Preparing for your studies in Australia

You’ve booked your flights, enrolled in your course and applied for a student visa, so what’s next? There are still a number of things to organise before you arrive in Australia that you may not have considered. To help you out, we’ve put together a checklist of tasks you’ll need to complete before you leave your home country.

Research your chosen city and local area

It’s a good idea to research the city where you will be living and studying — this includes finding information about the facilities near your home or campus, such as banks, shopping centers and hospitals; public transport options (including ticketing systems and the location of pick-up and drop-off stops and stations); living costs; and the local climate. It also helps to read about Australia in general, including Australian culture and lifestyle, and places or attractions you may like to visit — even how to speak the Aussie way. See Living in Australia, Australia’s regions and Aussie slang for more information.

Organise your accommodation

If you haven’t organized your accommodation, now is the time to do so. There are different types of accommodation available depending on your needs and budget. These include homestay, university accommodation (in the form of residential colleges, halls of residence and apartments), hostels and guesthouses, and private rentals. See Accommodation for more information, including average costs. You can also contact your institution’s accommodation service for help and advice.

Take note of key dates for orientation activities

Your institution will run a number of events at the start of the year to help students ease into their studies, such as an orientation week (commonly known as ‘O-Week’) and sessions that help you pick your subjects. These events provide a great opportunity to ask questions and sort out administrative matters, as well as a chance to meet some of your future classmates. It’s important to make sure you arrive in Australia in time to attend these sessions — most institutions run orientation activities around one or two weeks before the start of semester. You can also take some time to look through your institution’s academic calendar (usually found on the website), which will give you an indication of assessment periods and semester breaks so that you can plan holiday trips to see Australia or visit family back home.

Have all your important documents ready

Before you leave you’ll need to make sure you have all the required documents for your stay. This will include your passport (with an expiry date of at least six months after you finish your studies), airline tickets, your student visa, your offer letter and Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), up-to-date academic transcripts (if required by your institution), medical records and personal references. Check with your institution to be sure you are applying the documents they need, as requirements vary. You should also exchange enough money to cover initial expenses in the first few days. See Banking in Australia for help with setting up an Australian bank account.    

Make sure you understand Australian quarantine laws

Australia has strict quarantine laws to protect the agricultural industry and environment, so it is very important that you know what you can and can’t bring into the country. Prohibited items include food, plant material and animal products. There are also some items that need to be declared if you are bringing them into Australia. This rule also applies if you are bringing cash into Australia, with amounts above AUD$10,000 needing to be declared. You may be fined if you do not follow quarantine laws or fail to declare certain items.

Let your institution know when you’re arriving

Many institutions offer free airport pick-up or other services for international students, so it’s a good idea to contact them before you leave to confirm your arrival. We also advise that you confirm your accommodation arrangements. Your institution may also be able to help with these matters and will be able to advise you about other tasks you’ll need to complete before you leave home, as well as once you arrive in Australia.

Why Study in Australia?

Australia is one such destination which is growing in popularity day by day. Every year, thousands of students choose this country to pursue their higher education. This is one such destination which is emerging as new study destination among the students across the world. There are many reasons behind this emerging trend such as cost of study, number of scholarships for international students, living expenses, work opportunities, variety of course options and international recognition of the degree. Let's check out some major factors which make this country popular among international students:

1.      Growing destination: Australia is growing as one of the most sought after study abroad destination. Students from all parts of the world choose this country to pursue their higher studies. Presently, Australia has the third largest international student population.

2.      Global Recognition: Australian universities degrees are internationally recognised and globally accepted. There is a special boost for students that higher education system is federally regulated. This ensures higher standard of education because all the universities are regulated by the government.

3.      Lower Cost of Living: The cost of living in this country is comparatively low. This cost of tuition fee and living is much lower than USA and UK. This is an advantage for international students and this makes this country more popular among foreign students.

4.      Wide Range of Course: Australian universities offer wide range of courses to students. The universities offer degrees, diplomas, certificates, bachelors, masters and research oriented programmes. The country offers programmes in almost all the field from engineering, medicine to humanities, etc. You can search for a course which suits your needs and helps you to build a good career.

5.      Technology: Australia is one such country which is in the list of top 10 spenders in the world for research and development. 2% of all scientific papers in the world are from Australia, placing Australian at the leading place of new technology and innovations. The country has won total 7 Nobel Prize.  

6.      Opportunity to work for international students: The Australian immigration system allows foreign students to work up to limited hours per week during their term time, and during the vacations students can work full time and earn some extra money. This opportunity makes it more affordable for students who can attend schools and still fund their education with some work.

Australia student visa Process and Requirements

Why Australia:

Each of Australia’s institutes has its own strengths and areas of specialization, which gives international students a wide choice and access to latest technology and research in their chosen field. The most popular courses for Indian students are: Business, Information Technology, Engineering, Pharmacy and Health Science.

Academic standards are high, particularly in the universities. Australian universities have an international reputation for excellence in lots of different fields and are known for their innovative, research-intensive culture. Australia’s education qualifications are recognized all over the world and so you will find Australian Graduates employed in prominent positions all over the world.

Requirements

Requirements study in a University in Australia - The criteria for enrolment in a University vary depending on the institution. But generally besides the official translated documents, you will need to show:

• Evidence of study, Educational certificates (Attested by Principal).
• Evidence of English knowledge/level. For example, IELTS score 6.0 or TOEFL score 213 Computer Based Test or score 79 Internet Based Test (all institutions will require). 
• 2 Recommendation Letters.
• Statement of Purpose and resume.
• Photocopy of Passport
• Student Photograph.

The Cost

Tuition fees are individually set by the institutions so will vary according to what subject you study and where you study it, but expect to pay between AUD$16,000 and AUD$25,000 per year for a bachelors degree, and between AUD$16,000 and AUD$28,000 per year for postgraduate study.

Duration

Standard bachelor’s degrees in Australia take three years to complete, though some specialist subjects (like architecture, law, engineering and medicine) can take longer. Masters degrees take two years – a year of taught papers followed by a year of independent research – though again specialist subjects such as an MBA are often the exception

Working Options:

An Australian student visa allows international students to work up to 40 hours per fortnight (a two-week period) during semester time and full-time during official vacation periods. Provided this does not interfere with their study program.

Australia’s education qualifications are recognized all over the world and so you will find Australian Graduates employed in prominent positions all over the world.

Admission Procedure:

The main intake for all Australian Institutions is February. Every university opens admissions for all courses that they offer, for the February intake. There is also a Mid-year intake offered by some Australian Universities during July.

A university offering an intake in February might not offer all the same courses given on the list, during the mid year intake. Some universities also follow November – summer intake. It is available only for limited number of universities and limited courses.