Study in Australia

Australia Welcomes International Students!

Australia is a popular, safe and welcoming destination for international students.

Australia might have a small population of 24 million people but it has become a world leader in international education. In the last 25 years international students have voted with their feet by coming to Australia to study in great numbers.

In October 2020, there were 6776,369 international students in Australia studying a range of courses at different levels. The average annual growth rate for enrolments over the last five years has been 10.8% per year.

According to the University College of London’s Centre for Global Higher Education, Australia is soon expected to take over the United Kingdom as the world’s second most popular study destination, and is just behind the United States of America. The weather makes it preferable to studying in Canada.

The popularity of Australia as a studies destination reflects different factors including the fact that Australians are friendly and open and international students are genuinely welcome in Australia.

To help make it easier for you, Australian institutions provide specific programs including airport pick-up and temporary accommodation, orientation programs, international student associations and advisers, and accommodation assistance. More significantly, the Australian Government also gives you a range of rights that allows you to participate fully in Australian society and gain a well rounded experience going beyond the classroom.

Why Study in Australia?

Choosing to study in Australia will provide you with wonderful opportunities and experiences, as well as a world-class education.

On campus and on the street you will meet people from all over the world with different cultures, faiths, and ideas. If you wish to experience bustling city life, big cities like Melbourne and Sydney are great examples of a fantastic contemporary lifestyle, from modern art museums and cafés to beautiful city parks and major sporting events. If you choose one of the regional campuses you will enjoy a different kind of hospitality and a slower pace of life that will open doors to all kinds of diverse activities.

The quality of the education system, the unique living environment, and the right to work in Australia during and after your studies, make Australia an attractive place to study.

While there are many reasons for choosing Australia as a studies destination apart from the quality of the education, these are our four popular favourites:

1. Work while studying

With a Student visa you can work 20 hours a week during semester and full time during vacations. If you have a partner and enrol in a Masters level course or higher, your partner will be able to work full time in Australia. This represents a significant independent work benefit for your partner.

If you enrol in a Masters by research you will also be able to work full time.

Work rights allow you to meet your living costs in Australia and have an authentic Australian experience outside of the classroom.

2. Reasonable study costs

Study costs in Australia are lower than other major destinations such as the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.

Fees for secondary schools in Australia start from $AUD7,800. An undergraduate program can cost from AUD $15,000 to AUD $33,000 per year and postgraduate tuition fees range from AUD $20,000 to AUD $37,000 annually. Vocational and Technical courses start at around $AUD7,000 while English language courses start from only $AUD220 per week depending on the course length.

3. Post graduate work visa

On completing Australian studies you may be able to apply for a Graduate visa. A Graduate visa allows you and your family to live and work in Australia for up to 4 years after finishing your course, and then subject to certain conditions apply for a Skilled visa.

Working in Australia will allow you to gain valuable international experience and earn Australian wages before returning home or migrating permanently.

4. Safe studies destination: COVID19

Studying in Australia is a safe and secure studies option.

Through a mixture of good luck and good policy, Australia has been spared the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. The number of new infections in Australia is currently running at a rate of fewer than 20 cases a week. This stands in contrast to catastrophic new infection rates in the USA, and similar rates afflicting Europe, India, and Latin America.

With comprehensive contact tracing in place, testing, social distancing, and effective management of new clusters, the virus is under control. This is not to say that Australia will not experience future waves of infections but for now Australia has contained the threat and life is returning to normal.

australia - World Class Education

Australia offers international students the opportunity to gain a world class education. The principal reason for studying in Australia is the quality of the education you will receive and the doors it will open to you on your return to your country.

Australia is acknowledged as having one of the best higher education systems in the world. The University of Melbourne, Australian National University, University of Sydney, University of Queensland, University of New South Wales, and Monash University were all ranked in the top 100 universities in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2020.

With over 22,000 courses across 1,100 institutions, the Australian system is ranked 8th in the Universitas 2019 U21 Ranking of National Higher Education Systems, higher than France, Germany, Norway and Japan.

It not just the university sector that offers a great education. From secondary school through to English language courses and vocational education, courses are flexible and equipped with a global perspective. In particular the vocational education sector is incredibly diverse in Australia offering a range of shorter and less expensive courses that lead directly to employment and in some cases migration outcomes.

While there are many reasons for coming to Australia to study, these are our popular favourites:

The quality of the education and the access it will give you to a better paid career;
The diverse range of courses on offer at multiple institutions at different studies levels;
Many types of specialist institutions;
Worldwide acceptance of Australian qualifications;
Innovative teaching and learning;
Quality of scientific research;
Support for international students;
Safe studies environment;
The right to work while studying; and
The ability to apply for a residence visa after you complete your course.

Education and living costs

The following is a rough guide to accomodation costs for international students living in Australia. Of course, these will vary depending on your preferred standard of living and where you choose to live.

Hostels and Guesthouses – $90 to $150 per week
Shared Rental – $95 to $215 per week
On campus – $110 to $280 per week
Homestay – $235 to $325 per week
Rental – $185 to $440 per week
Boarding schools – $11,000 to $22,000 a year

As of October 2019 the 12-month living costs in Australia are:

For students or guardians – AUD$21,041
For partners coming with you – AUD$7,362
For a child coming with you – AUD$3,152

The Insider Guides ‘Cost of Living Calculator’ is also a useful, practical tool to help estimate your cost of living in Australia www.insiderguides.com.au/cost-of-living-calculator/.

The following is a rough guide to living costs for international students in Australia. Of course, these will vary depending on your preferred standard of living.

Groceries and eating out – $140 to $280 per week
Gas, electricity – $10 to $20 per week
Phone and Internet – $15 to $30 per week
Public transport – $30 to $60 per week
Car (after purchase) – $150 to $260 per week
Entertainment – $80 to $150 per week

The list below gives you a broad indication of the range of course costs (yearly) for different types of qualifications.

School – $7,800 to $30,000
English language studies – Around $300 per week depending on course length
Vocational Education and Training (Certificates I to IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma) – $4,000 to $22,000
Undergraduate Bachelor Degree – $20,000 to $45,000*
Postgraduate Masters Degree – $22,000 to $50,000*
Doctoral Degree – $18,000 to $42,000*

* Note: This does not include high cost of delivery courses such as veterinary and medical. Please visit institution websites directly to see costs for these courses.

All costs are per year in Australian dollars.

For more information visit: www.studyinaustralia.gov.au