The Property Council of Australia proclaimed the city as the most livable city in Australia from 2011 to 2013. Adelaide is seen as a learning city, with the presence of not only universities and other educational institutions but research institutions as well such as Royal Institution of Australia.

How OUT helps students for Australia application?

• Counseling to choose right courses
• Selection of right institutions
• Application support for the offer letters
• Visa documentation and processing support
• Visa lodgment support (if any)
• Arrangement of health insurance
• Pre-Departure Briefing
• Assistance with Airport Pick-up
• Accommodation Guidance & Assistance