Are you planning to move out of India to study in Australia ? If you are, no second thoughts, it is a perfect decision. Australia is the largest country in the world and a continent itself.
Study in Australia- An overview
Australia is the third most popular student destination is the world, just behind the UK and the USA. Close to a whooping 7 lakh students are a part of Australia’s global student population every year. Australia boasts of high quality of education, easily accessible student support services, all-inclusive society and fantastic lifestyle. Consequently, these factors make Australia an attractive study destination for global students. Moreover, Australia has six of the world’s best universities. 1100 Australian universities offer 22000 courses on various subjects.
Application process to study in Australia
The application process varies according to the exact course and the university that you choose. The process varies but we will discuss the basics of procedure below.
Academic timelines in Australia
The academic year in Australia differs depending on the education level you choose to pursue. Universities start accepting applications 5 months prior to the month the course starts. This is true for both UG and PG courses.
However, many Australian institutions offer a mid-year or second semester start. Similarly, start dates and the number of semesters change with the course and institution you choose. Most importantly, always, make sure to check with the university website for detailed admission dates and course pattern.
Vocational Education & Training (VET)
Vocational courses are conducted from 1 to 4 years. They mostly have 2 semesters. Usually they would commence in February every year.
Under-Graduate Courses
The under-graduate courses last typically for a period of 3 years and 4 years in case of an Honours degree. These courses have 2 semesters or 3 semesters also called as trimesters. They usually start in the month of March every year.
Post-Graduate Courses
The post-graduate courses are 1 to 2 years long. They typically also have 2 or 3 semesters depending upon the course you choose. They also usually commence in the month of March.
Doctorate Programs
Apart from these courses, students can also apply for Doctorate programs which last for 3 years plus 1 year for review. These courses do not have a fixed study schedule and dates. However, the students can decide mutually with their faculty for the suitable schedule of the course.
What are the Educational Qualifications for studying in Australia ?
The exact eligibility for admission process for international students differ from college/university to another. The best way to understand the exact details are by checking out the websites of the prospective colleges or universities.
That is to say, most of the Australian Universities accept a 3-year graduation structure for admission into most post-graduate courses.
However, note that, some courses in certain universities require an educational qualification equivalent to Australian Bachelor (Honors) Degree. The educational system of Australia broadly matches with the Indian system. Hence, a Bsc(ordinary) in India is the same as a 3 year program there. Also, a Bsc(Honors) in India is same as the Bsc(Honors) in Australia.
What exams are needed for studying in Australia ?
The Language Test
All of the Australian educational courses are taught in English language. Firstly, the English proficiency test ensures that you understand and excel in the course you opt for. Secondly, it tests whether you would be able to sustain in social life in and off the campus.
The two most recognized language tests are:
- The TOEFL: It is an abbreviation of “Test of English as a Foreign Language”. You can gather more information on this test here.
- The IELTS: The IELTS is an abbreviation for “ International English Language Testing System” you can look for more information about the IELTS here.
Apart from these tests, some institutions also allow you to take some other exams like the Pearson Test of English Academic abbreviated as the PTE Academic, the Occupational English Test short or OET & the Cambridge C1 Advanced test.
Also Note, however, that some institutions would require you to take some different level of English tests in contrast to your student Visa application. It is always a good idea to check out on the exact requirements on the websites of the university and the visa authority.
English Proficiency test score requirements to study in Australia
| Test | Score |
|---|---|
| International English Language Testing System (IELTS) | At least 7 for each of the 4 test Sections |
| Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based Test (TOEFL-IBT) | At least 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking modules |
| Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) | At least 65 for each of the 4 test sections |
| Occupational English Test (OET) | At least B for each of the 4 test modules |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced test | At least 185 in each of the 4 exam components |
In addition to these exams, you may also require to give a GMAT exam in case you are planning to pursue MBA in Australia.
General student application process to study in Australia
The application process for Australian Universities and Colleges is comparatively simple and is very similar to colleges in the UK. In fact, a centralized organization called the Universities Admission Centre (UAC) manages admissions in the region of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory. In other words, almost all undergraduate applications and even some postgraduate applications are routed via UAC for the selected region.
For regions and courses other than the UAC, you can directly apply to the university/ college in Australia. The same holds true for all regions if you wish to apply for a VET/TAFE course in any institute.
The same is valid for the states of New South Wales as well as the Australia Capital Territory.
Registering with the college
Almost every college in Australia has an Online Registration portal, so that you can simply register with the college on these portals. This is a good way to get all the relevant information required. Once you register, you can start preparing the documents as required by the institute. This way you can start the preparation well in advance and avoid any last minute delays.
Necessary list of Documents required for the admission process
Most importantly, you will need to prepare a set of supporting documents to send with your application for any university. However, the exact documents vary depending on your course, provider and qualification you’re applying for. The most important documents include:
- Firstly, the attested scorecards of Standard X, XII, and the Bachelor’s degree (if applicable).
- Secondly, a minimum of two academic, at times three letters of recommendation(LoR) from your latest professors. In case, you have work experience, your employer can also give you an LoR.
- Further, a copy of your updated resume should be attached.
- In addition, photocopied scorecards of your English proficiency tests like IELTS / TOEFL or others.
- Lastly, any more certificates or achievements at the state and national level and extracurricular activities can be attached as well.
- Additionally, a copy of the relevant medical tests from the recommended doctors.
- Most importantly, almost all Australian universities require you to submit an admission essay as per their requirements. Most of the post-graduate courses have a preset of questions you have to answer. These questions are provided at the time of registration with the college.
Note that the admission essays play a vital role in the admission process and you are advised to not rush into submitting the application.
Submission of the application, essay, transcripts and the test scores
Once all your documents are ready, you can submit them along with your application. Most of the universities have an online submission portal. On the other hand, some of the universities might ask you to submit a physical set as well. Make sure you courier it before hand to avoid any delays.
The cost of living guide to study in Australia
Having an idea of the average cost of living and studying in Australia is an important part of your application and financial preparation. This is to say, the costs are for reference and the actual cost will vary depending on the course, city and the standard of living you choose to live in Australia.
| Expense to study in Australia | Approx. cost in INR |
|---|---|
| Accommodation | In campus: 10000 to 15000 |
| Transportation | INR 4000 |
| Groceries, Food, utilities | INR 15000 |
| Communication, mobile & Internet | INR 2500 |
Apart from these basic expenses you would also have to spend on books, outings and entertainment while living in Australia. The approximate cost of living for a student to study in Australia varies at around AUD $18000 to $22000 per year. The amount largely depends on where you choose to live, the suburbs are little cheaper than the metros.
Cost of Studying in Australia
Depending upon the courses that you select you might have to pay AUD $4000 to $22000 for vocational education & training. About AUD $20000 to $45000 for an under-graduate course and $22000 to $50000 for a post-graduate course. A doctoral degree can cost you between AUD $18000 to $42000.
Health insurance
As an international student studying in Australia, it is mandatory to have the “Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)” for the entire stay in Australia. If you are accompanied by any dependents like your wife or children, they also have to be covered under the OSHC.
The OSHC usually covers costs for doctor visits, basic hospital treatments, an ambulance cover and limited medicines. However, depending on your requirement some OSHC insurance providers can provide a very basic product which covers only the compulsory minimum services or some additional benefits as well. You can find out more about the OSHC providers and the benefits they offer on their websites.
Note that the Department of Home Affairs of Australia requires international students to maintain OSHC for the entire length of their stay in Australia.
Scholarships to study in Australia
Australia offers a range of grants, scholarships and subsidies to assist you financially. They are presented by the Australian Government, universities, and a number of public and private organizations. You can find out more about them on university websites. In fact, the Australian Government has invested a little over AUD $300 million in scholarships for all eligible international students.
Visa application process to study in Australia
It is important to note that all visa applications by international students and education agents are only processed online by creating an account on the Australian government site on ImmiAccount.
Most of the international students who want to study in Australia need to apply for the Student Visa (Sub Class 500). There are also other types of Visa depending on certain categories like the student guardian visa, a visitor visa and more. Check out the complete list of the available visas on the official Australian visa website.
The Australian visa requires you to present the following documents:
- The electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) certificate from your university.
- Meet the Genuine Temporary Entrant guidelines.
- A proof of sufficient funds for airfares, course fees and living costs.
- Met with minimum score in the English language proficiency test.
- Health and character certificates.
- A valid Overseas Student Health Cover insurance.
Make sure that you apply for all the procedures well in advance and in a planned manner. This avoids any last minute delays and goof-ups.
To conclude Australia offers some of the best learning opportunities in the world. After going through the entire article above, we are sure you would start searching for the best colleges in Australia.
Look no further, studying in Australia has more to it than just education. We wish you all the very best in your further studies journey.