Australia is one of the most popular destinations among Indian students. Its cities are marvelled for their architecture and landscaping, it boasts of 'A' class universities and vocational schools, and has alluring features like affordability and accessibility. No wonder education is the third largest industry in Australia.
The course most in demand, which is also directly proportional to the demand in the international job market, is, Accounting. You can choose to go in for a diploma or a Masters. If you are looking for something short-term, then courses like;
Aviation too is another exciting prospect for those geared to fly high. With so many private airlines operating in the domestic circuit in India, and almost as many opportunities abroad, it remains a lucrative option. Courses are manned by the Civil Aviation Authority of Australia and the only university providing it is the Institute of TAFE, Melbourne. Other universities to look out for are:
The unique selling point of an Australian Degree is that it takes three years, which is one year shorter than a US four-year degree and also, it costs much less (40 per cent-60 per cent) than a UK or US degree. Nearly 37,000 Indian students were enrolled in Australian institutions YTD (Year to Date) March 2007, which is an increase of almost 50% as compared to the enrolments in the same period in the previous year.
Australia offers a diverse range of courses such as
Additionally, non-self-accrediting higher education providers accredited by State and Territory authorities, number more than 150 and are listed on State and Territory registers. These include several that are registered in more than one State and Territory. The non-self-accrediting higher education providers form a very diverse group of specialised, mainly private, providers that range in size and include theological colleges and other providers that offer courses in areas such as;
There are 39 public universities and two private universities in Australia, which offer both Undergraduate and Post Graduate programmes. The most popular courses of study amongst Indian students at the Post Graduate-level include studies in-
Note of Caution: Interested students should bear in mind that all universities and institutions approved to offer degrees and other higher education awards are listed on the registers of the 'Australian Qualifications Framework'. Institutions that are not listed on the AQF are not recognised by Commonwealth, State and Mainland territory governments of Australia.
Australia specialises in vocational education and training. The VET sector is divided into two sections — a nationally recognised government system of Technical and Further Education (TAFE, and, private providers. Students can study vocational courses at both public TAFE institutes and private colleges. The government ensures the quality of courses, staff and teaching by carefully monitoring these institutions.
The vast range of courses under this category include;
English language training and university preparation courses are also offered. TAFE is the largest provider of tertiary education courses in Australia with approximately 250 institutes and 41,000 international students.
Industry training is common to all the VET programmes. The awards in VET sector are:
Studying at TAFE level is also described as a way of gaining entry to Australia's universities. Most TAFE institutes have arrangements with specific universities, enabling students to gain credit for a portion of their study undertaken at TAFE.
A Masters can cost $ 10,000 plus, whereas a diploma will be easy on the pocket and the extra time can help you get work and make points for your permanent residency (which are 120). A regular course in Aviation costs around Rs 2 Lac per semester. As for the fees, vocational courses cost between Rs 1,50,000-2,25,000 for six months. Masters would be anywhere between 2,50,000-4,50,000 per semester. These figures include living expenses.
Other than that, the annual cost of living as fixed by the Australian High Commission is $ 12,000. Tuition fees may amount to anywhere between Australian dollars 8,000 - 30,000 per year, while the living expenses amount to approximately Aus$ 12,000 per year. The fees vary depending upon the institution and programme and living expenses vary depending upon the city. In general, living expenses range from A$ 10,000 to A$ 15,000 per annum, depending on individual lifestyle.
International students are allowed to work up to 20 hours per week on part-time basis during the semester and full-time in their holidays. This arrangement is of immense help to international students.
There is no general rule on whether you are eligible for a scholarship for Australian schools. All scholarships vary in their eligibility requirements; for students from India, some institutes ask for a certain TOEFL score, while others ask for you to have a certain GPA. There is no specified cut off, but the higher your score, the better your chances. If you are considering Aviation as an option, you will need good scores in Maths and Physics.
A few scholarships are granted by the Australian government to promote educational cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific region. These mainly consist of two programmes —
Students who have passed 10+2 can either take entry to universities or other tertiary institutions with a good band score (minimum 6.0) of International English Language Testing System (IELTS). IELTS is required for admission into all Australian institutions. You must also have the financial means to support yourself and appropriate private health insurance cover during your stay in Australia.
Most importantly, you need to have your documents in order, and your visa processed through the new E Visa option.
Things you should bear in mind:
Generally, an international student is issued with a multiple entry visa for the duration of his/her study course in Australia. Once a student is accepted into a full time course of study at an Australian institution, he needs to obtain a student visa, which is valid for the duration of the course of study indicated on the Confirmation of Enrolment form provided by the Australian Institution. This form is provided once international student fees (or exchange places) have been arranged, and overseas student health coverage charges have been paid.
The holder of a student visa has the right to live and study in Australia. She/he may be allowed to apply for permission to work up to 20 hours a week part time during term periods and full time in the vacation periods. Graduate level students may also be entitled to apply for a permanent residence visa in some circumstances.
For reasonable flights to Australia, it’s best to check travel websites for fares. Similarly, though domestic flights are reasonably priced in Australia, its well worth checking the internet for cheap travel fares or discount price wars which occasionally flare between the few competing airlines (mostly Qantas and Virgin Blue). In addition, foreign currency, traveller's cheques and credit cards are all reliable as the Australian banking network is mature.
Features like a world-class education, state-of-the-art facilities, greater flexibility of courses, low cost and a safe and comfortable environment, make the country a preferred destination for international students.
If you want to fly real high, especially bag the best when you step back home, then Aviation is the real thing. It’s very expensive but worth every penny spent. Although it costs around Rs 2 Lac per semester, the pay packet is $1, 20,000 per annum. Moreover, if you join as a pilot in India, you’ll be earning a Lac a month – to start with. Boeing alone has forecast a need for 5,000 pilots this year.
If you intend to settle Down Under, MBA is not in demand. What they need are;
Be sure to choose an occupation in relation to the demand. In Australia currently, they don’t need managers, they need front liners. Australians are looking for the right skilled people, who score high and have experience, particularly in the trade area. Other than that, on an average, a Diploma/Bachelors holder is likely to be earning anywhere between $ 40,000 to 50,000 per annum. Masters is obviously more than this.
Australia is a multi-cultural land. The main language in Australia is English. The country has a population of more than 1 million Asians currently.
Of course you’ll have teething problems of cost cutting, budgeting, finding your way around and facing some form of discrimination, but those are the initial hiccups in any foreign land. Australia is known for its well-designed programmes, favourable weather conditions, secure living and a plethora of career options.
You will need to pick a city that’s simple and affordable. Melbourne and Sydney are on the higher side, so in order to balance the cost of living and enjoy the beaches at the same time, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth and Canberra would be better options.
Australia has many student communities on campus, based on one's country of origin, religion, leisure and interests and it is generally very easy for students to mingle with a like-minded group.
Australia is considered to be one of the most friendly and multicultural nations with more than 100 ethnic groups living in it. As far as food is concerned, one can find varieties from the whole world in the country. Indian, Chinese, Japanese, Lebanese cuisines are only some of the options available to a student in Australia. Many students prefer to cook their own food because raw materials are available in all the nearby markets. Australia is also known known for its wines and juicy fruits.
Victoria has some of the country’s best museums and entertainment venues. Victoria is known for its sporting events; such as the Grand Prix and the Melbourne Cup, its incredible scenery and its network of regional cities. However, Western Australia is renowned for its natural wonders including coastal areas, wildflowers and red rock canyons.
There are many Aboriginal communities up north around the Kimberley region. The State capital, Perth, is full of museums, galleries and restaurants. In the south of the State, there are beach towns, farming and vineyards. And, tucked away at the far south of the country and across the untamed waters of Bass Strait, lies Tasmania, a place rich with heritage and spectacular natural history.
Being in the southern hemisphere, the seasons in Australia are opposite to those in India. But like India, it is a land of diversity in terms of climate, and has tropical rainforests, pristine beaches, arid deserts and vast grazing lands as also a rich coral reef, abundant with marine life.
The transition from India to Australia, especially for North Indians is generally comfortable. The climate is generally warmer, but in the northern Australian states, it is similar to that of Southwest Asia and the Pacific. Temperatures in Queensland, the Northern Territory and North Western Australia average about 20ºC to 29ºC in the summer, and about 10ºC to 22ºC in the winter.
In the southern states of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, temperatures range from about 16ºC to 26ºC in the summer and about 7ºC to 15ºC in the winter. However, it does snow in Australia in the highlands and southern areas, so warm clothes are advisable for winter wear - and even in summer it is advisable to carry a light jacket, as the weather can cool off considerably.
Before you leave, be sure to pack: