Universities in Australia

The possibility to study in a multicultural and safe environment excites you? Believe it or not, Australia has it all, from prestigious Universities known all over the world to good weather and easy-going lifestyle!

In fact, this beautiful country is home to nearly 900,000 foreign students who chose to make it their home away from home. Among all, Melbourne ranks as the best student city not only in the country but also worldwide. That said, Sydney, Canberra, Brisbane and Adelaide are also very popular options among both local and international students.

Studying in Australia: Key Considerations

Jump To:

• Visa Requirements
• Student Accommodation
• How to apply
• Tuition Fees
• Studying Business
• Cost of living
• Culture
• Language

Student Visa Requirements

In order to start your journey as a student in Australia, you will need to meet certain criteria for obtaining a student visa, which every potential student needs to apply for.

To make sure that your student visa request will be welcomed rather than rejected, you will need to be able to provide proof of enrollment in an Australian university or institution or a letter of confirmation of offer from these. In addition, you will need to provide a Genuine Temporary Entrant statement. This document confirms that your intention is to enter Australia to complete a study programme and then leave upon completion of the same.

As all the courses in Australia are offered primarily in English, you are also required to present proof of English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent) in order to obtain the requested visa. Last but not least, along with all the mentioned documents, you will need evidence that you will be able to support yourself financially whilst studying in Australia.

As part of the visa application you will also need to undergo a medical examination, depending on the kind of visa you are applying for and a number of other factors; including the risk of health problems prevalent in your home country, your length of stay and intended activities whilst in Australia.

The visa fee varies depending on the kind of visa you need in order to study, with options for free right up to AU$560.

Student Accommodation

Finding accommodation is always a hard task, especially for students coming from abroad with a limited budget. Of course, prices vary depending on the type of accommodation you expect to choose to be living in. For instance, students can share rentals and spend between AU$95 to AU$215 per week. If they prefer to live on campus, this range goes up to AU$280. Boarding school however will cost between AU$11,000 and AU$22,000. Some Australian universities do offer accommodation options for their international students in the form of halls of residence, which tend to be significantly cheaper than private accommodation. Spots are limited so it is very important to organise it well before your arrival.

The most popular means of student accommodation in Australia though is a private flat/home share with other students; although, the price of this can vary dramatically depending on what kind of accommodation you want, who you want to live with and where you are living.

Homestays are also a popular option for international students who would like to learn more about the local culture by living with locals, usually if they are only staying for a short term or if they would like to find somewhere to live once in Australia. This being said, homestays can last anywhere between 4 weeks to the entire duration of your course. They are largely organised by private companies and universities.

Applying to Australian Universities

You will need to apply directly through the university of your choice’s website. However, keep in mind that before you do that, it is important to check the university’s own admission guidelines to ensure you provide the correct information but also that you meet the entry requirements for both the course you would like to study and the student visa you have to apply for.

Each university will have an admissions department which you be able to consult with to ensure your application is appropriate and there will also be student services to provide help with visa applications once you have had an offer accepted and a place offered.

Tuition Fees and Finance

For international students wanting to study in Australia, tuition fees can be quite expensive, with undergraduate degrees costing around AU$29,235 p/year with these fees getting even higher if you want to partake in a higher level of study.

Given that tuition fees are separated into units of study, with each unit having its own cost, they will likely be different from student to student, even if they are generally studying in similar subject areas.

The good news is there are plenty of scholarships available to help offset the cost of the tuition fees, but the cost of living is of the highest for international students. In fact, Australia’s department of immigration estimates that the minimum cost of living per year is around AU$19,830.

Lifestyle

The perfect balance between work, free time and family makes Australia one of the happiest countries out there. According to the United Nations, the quality of life in Australia is excellent. Moreover, the combination of low pollution, fresh air, beautiful natural landscapes and low population density makes it also one of the best and safe places to call home.

Additionally, it boasts a strong economy that has been growing throughout the years and encourages business students to consider Australia to deepen their studies. Australia’s society is tolerant and multiracial, which is also another reason why many individuals choose to relocate to the sixth biggest country in the world.

Studying Business in Australia

Australia offers a wide range of business courses – also with an international point of view -, good career prospect and plenty of work experience. Management consultant, marketing manager and administrative assistant are just some of the most requested jobs currently in Australia.

Some of the best Australian business schools are Melbourne Business School, University of New South Wales, Macquarie University, and the University of Queensland Business School.

Cost of Living

The most significant expense that students face is rent. Other costs to keep in mind are public transport (on average between $30 to $60 per week), gas and electricity (around $20 per week), entertainment, groceries, phone and internet ($30).

Even though international students can arrive in Australia up to 90 days prior to the start of their studies, they can start working only once the course began. They can work only up to 20 hours per week during their academic period. However, there is no limit of hours during recognized school holidays.

Culture

There are two main cultural influences in Australia. The western culture is largely influenced by Britain, which has driven the implementation of a democratic government, the adoption of the English language and the constitutional monarchy.

Additionally, there is the native aboriginal culture which has a rich history. In fact, the aboriginal culture is amongst the oldest cultures in the world, with their ancestors having been inhabitants of Australia for more than 50,000 years. Today’s symbol of Australia is the coat of arms. The shield contains six badges each representing the states of Australia and it symbolises the federation. A kangaroo and an emu support the shield. The Golden Wattle is also present in the coat of arms.

There is a large sporting culture in Australia with cricket, rugby and Australian Rules football being amongst the most popular sports, with the sporting psyche being one that almost everyone has an opinion on. Australians also enjoy snorkelling, surfing and many other water sports.

Language

English is the predominant language in Australia and it isn’t very common to come across other languages in education or day to day life unless you are living in one of the multicultural areas of Sydney or other large cities. Large expat communities in Australia are composed of Brits and Americans.

Almost 80% of Australians speak English exclusively, with the second most popular language being Mandarin (1.6%). There is also a number of emerging languages which relate to Australia’s proximity to south-east Asia including Filipino and Arabic.