Student Visa - Australia

Study in Australia

The country famous for kangaroos, surfing and koalas, but there is a lot more to Australia. With a total area of 7.69 million square kilometers, it is the 6th largest country in the world by total area and is home to more than 23 million people. It is also the only continent governed as a single country! Its rich culture and history are founded on its Aboriginal heritage and current blend of vibrant cultures. Currently, Australia is also considered as a global leader in education, which is one of the many reasons why students from around the world choose to pursue their studies there.

Why Study in Australia?

With approximately more than 22,000 courses in 1,100 institutions, a great number of fields or study areas are available, making it highly likely that you can take up your choice of degree, training or course.

The numbers above show that Australian education has the quantity and variety, but it is also worth noting that the country leads in quality. Seven out of the top 100 universities in the world can be found in Australia. Their university system also ranks 8th in the world, ahead of countries such as the UK, Germany and Japan. With these, Australia is recognized as a country that offers world-class education.

The quality of education is important, but another significant aspect of choosing a location or university is student life. Australia, in fact, houses six of the forty best student cities in the world. A survey in 2012 even revealed that 88% of international student respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with living in Australia. This is not surprising, as Australia is considered to be the fourth happiest country in the world.

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 positive features of studying in Australia, it is no wonder that it is the 3rd most popular international student destination in the world, only behind the UK and the US.

Cost of Studying and Living in Australia

Study Expenses

*Australia uses Australian Dollar or AUD as its currency.

As it is a very popular study destination, applying for scholarships in Australia is highly competitive. If you are planning to finance your studies yourself, you should be aware of the costs associated with studying and living in this destination.

As with most other countries, the cost of education in Australia is dependent on the type and duration of your studies

For example, English Language Courses are available at approximately $300/week. Vocational training or education on the other hand will cost you around $4,000 to $22,000. The significant difference in the range of cost is because vocational training or education usually awards Certificate Levels (from I to IV), Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas, with the cost getting higher for the latter.

Undergraduate Bachelor Degrees will have you spending $10,000 to $33,000 a year. The higher cost is associated with pursuing your degree in a private university. Studies taken in a public institution will generally cost less.

A Postgraduate Master's Degree has an approximate cost of $20,000 to $37,000 per year, while cost for Doctoral Degrees on average range from $14,000 to $37,000. As with an undergraduate degree, private education may be a reason for higher costs.

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 homestay ($110 to $270 per week) and rental ($100 to $400 per week).

Aside from accommodation, your weekly expenses will most likely include groceries or eating out ($80 to $200), gas and electricity ($60 to $100), phone and internet ($20 to $50), public transport ($10 to $50) and entertainment ($50 to $100).

Working while Studying

If you are thinking about covering your expenses by working while you study in Australia, please check with the appropriate government office first, as different visas (discussed below) have different stipulations on this.

Visas

The visa you are required to obtain will depend on your nationality, age and purpose of visit. If your main purpose is to study, you will be required to obtain a student visa. The subclasses of student visas are such: Independent ELICOS, Schools, Vocational Education and Training, Higher Education, Postgraduate Research, Non-award and Foreign Affairs or Defence. Foreign visitors whose main purpose is other than studying are also allowed to study in Australia for shorter periods if they have one of the following visas: Visitor Visa, Working Holiday Visa or Student Guardian Visa.

Each individual has a different case, and as such, requirements and processes vary for everyone. You are recommended to read more about visas here: http://www.immi.gov.au/students/students/chooser/

Language

Despite having numerous languages spoken in Australian homes as mentioned earlier, the majority of the country speaks English. Although the country has no declared "official language", English is widely considered as the national language. Australian English has a distinct accent and vocabulary as compared to American English.

Evidence of English language proficiency may be required for visa processing and academic application.

List of Australian Universities

Australian Capital Territory

Canberra

• Australian National University
• University of Canberra

New South Wales

Armidale

• University of New England

Bathurst

• Charles Sturt University

Lismore

• Southern Cross University

Newcastle

• University of Newcastle

Sydney

• Australian Catholic University
• Macquarie University
• University of New South Wales
• University of Sydney
• University of Technology, Sydney
• University of Western Sydney

Wollongong

• University of Wollongong

Northern Territory

Darwin

• Charles Darwin University

Queensland

Brisbane

• Griffith University
• Queensland University of Technology
• University of Queensland

Gold Coast

• Maroochydore

Gold Coast

• Bond University

Maroochydore

• University of the Sunshine Coast

Rockhampton

• CQ University

Toowoomba

• University of Southern Queensland

Townsville

• James Cook University

South Australia

Adelaide

• Carnegie Mellon University
• Flinders University
• University of Adelaide
• University College London
• University of South Australia
• Torrens University Australia

Tasmania

Hobart

• University of Tasmania

Victoria

Ballarat

• Federation University of Australia

Melbourne

• Deakin University
• La Trobe University
• RMIT University
• Monash University
• Swinburne University of Technology
• University of Divinity
• University of Melbourne
• Victoria University

Western Australia

Fremantle

• University of Notre Dame Australia

Perth

• Curtin University
• Edith Cowan University
• Murdoch University
• University of Western Australia

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