Cost of Education and living in Australia

Studying abroad can be expensive. The studying and living abroad expenses should be calculated before moving overseas. And in this section, we cover this important aspect which will help you to work out for achieving your dream of studying abroad.

Compared to the United States and the United Kingdom and most of the foreign study destinations, the cost of education in Australia and New Zealand is much lower. As a matter of fact, Australia is known for providing high-quality education to international students at excellent value. The expensive courses available are justified because they are known to have strong laboratory or computer components.

Although these costs are dependent on the course or institution, we are providing an approximate value to get a fair idea of the actual cost. Australian University fees are in the range of AUD 19,000 for Graduate Certificate to over AUD 35,000 per year for a Doctorate Degree. The list below addresses a few other options:

• Undergraduate programs of duration 3-5 yrs: AUD 22,000 to 35,000 approx per year
• Postgraduate programs of duration 1-2 yrs: AUD 25,000 to 40,000 approx per year

Finding accommodation is regarded the most difficult part of shifting spaces. This aspect is often forgotten by both students and their parents. But Australia is known for the variety of accommodation options it offers to international students. While they can always buy a house in the country, staying in the college or university hostels is the most popular and sought after option for accommodation. In addition to this, a student may also opt to rent a flat or apartment. International students also have the option to live in Home Stays with families residing near the institution.It is always advisable to pre-arrange accommodation to avoid last-minute hassles.

Now that we have a fair idea of the tuition and accommodation fees, the next most important item is that of Living costs. As per our recent studies, we have found that an average international student spends somewhere between 19723 AUD/year to 22,312 AUD/year. However, this is just a mathematical solution and the real numbers may vary depending on person to person.

As per the laws of the land, international students must have health insurance for the intended period of stay. It is termed in Australia as an Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). In case, they have dependents with them, the dependents also must have an OSHC. OSHC premiums are usually supposed to be paid once the students accept the offer. Presently, the cost for OSHC ranges from AUD 600-800 approx. per annum depending on your stay period.

But which course is best to study in Australia?

The advantage of studying in a high-quality education system like that of Australia is that you have myriads of programs and courses to choose from. While several of these are offered through specialist colleges and universities ranking very well in reputed university rankings, almost all the top-ranking universities offer specialized programs within themselves. This means you can choose any program which best matches your interests and capabilities and then hone them further.

You have to opt for a full-time program as part-time courses are not available for International students. Here are a few of the top generic courses and fields which are popular among most of the international students (in no particular order).

• Engineering - Civil, Electrical, Electronics, Mechanical, Computer, Automotive, Aeronautical, Mining, Industrial, General Engineering, Structural, Chemical, Telecommunications, Mechatronics, Polymer, Environmental, etc.
• Law & Administration - Economics, Management, Accounting, Administration, Marketing, Finance, HR, Commerce, etc.
• Hospitality & Tourism - Hotel Management, Tourism Management, Commercial Cookery, Culinary arts, etc.
• Mathematics & Computing - Mathematics and Statistics, Computer-based Information System, Computer Science, etc.
• Visual & Performing Arts - Fashion Design, Art, Graphic Arts, Crafts, Performing Arts, Music, etc.
• Information Technology - IT, Information Systems, Networking, Security, Software Development, etc.
• Health Sciences - Nursing, Personal and Family Health Care, Pharmacy, Veterinary Science, Public Health, Physiotherapy, Nutrition, Environmental Health, etc.
• Agriculture - Agriculture, Forest, Horticulture Business, etc.
• Education - Education Studies, Special Education, Teaching, Early Childhood, etc.
• Communication - Media, Journalism, Public Relations, Corporate Communication, etc.
• Science - Environmental Science, Biotechnology, Pharmacology, Chemistry, etc.
• Social Studies - Behavioural Studies, Sociology, Geography, Welfare and Counseling, Sport and Recreation, etc.
• Humanities - English, Psychology, History, Foreign Language Studies, Philosophy, etc.

Which examinations/tests are required to apply and study in Australia?

To study in Australian Universities, and in most of the English-speaking countries, international students are required to crack English proficiency tests like IELTS (International English Language Testing System), PTE (Pearson Test of English), or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). Each University has a particular score band requirement for each of these tests. All the English tests assess the reading, writing, listening and speaking skills of the candidates.

For Further Help Check this Post - BEST WAY TO CRACK IELTS/TOEFL/PTE

There are few other examinations that the applicant might need to crack before being eligible to study in Australia (depending on the program they wish to study), GRE and GMAT being two of them.

Available Intakes:

• February & July being the major intakes, though some institutions are also having September /November intakes.

Are scholarships available for studying in Australian Universities?

Various scholarships are offered by Universities and colleges and certain government bodies helping the meritorious ones to avail education at a lower cost. Although the amount or percentage and the eligibility differ from one scholarship to another but they are extremely helpful in taking the financial load off the students and their parents. Australia is no exception when it comes to SCHOLARSHIPS. Universities there offer more than 400 scholarships yearly to international students, with some of them covering half the expenses, some covering only the tuition fee and multiple scholarships covering the entire studying abroad expense, including tuition, accommodation, and other miscellaneous expenses.

Similarly, there are Government-funded scholarships for international students announced from time-to-time and most of these are full scholarships. In Australia, there is the International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (IPRS) scheme for postgraduate research scholars. But like everything else, these scholarships are highly competitive as a large number of students apply. There are certain scholarships that are offered on a first-come-first-serve basis and then there are others that are offered after clearing the exams. It is always advisable to contact your STUDY ABROAD CONSULTANT to know more about such scholarship opportunities and apply accordingly.

Visa to study in Australia

Now that we have covered the academic and financial aspects of studying in Australia, the other important thing you need to take care of, is the visa. Think of it as a ticket which allows you to stay in a particular country for a particular period of time. And Australia is no exception to this rule. Here we discuss in brief how to apply for a visa, what are the requirements for visa application and which visa to apply for to study in Australia.

The visa process is a lengthy one and the time frame varies from case to case. Although we have helped many get their visas processed in 48 hours, there were a few cases when it took almost 30 days due to certain complications. And so, it is always advisable to keep this window period in mind and then proceed.

To STUDY IN AUSTRALIA, you need to apply for a student visa (subclass 500). Apart from that, for those sponsored by the Foreign Affairs and Defence and school sector, there is specific information.

To acquire a visa, you are required to fulfill certain other criteria including providing genuine financial capacity data, English language requirement, health insurance, a justification for gap years (if any) among others.One should be aware of certain uncertified agencies who claim to provide shortcuts to visa acquisition. Using fraudulent means is punishable by law and any person involved in such cases is banned by the concerned country.

Since GLOBAL REACH IS A CERTIFIED EDUCATION AGENCY; we guide you to the right path and do not make false promises.

Eligibility criteria to get an Australian student visa

• To apply for a student visa, you must have an offer letter to study full-time at an Australian university or college
• If the student is under 18 years of age, they must have appropriate welfare arrangements organized for them for the duration of their intended stay in Australia.

How to apply for an Australian student visa?

• The first step is to be in possession of all the necessary documents and prepare them.
• They need to make all the necessary payments and apply at the concerned department.
• If required, they need to provide any additional documents
• It is advisable to keep a track of your application.

Life, Transportation and other Necessities

Australia attracts millions of travelers and students every year . The welcoming nature of the host country and its people, along with the immigration-friendly policies add to its spark. People move to Australia each year to seek out the many opportunities that the country has to offer, and the Australian visa system is structured keeping this in mind. It encourages all individuals who can add value to the country by moving there.

When it comes to moving around the country or its cities people favor Public transport as in most of the cities it is very good and several of the capital cities provide fully-developed train and tram services. Several cities are also investing to upgrade their public transport systems.

People in Australia love eating out and they have their reasons. When the food culture from across the globe is available to them, eating out becomes more than just a hobby. A typical restaurant meal costs approximately $30 to $60 per head, with starters ranging from $9-$15 and main course dishes from $20-$40.

Apart from the pubs and bars, soccer clubs and bowling joints clubs are also social and entertainment options for people of all ages due to the cheap drinks and meals offered.

So, are you planning to study in Australia? LET US HELP YOU WITH IT.