ABOUT AUSTRALIA 

Both an island and a continent, the Commonwealth of Australia is one of the oldest geographic landmarks and the largest country in the Oceania region. It is said that the indigenous Australians had been inhabiting the continent for more than 65000 years until the Dutch explorers and British colonists started settling in the region. Its geographic location tends to induce completely opposite climatic regions to countries in the northern hemisphere. Therefore it experiences summers from December to February, autumn from March to May, winter from June to August, and spring from September to November. Its tropical climatic conditions create very hot summers and relatively cool winters. While Canberra stands to be its national capital, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide are some of its largest cities. Its abundant natural resources and excellent trade policies have made it jump the ranks of developed countries and enjoy one of the highest income economies. It also holds high rankings when it comes to quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, civil liberties, safety and political rights. Its contributions to the international community can be well seen from the role it continues to play in multilateral forums such as the United Nations, G20, OECD, WTO, ANZUS, AUKUS, Quadrilateral dialogue and the Commonwealth of Nations. 

 

HIGHER EDUCATION STRUCTURE 

With over 43 Universities in the country, the Study in Australia can be best described as a culmination of three different cycles. They are: 

 

The Bachelor’s or the first cycle: For students graduating fresh out of school, the Australian Higher Education system gives students an undergraduate degree in a variety of fields that they may have interest in. The country hosts some of the finest universities that offer bachelor’s degree courses in science, business management, humanities, law, engineering and health sciences. Students are also given the opportunity to pursue two bachelor’s degrees at the same time if they wish to. While a basic undergraduate degree may take upto 3 years to complete, students may also choose to opt for an additional year where they are taught with a particular specialisation of their course. This leads them to be awarded an honours degree which shows the student’s academic excellence and interest in the course he had taken.  

 

Requirement to study Bachelor’s in Australia: 

• Successful completion of class 12 with 60% and above
• IELTS overall score of 6.5 and above. 

 

Master’s or the second cycle: After the successful completion of their bachelor’s degree, students may choose a variety of master’s courses that Australia provides based on their subject of interest and dream career ahead. With more than 600 courses and specialisations available students can choose from in science, business management, humanities, law, engineering and health sciences Australia is one of the perfect countries to pursue a postgraduate degree. While the degree may take upto 1-2 years to complete depending on the course, students are often taught through seminars, exercises, practical workshops, field trips and research. These help them to not only prepare for a professional career but also an academic career if they choose to later in life. 

 

Requirement to study Master’s in Australia: 

• Successful completion of class 12 with 60% and above
• Successful completion of bachelor’s with 60% and above
• IELTS overall score of 6.5 and above. 

 

Doctoral degree or the third cycle: After the successful completion of their master’s degree, international students in Australia can also apply for a doctoral degree which all universities offer in the country. Students are expected to conduct independent research under direct academic supervision which is later subject to approval by a panel of experts appointed by the university. While the degree may take upto 3 to complete, students are also given a financial grant that will help them stay and continue research in the country. 

 

Requirement to pursue a PhD in Australia: 

• Successful completion of class 12 with 60% and above
• Successful completion of bachelor’s with 60% and above
• Successful completion of their Master’s degree with 60% and above 
• An independent research idea
• IELTS overall score of 6.5 and above.

 

Cost of Studying in Australia 

The average cost of Studying in Australia as pursuing  bachelor’s degree ranges between AUD 20000 – 45000 (around INR 1000000 – 2400000) while a master’s degree ranges between AUD 22000 – 50000 per year (around INR 1100000 – 2700000). The cost of living in Australia for international students may range between AUD 1400 – 2500 per month (around INR 76000 – 135000). While Sydney stands to be the most expensive city with a starting budget of AUD 1900 (around INR 100000), students may feel a lot more comfortable living in Adelaide, Canberra or Brisbane where the average cost of living is AUD 1400 (around INR 76000). 

 

WORK IN AUSTRALIA 

The Australian Student Visa allows international students to work 40 hours per fortnight while pursuing their education in the country. They may find a variety of opportunities in the country when it comes to retail, service, hospitality and the industry. Since English is widely spoken, it will be a lot more comfortable for them to work. 

After successfully completing their education, students may apply for a Post Study Work Visa which allows the student to stay upto 4 years after their bachelor’s course, and 5 years after their post graduation courses. The 485 post study work stream visa is majorly designed for students to either look for employment opportunities in the country or decide on their next step in education if they choose to do so. They are required to apply within 6 months before their graduation in order to avail the visa.  

 

VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR AUSTRALIA 

To obtain a student visa, an applicant must submit: 

• A valid visa that does not expire within six months of their planned stay
• A letter of acceptance from an Australian University 
• Proof of funds to sustain their stay in the country 
• Proof of overseas health insurance 

 

SCHOLARSHIPS IN AUSTRALIA 

While Universities have their own funding programs, the Government of Australia provides a variety of Australia’s scholarship programs for international students to study. Most notably, the Australian Scholarship Award, the APEC Women in Research Fellowship and the Destination Australia Program continue to attract a variety of international students.