Australia is a very popular place to come and study. From the high-quality facilities, to the numerous options for extra-curricular activities, there are lots of reasons for you to choose to study here.
In April 2004, there were 237,235 international students studying in Australia, an increase of 7.7% over the previous year. In terms of international student numbers, Australia is currently third in the world, after the US and the UK. In 2002, 18% of all university students in Australia were foreign.
World-class quality
Australia currently has 41 universities, with 180 campuses between them, each with their own different style and setting, ranging in size from 3,000 to 50,000 students. They offer a wide variety of first-degree and postgraduate programmes – Bachelor’s degrees, Graduate Certificates, Diplomas, Master’s degrees, PhDs and post-Doctoral research.
Thirty-eight of them are government-run, but all 41 must meet and maintain the high standards set by the Australian government. This high quality is assured by the Australian Qualifications Framework, which links together recognised qualifications at all levels into a single national system that is quality assured.
Likewise, any courses attended by international students must be approved by and listed on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). Institutions not registered are subject to criminal penalties. This ensures that all bodies providing courses to non-Australians are registered, and that, if you choose a CRICOS-registered university, you can be sure that your chosen course is of a high standard.
There is also the Australian Universities Quality Agency, an independent, not-for-profit national agency. This audits the academic performance of Australian universities every five years, ensuring that the quality of the institutions and courses offered to international students meet the highest standards.
This high quality is further reinforced by the strong links that Australian universities enjoy with industry. They are also strongly committed to research. Australia, as a result, is a world leader in many areas of scientific development and research.
On a global scale
The qualifications and training on offer in Australia are recognised around the world and, importantly, are relevant to today’s global society. This is partly thanks to the thriving network of links that Australian institutions have with the rest of the world. Co-operative agreements have been made with other countries in Asia, Europe and the US for areas such as research collaboration, the recognition of qualifications, also for the exchange of staff and students.
Australia also has an international reputation for its high-quality education and is able to recruit the best teachers internationally. It is more than likely that, if you study in Australia, you will have a lecturer who is a world leader in his or her chosen discipline.
Wide range of facilities
Students can expect good facilities at any Australian institution, including high-quality libraries and computer laboratories. Australia is also a world leader in the use of new technology. For instance, the country has one of the highest Internet-usage rates in the world, and you will not only have open access to computers, but will also be offered free e-mail accounts by most Australian institutions.
High-quality support
International students will get extensive services and support when they are in Australia. For instance, many institutions will provide various support options including international student associations, English classes, dedicated international student advisers, application and visa assistance, airport greeting, temporary accommodation and orientation programmes.
Innovative programmes
Australian universities are constantly developing new courses, curricula and methods of teaching. New technologies are being integrated into current practices and multimedia is used to further aid your learning. You are also helped to become familiar with the latest technologies through practical facilities and specialist skills centres that simulate the workplace.
BTEC HNDs coming to Australia
A partnership launch between Edexcel and organisations in Australia means that in the very near future, you will have the opportunity to study a BTEC HND in Australia, and this could lead you to progress straight to the third year of a Bachelor’s degree.
The forthcoming BTEC HNDs in Australia will be a dual award, as they will be combined with a qualification called an Associate Degree. Edexcel, Technical and Further Education colleges in Western Australia (TAFE), and Education and Training International (ETI) – the international arm of the Department of Education and Training in Western Australia – have come together to produce this dual award, providing you with the benefit of additional skills and experience before progressing to a degree qualification, if you wish. This qualification will be of particular interest to you, especially if you want to work in the UK or Australia in the future.
A selection of subject areas will be available for you to choose from, and the BTEC HND/Associate Degree will take two years to complete. The qualifications will be accredited by the Minister of Education and Training, through the Department of Education Services in Australia.
Inexpensive study
Studying in Australia is usually cheaper than studying in the UK or the US, although there are variations between states and between institutions. International students are eligible for university scholarships, but there is intense competition for these, so the majority of students will have no help with their funding.
Typical tuition fees for Bachelor’s degrees range from AU$10,000 to AU$16,500 a year. Graduate Certificates and Diplomas, and Master’s and Doctoral degree tuition fees are between AU$11,000 and AU$18,500 per year of study. On top of this, your living costs (eg food, accommodation, transport and clothes) has been estimated by the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to be in the region of AU$8,500 to AU$15,000 per year. This, even in Australia’s largest and most expensive cities, is much lower than living costs in the US and the UK.
Accommodation in Australia
Australia offers a large range of high-quality accommodation, with a variety of options to suit your needs and your budget, It is possible to have temporary accommodation arranged for you once you first arrive, providing you with time to choose somewhere permanent. Make sure that you arrange this with the housing officer at your institution first, and check for availability of other housing options too.
University accommodation may supply you with all meals, cleaning and a wide range of support services for social and study needs. Depending on the institution, there will also be self-catering facilities, providing flexibility in your options. Some universities also own a range of apartments, either on the campus, or within a close proximity.
These apartments can be rented and will provide you with the security of university-based and run accommodation, but with the opportunity for you to live on a more independent basis. Apartments are popular with students who have been at university for a while, and are into the later years of their programmes.
Other options include staying in a boarding hostel, which can be cheaper than university accommodation but shares many of the attractions; shared accommodation, where people advertise a spare room in a newspaper and are looking for extra tenants; and rented accommodation, where you can live by yourself or with a few friends, and have to arrange a rental agreement and possibly supply your own furniture.
The world at your doorstep
Australia is also a microcosm of the world at large: over 170 nationalities have made their home here over the past two centuries, making it one of the most diverse societies in the world. Indeed, about one quarter of Australian citizens were not born here and 15% of Australians speak a language other than English at home.
Combined with relaxed attitudes and laws banning discrimination of any sort, Australia is one of the most welcoming places on earth to people from other lands and is proud of the fact. You will find food, religious groups, cultural support groups, associations and clubs from every part of the world, so you won’t feel homesick and will be able to fit in without difficulty.
It’s not just about work
Australia also has one of the highest standards of living in the world, with a clean environment, high levels of personal safety, a world-class healthcare service and social openness that is combined with a low cost of living. Australians are justly proud of what they have and are happy to share it with the rest of the world.
Australia is also a continent in itself, with large amounts of space and many types of dramatic landscapes for you to explore, from the vast Simpson Desert and Ayers Rock to the Great Barrier Reef, not to mention some of the most unusual animals in the world, including kangaroos and koala bears.
This means that there is much on offer to the people of Australia and they take full advantage of it. Most Australians are very passionate about sport, and there are many they participate in, from cricket through rugby to Australian-rules football. The sports are open to competitors at all levels, with excellent facilities for you to use. All Australian cities also have high-quality cultural and leisure facilities, including many galleries and museums.
Australia also has an extensive transport system, which means that it’s not only possible to discover different parts of the continent, but it’s also very easy to get round the area that you are situated in. For shorter distances, there are taxis, buses, trams and ferries that can be caught on a regular basis. For longer distances, there are a number of national and regional airlines that you can use with ease to reach your destination.
So, in Australia, not only will you get an affordable, high-quality education, but you will also discover that there is so much to do and see outside the classroom. You will be sure to have the experience of a lifetime.