Over the years Australia is one of the favourite destinations among international students. There are multiple reasons including.
- The country has the world’s best education system.
- Like the other countries, Australia is also multi-ethnic country.
- After the degree completion, there are several opportunities to work, grow and settle.
Why to choose Australia as study Destination?
Why to choose Australia as study Desti nation?
There are several Reasons to Study in Australia and among them, few are
described here.
Australia Education System:
- Most Advanced Education
- Quality of Education
- Globally Repudiated and Recognized
- Range of Education options
- Scholarships are also offered by plenty of universities.
- Work Opportunity during and after the studies
- Handsome earning opportunities due to high wage rates
- High-class Lifestyle in Australia
Several other Benefits for international students such as,
- If you are single and during or after study you get married then you can bring your spouse easily.
- If you are married and you get your Australia Study Visa then you can take your spouse on dependent visa as well.
- In certain Courses your spouse will get full work rights during your student visa as well.
- Most importantly with student will get Post Study Work Opportunity as well. As per the course selection you will have a chance to get PSW work rights for 1 year to up to 4 years.
Basic Requirements of Australia Student Visa
Education Requirements
- For Bachelor Degree:
65% require for basic criteria to some average universities while top universities has higher criteria the same score student is also eligible for the pathway Diploma to Degree program as well.
- For Master Degree:
The percentage of universities are segregated into sections to get admission in the Master Degree Course.
- 60% require from Section 2 Universities
- 62%-65% require in Section 3 Universities
A Valid Education GAP for Australia Study Visa
- After 12th standard maximum 2 years of education gap will be acceptable with valid justification.
- Whereas, after the bachelor’s degree generally long study gap is also valid with the proper justification & valid documentation.
Documents Requirement to Prove Education Gap
Only genuine documents can prove the valid education gap. The documents which require such as employment offer, appointment, confirmation letters, salary certificate, pay stubs in cash-in-hand salary.
Backlog Acceptable for Australia Student Visa
For Bachelor’s Degree: maximum of 15 backlogs will be acceptable. Whereas, in the case of 3 years bachelor’s degree only 1 extended year will be valid to apply.
- For Master’s Degree: maximum 30 backlogs will be valid and only 1-year extension will be acceptable in 4 years Bachelor’s degree.
Dependent Spouse Visa
- Master’s Degree: spouse can get dependent visa if the main applicant will take admission in Master’s Degree course. However, in male candidates their wives need education of at least 12th standard or Diploma
- For female candidates their husbands at least need Bache lor’s degree or more.
Australia Student Visa File Process Steps
- Apply in Universities/Colleges for Conditional or Unconditional offer letter
- Get GTE interview call
- Admission Confirmation (In case of Conditional letter)
- Clear GTE (GTE SOP/ Interview/ Financial documents verification)
- Clearance of GTE Interview and get verification of SOP/ Interview/ Financial documents
- Meet Conditions
- Get the COE
- Medical Examination
- Submit the file for Final visa
Australia AT GLANCE:
Australia is a multicultural nation that harbours people from everywhere around the world. It is a continent surrounded by water (World’s largest Island) and it represents the 6th largest country in the world (7,682,300 square Km). It is located between the Pacific and the Indian Ocean in the Southern Hemisphere and has the lowest population density in the world with only 2 people per square km and a total of over 26 million inhabitants by 2020. The majority of the Australian population is concentrated around the coast, leaving vast areas hardly populated and nearly untapped by humans.
To give you an idea of Australia’s real size we can say that is roughly the same size as the USA and slightly smaller than the whole European continent!
Australia has 6 states and 2 territories:
• New South Wales – NSW Sydney, Byron Bay, Hunter Valley, Port Macquarie, Katoomba
• Queensland – QLD Brisbane, Cairns, Gold Coast, Mackay, Hamilton Island, Sunshine Coast
• Victoria – VIC Melbourne, Geelong, Ballarat, Portland, Albury
• Western Australia – WA Perth, Margaret River, Albany, Broome
• South Australia – SA Adelaide, Port Augusta, Mount Gambier, Murray Bridge
• Tasmania – TAS Hobart, Launceston, Devonport, Port Arthur
• Northern Territory – NT Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine
• Australian Capital Territory – ACT Canberra (Capital City)
Australian Education System:
The education system in Australia is three-tiered with primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education. Here’s an overview of the different levels and qualifications available as per the AQF. The highest level of education in Australia is the university level.
Levels and qualifications as per Australian Qualification Framework (AQF)
Level 1 Certificate I
Level 2 Certificate II
Level 3 Certificate III
Level 4 Certificate IV
Level 5 Diploma
Level 6 Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree
Level 7 Bachelor Degree
Level 8 Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma
Level 9 Master’s Degree
Level 10 Doctoral Degree
The highest level of education in Australia is the university level. You can choose from 43 universities, 40 out of which are government funded, two are international universities and one is a private university. You may opt for bachelor degrees or postgraduate courses which can comprise certificate, postgraduate diploma, master and doctoral programs. Students can also enrol for vocational courses that work as a gateway to university education or industry for work. These courses focus on practical skills and industry training and are offered by government-funded institutions (including TAFE – Technical and Further Education) and private establishments.
The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS)
The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework protects the rights of international students studying in Australia, including:
• Your right to receive, before enrolling, current and accurate information about the courses, fees, modes of study, and other information from your institution and your institution’s agent.
• Your right to sign a written agreement with your institution before paying fees, setting out the services to be provided, fees payable, and information about refunds of course money. Make sure to keep a copy of your written agreement.
• The Tuition Protection Service (TPS) is a placement and refund service for international students, which is activated in the event that your institution is unable to teach your course.
Degree Courses:
Provided at university level, higher education comprises bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees.
Foundation Studies
If you don’t meet academic requirements, there are a few options to prepare you for further study. Depending on your previous studies and the final qualification you want to study, you can enrol in secondary school or Foundation Studies.
Foundation Studies involve an intensive preparatory course that will give you the skills you need to enter an undergraduate course at a university or higher education institution. These studies are usually divided into streams such as business studies and science studies, and offer both compulsory and elective subjects. English language support is usually available.
Many schools, vocational education and training institutions, and universities offer Foundation Studies courses. The common feature of Foundation Studies is that a university allocates a provisional place in an undergraduate program assuming you achieve the prescribed grade.
• Length – 1 year (some may be longer)
• Semesters – The semester breaks will depend on your course
• Starts – February but can vary by course and institutions
Associate degree
• Duration – Two years
• Completed following – Year 12 or equivalent, Certificate III or Certificate IV
• Details – The Associate Degree is a short-cycle Degree program that can help with career development if you’re already working and don’t have time to complete a full Bachelor Degree. It can be a pathway to a Bachelor Degree or prepare you for an Advanced Diploma in specialist industry training. An Associate Degree will be about the basics or foundations of your field. It will cover the broad theory and enable you to develop the basic employment-related skills
Bachelor Degree
• Duration – Three to five years (depending on program) Semesters – Two, although some institutions offer three semesters (trimesters)
• Starts – Typically March, but can vary by course and institution
• Completed following – Year 12 or equivalent, Certificate III or Certificate IV
• Details – A Bachelor Degree is the basic qualification for entry to a field. It will give you a systematic body of knowledge, the underlying principles and the problem solving techniques you’ll need to work in the discipline. With deeper content than an Associate Degree, your Bachelor Degree will develop your skills and knowledge to the point where you can pursue postgraduate studies if you want to.
Bachelor Degree (Honours)
• Duration – Four years
• Completed following – Bachelor Degree
• Details – If you do particularly well in your Bachelor Degree, your institution might grant entry to an additional year of study to enable you to graduate with honours.
Graduate Certificate
• Duration – 6 months
• Completed following – Bachelor Degree
• Details – Your Graduate Certificate will broaden individual skills you already have from an undergraduate program, or develop your knowledge in a new area.
Graduate Diploma
• Duration – One year
• Completed following – Bachelor Degree
• Details – A Graduate Diploma will apply a body of knowledge in a range of contexts for you to undertake professional or highly skilled work and as a pathway for further learning.
Master’s Degree (Coursework)
• Duration – 1 to 2 years
• Completed following – Bachelor Degree (Honours) or Bachelor Degree
• Details – A Master’s Degree (coursework) involves traditional coursework that will develop your expertise in your field. A Master’s Degree takes either one year after a Bachelor Degree with honours, or two years after a Bachelor Degree.
Master’s Degree (Research)
• Duration – Typically 2 years
• Completed following – Bachelor Degree (Honours) or Bachelor Degree
• Details – A Master’s Degree is a course of independent research that will further your position as an expert in your chosen field of study.
Doctoral Degree
• Duration – Typically 3 to 4 years
• Completed following – Master’s Degree
• Details – The highest award offered by Australian universities, the Doctoral Degree is a research program, although it can have some coursework. The three components of your Doctoral Degree are:
o A review of literature, experimentation or other methodical approach to a body of knowledge.
o An original research project that makes a contribution to understanding and knowledge in your field.
o A substantial, well-ordered thesis that shows a relationship between the research and the field of study
Tertiary education
Tertiary education includes both higher education (including universities) and vocational education and training (VET).
Language of instruction
English is the official language of Australia and the main language of instruction in the education system. Many schools offer bilingual programs or programs in other languages.
Australian Qualifications Framework:
The Australian education system is distinguished from many other countries by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The AQF was established in 1995 and is a national policy that covers qualifications from the tertiary education sector (higher education and vocational education and training) in addition to the schoolleaving certificate; the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. The AQF has 10 levels and links school, vocational and university education qualifications into one national system. This allows you to move easily from one level of study to the next, and from one institution to another, as long as you satisfy student visa requirements. It allows for choice and flexibility in career planning. All qualifications in the AQF help prepare you for both further study and your working life. If you are studying an AQF qualification, you can be sure that your institution is Government-authorised and nationally accredited, and that your degree or other AQF qualification will be genuine. Institutions are linked across the country and across the world, which makes it easy to move throughout the education system between courses or institutions and formal
Regulation and Accreditation:
Australian universities operate under a framework of Government laws and regulation.
This includes laws that govern Government funding, student loans and reporting requirements. The national regulator, TEQSA, also provides quality assurance for the sector.
These laws help guarantee the high standard of education and research in all Australian universities.
THE HIGHER EDUCATION SUPPORT ACT 2003
The legislative framework for the higher education sector is provided by the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA).
HESA deals with:
• approval of higher education providers;
• Government funding;
• student loans; and
• administration and reporting.
TEQSA
The national regulator for the higher education sector is the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). TEQSA registers higher education providers—including universities—and re-registers them every seven years.
Scholarships in Australia:
Australia Awards
The Australia Awards aim to promote knowledge, education links, and enduring ties between Australia and our neighbors through Australia’s extensive scholarship programs. The program brings together scholarships offered by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT), the Department of Education and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Read more about Australia Awards.
Destination Australia
The Destination Australia Program (DAP) is the Australian Government’s new mobility program for domestic and international students to study in regional Australia. Over 1000 scholarships will be available each year to support both domestic and international students studying at regional campus locations in qualifications from a Certification IV level and above. Australian tertiary institutions will be able to apply for scholarships of up to $15,000 per student, per year.
Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP)
Find out more about the Research Training Program at the Department of Education website. Applications for these scholarships are made directly to a participating university.
Provider scholarships
Australian education providers regularly offer scholarships to qualifying international students, based on academic merit. Consult with the admissions team or international office at the provider you are applying to for further advice and information. All scholarships listed on our website are available to international students. Many are available to students of all nationalities; however all scholarships conditions are set by the institution or organization offering the scholarship and applications have to be done directly with the scholarship provider. Find out what scholarships you might be eligible for.
How to Apply for Scholarships
When applying for a scholarship, you must check the awarding institution’s website to ensure that you have submitted all the required documents. But there are some common documents that most universities demand from scholarship applicants, such as:
• Completed scholarship application form
• Copy of your academic transcripts/diplomas
• Copy of your passport/ID
• Statement of purpose
• Recommendation letter
• Test score (like SAT, ACT, GRE, GPA)
• Proof of your language proficiency, like an IELTS test.
Some institutions may also require some additional documents, such as an essay and a medical report.
Protecting Students:
As an international student, you are protected by Australian law. Every higher education provider in the country must be registered in order to be able to offer and deliver accredited courses and programs. Providers must also pass regular formal quality assurance audits.
Every course offered to international students is accredited by the Australian Government through the CRICOS register, to ensure a consistent standard across all Australian education providers.
Overseas Students Ombudsman
The Overseas Students Ombudsman investigates complaints about private education and training institutions in Australia. The Ombudsman’s services are free, independent and impartial.
If you are studying at a public university, school or TAFE you should contact the Ombudsman in the state or territory in which you are studying to lodge a complaint.
You’ll find details of what the Ombudsman can investigate for you on their website. Refer to the relevant Ombudsman website for your state or territory:
• Australian Capital Territory Ombudsman
• New South Wales Ombudsman
• Northern Territory Ombudsman
• Queensland Ombudsman
• Office of the Training Advocate
• Tasmanian Ombudsman
• Victorian Ombudsman
• Western Australian Ombudsman.
Employment in Australia:
Australian qualifications are known to make graduates attractive employees to employers in their home country, in Australia and around the world.
If you are completing or have completed your studies, there are a range of options available for you to consider.
If you’d like to stay in Australia and continue working after your current visa expires, you’ll need to get a new visa that lets you do this. There are a number of options, so work out what best fits your situation.
If you completed a Bachelors, Masters or Doctoral degree, you may be eligible for the Post-Study Work stream of the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa.
Postgraduate study
Both universities and private colleges offer postgraduate courses in Australia. A master’s degree has three formats – Master’s degree (coursework), Master’s degree (research) and Master’s degree (extended). Similarly, on doctorate level, there are two formats- Research doctorate (PhD) and Professional doctorate. Admission criteria at post graduate level is quite competitive including high levels of English language proficiency, and remarkable academic qualifications. You should also know that some courses like architecture and medicine are only offered by universities.
Post-study work opportunities
Australia provides ample employment prospects after graduation. You can apply for subclass 485 temporary graduate visa on completion of your studies that will allow you to remain and study further/work in Australia. If you wish to further your studies, you can apply for the next level of study since there is no dearth of right courses and programs for the suitable candidate. Alternatively, a new employer may be able to sponsor you for a new visa – talk to their Human Resources or Recruitment staff.
Education and living costs in Australia:
Knowing the average cost of living and studying in Australia is an important part of your application and financial preparation.
Students should be aware that the costs of studying in Australia will depend on your education provider, the level of study you choose and your study location in Australia.
Knowing the average living costs in Australia is an important part of your financial preparation. For your reference, here are some of the costs associated with living and studying in Australia.
Student Visas:
Arranging a student visa is a very important step. Even if you are starting your studies online, getting a student visa now will help you prepare for on-campus studies in Australia in future. A student visa could also help you get ready for a poststudy work visa (Visa subclass 485).
To apply directly to an Australian education provider, please download an application form from the provider’s website, via the Course Search tool.
If you need assistance applying for a course, an Australian education agent can help. However, you will still need to supply your agent with all the relevant documents to be submitted with your form.
Relevant documents include:
• Certificates that verify your previous study, including any qualifications you already have.
• Evidence of your English language proficiency.
• Certificates or documents that verify previous study or work experience if you are seeking course credits. These must be translated into English.