|
|
Australia
Sun, sea, sand, study?
Everything you need to know to get a great degree from down under!
|
Why study there
|
- Australia is a young, vibrant and friendly country with a high quality educational system and a great lifestyle
- No other country can offer the beaches, mountains, rainforests and marine environments alongside world-famous cosmopolitan cities with the world’s lowest population density per square kilometre
- Australia is home to eight world-class universities
- But it’s not just about getting a degree; living and working in Australia will be an incredible life experience
- You’ll stand out from the crowd – many employers consider it essential for people to have an international outlook. Studying in Australia not only gives your CV something different, but can also provide you with a unique perspective on the Asia-Pacific region Australia is part of, that also includes emerging powerhouses like China
|
| 
|
How does the university system work
|
|
|
Similarities with UK system
- The Australian education system is modelled on the British system, so there are lots of similarities
- Qualifications available from universities are undergraduate/bachelors degrees, masters, PhDs etc – just like in England
- Teaching is a mix of lectures and seminars, with tutorials, placements and practicals on specific courses
- University campuses are sometimes contained in expansive grounds, and sometimes made up of several campuses dotted around a city
Flexibility
- Australian degrees are more flexible than their UK counterparts; you select a major, from which you study two thirds of your degree content, but the last third you can study in whatever electives you want
- You can take a double major rather than a single major and electives if you want to study two subjects equally, and you’re able to change your major too which is good for anyone not completely sure of what they want to do, what to expect or if they will enjoy it
Postgraduate options
- Australian postgraduate study also offers the option of Graduate Diplomas – year-long courses often used as transition courses for students who want to study a subject at masters that they don’t have an undergraduate degree in
Educational year
- The academic year in Australia and New Zealand starts in February (rather than September)
- The first term runs from February to June, the second from July to November.
- The long university holiday falls over the southern hemisphere’s summer – November through to Februar
Achievements
- Australian research is very highly regarded; it has produced eight Nobel prize winners, unheard of for such a young country
- Australia is recognised as world cleader in many subjects including sport science, conservation, geoglogy, geography, marine biology and environmental sciences
- It is also leading research in solar- and hydro-power technologies
|
Where can I study
|
|
The most prestigious, wealthiest and oldest universities in Australia are known as the Group of Eight
They are:
|
| 
|
What's it like to live there
|
|
|
Society
- Australians are known as friendly, easy-going people
- Society is very diverse, with 23% of Australia’s population being born overseas
- Standard of living is high and relatively inexpensive – it is cheaper than the UK
- Politically safe, stable and inclusive
Student life
- There are loads of university activities to get involved in at your university, and lots that won’t be on offer in the UK
- Especially around the cities, student nightlife is very strong
Transport and safety
Transport
- Each territory in Australia has its own public transport system
- There’s also rail intra-state lines, although these are largely concentrated in the south
- Cycling is a very popular transport, especially for students. Just be sure to bring a sturdy cycle lock with you too
Safety
- Australia provides international students with the most rigorous consumer protection in the world; see the Education Services for Overseas Students Act of 2000 for more details
- Society in general is very safe, with no notable unrest or problem areas
|
How much will it cost
|
- The average international student in Australia will spend A$360 (£225.90) a week on accommodation, food, phone, transport and entertainment.
- As for tuition fees, costs vary, from A$9,000 (£5647.43) to A$18,500 (£11608.60)
- However there are scholarships available from the Australian government
- Look out for any hidden costs like flights and resources for study such as books and stationary!
|
| 
|
How to apply
|
|
|
When to apply
- Apply at least five months before the course is due to start
- You can apply during your final year of sixth form for a conditional offer, or after you’ve got your results for an unconditional offer
Application process
- There’s no centralised system like UCAS in Australia, you apply directly to the institution
- Each university charges an application fee between AUD$40-100, but this can often be waived if you apply online or through a university’s registered UK agent (listed on the university’s website)
- Each university sets its own entry requirements, which can vary quite a lot
- Students for medicine and dentistry are likely to have to sit extra tests as part of their application
When you hear back
- Most Australian universities take between three and six weeks to consider an undergraduate application, and four to eight weeks for a postgraduate one, so you hear back much more quickly than in the UK
|
Any visa requirements - Can I work while I am there
|
- To study in Australia, you will need a student visa. To be able to obtain the correct visa to study in Australia you must be fully enrolled in an Australian institution and have received a Confirmation of Enrollment (COE). This will be issued by the Australian institution you will be attending. The forms are usually issued after the tuition fees have been received. The current visa price is £540, and it lasts for as long as the course, but if you intend to stay longer in Australia you can get it renewed. For more information, you can go to this website: http://www.immi.gov.au/ and this website http://www.visasforaustralia.co.uk/.
- Australia recognises how important work experience is, and how most students need to work to support their studies
- So international undergraduate students can work up to 20 hours a week whilst studying, and full time in the holiday periods
- International graduate and doctoral students have unlimited work rights once their course has started
|
| 
|
First-hand student experiences
|
|
|
5 top tips from Ottilie and Owen, two British students in Australia
1. Although you’re 'visiting', live like a local
One of the best pieces of advice that we can give is, as much as you can, live like a local and if you’re not sure where the 'locals' go, ask. When you’re counting the little cash you have as a student, it’s absolutely crucial that you don’t blow it as soon as you get to where you’re going on 'tourist attractions'!
2. Work out how you are going to get around
You’re in an amazing place far from home –you want to see as much of it as you can. No parents or mates for lifts? Use public transport as much as you can and if you can cycle, go for two wheels – there’s hardly any cost and you get to see the place you’re staying as you’re riding around. On that note though, double check the official stuff you’ll need before you get to the country – visas, proof of residence etc.
3. Soak up some culture
Before you go, check out the culture of the country you’re thinking of spending some time in. Does it suit you? What cultural attractions are there? Is everyone sporty? Be honest – if you’re not, you’re going to find this difficult to handle. Also a lot of places that you might want to go to as a 'hobby', you might have to pay for and they could be pricier than you’re currently experiencing. Before you go or even think of going, think about why you want to go there. If it’s to see amazing things all of the time, you might be better off saving up and traveling straight off rather than breaking the bank and not being able to do what you want to do. There’s nothing more heartbreaking than going all that way and not getting much out of it.
4. Research, research and research
Spend some time researching what other students and visitors have thought about a place that you are thinking of going to. The threads and discussions on TSR are a great way of doing this!
5. Check out the courses
Want to study wine science? Yep that’s what we said. That is one of the courses on offer in Australia. Sounds great doesn’t it? But hold your horses – do you really want to do that for three years? For the rest of your life? (It may be that you do!) Don’t get too bamboozled with the offer of studying abroad for the sake of it. Remember you are going to be spending a lot of time doing the hard work, so match the courses that you want to do and balance this with where you want to go. It may be that by reviewing the opportunities out there, you’re inspired to study something completely different. Cool – but remember this is the most important decision.
|
|
