Cost of studying in Australia

Education Cost in Australia  It will soon be crunch time for many secondary students and their families. It will be time to go to college, earn a degree and eventually join the work force. The primary issue many people face is that the price of higher education is increasing. Average tuition fees towards a bachelor’s degree in a publicly-funded American university would be in the range of US $35-40,000 per year. If one were to opt for a British university, the cost range would be around $28,000 per annum. This does not include additional expenses such as room and board (if you were to study overseas), school fees and uniforms, books, transport, communication, and the like.  You have options, of course. Scholarships are one of them. The downside to this is that you will have to maintain a grade average to avail of the program. At the same time, whilst a scholarship will cover tuition fees and possibly the cost of books, it will seldom cover living expenses like lodging and food. Student loans are another possibility, but these have to be paid back a few months after you stop training or studying. That means you will have to give up a hefty chunk of your initial salary, leaving so much less for you. If you want high-calibre education from a premiere educational institution in a country that has a standard of living comparable to yours but has none of its exceedingly high tuition fees, studying in Australia may be for you. Excellent Educational System Australia may be the “Land Down Under,” but not when it comes to education. A common misconception about Australia is that it is a relatively ‘young’ country and thus, not necessarily among the ‘best’ in any particular field of activity (except perhaps for sports, exotic locations and destinations, and any number of famous Australians in the field of entertainment). What most people overlook is that Australia’s education system is among the oldest and the best in the world.  The Australian educational system was originally patterned after the British system, with well-known universities as Oxford and Cambridge establishing satellite facilities in the country. It has also benefited from emulating American methods of teaching and course structures. The Australian educational system also learnt the value of innovation. It built on its influences through continuous education reform and development programs beginning from the 1970s through the 1990s and has consequently become one of the world’s best educational systems. Studies done by international organisations such as the UNESCO and the Association of Commonwealth Universities have consistently classified Australian education as being among the best in the world. Studying in Australia: The Price is Right! Whilst there is no disputing the fact that the standard of education in Australia is one of the highest in the world, many are surprised to learn that the cost of education in Australia is much, much lower than comparable schools in the United States or Europe. Average tuition comes to around A$18,000 a year. This is equivalent to only US $15,100, €10,200 or £8,100. This is considerably lower than the estimated average cost of tuition per year of US $35,000 in the U.S. and $28,000 in the UK. The reason for this is simple: the Australian dollar has a somewhat lower face value than the US dollar (even in spite of recent currency fluctuations). In other words, your dollars (or pounds or Euros) can be exchanged for a considerably greater amount of Australian dollars. Your tuition money can go ‘further and farther’ if you go to an Australian university.  Another advantage to Australia is that many institutions offer three-year courses. In fact, three years is the minimum for a bachelor degree while four years is the minimum for an honours degree. This is shorter than the average length of time required in obtaining an equivalent degree in American or European universities. The shorter matriculation period does not have a negative impact on the quality of education in Australia as numerous studies have proved. Studying in Australia thus gives you the option of qualifying for a bachelor degree in the shortest time possible and paying lower tuition fees overall. You will be gainfully employed whilst your contemporaries in other countries are still grappling with their final year. This advantage also extends to postgraduate courses, many of which can be completed in a year. In other words, four years of study in an Australian university can be enough to get both a masters and a doctoral degree; your credentials and future career prospects will be immeasurably enhanced in result. Living in Australia You probably think that whilst the cost of tuition in Australia is lower than that of US or Europe, this will be offset by the money spent on living expenses, including relocation and travel expenses, which may be higher than if you were to stay and study in a local university. In other words, it can be argued that any ‘savings’ generated by the lower tuition fees will just be paying towards the costs involved in moving to and living in Australia. First, consider the fact that your dollars or Euros will have a higher buying power than in your home town. If you decide to stay in your country, you will still have to spend money for lodging, food, transport, and other living expenses when you are at university. In all likelihood, the amount of money you will spend on food and lodging in a European or American university may be more than enough for your living expenses in Australia. For example, the estimated cost of living in Sydney (Australia’s prime city) is around A$14,000 and this includes lodging, food, transport, clothes, and other basic expenses. This amount is equivalent to 8,000 Euros or US $12,000. The question is whether you will be able to find a university in the United States where your expenses come to only around one thousand dollars every month. More importantly, there is nothing stopping you from considering other options in Australia – like studying in a ‘less expensive’ location than Sydney. Living expenses along Australia’s Gold Coast are estimated at only A$11,420 per annum – or US$9,200 (EU 6,500). And finally, there are different options for living and studying in Australia.  Among the options available to international students is “homestaying” where you can stay with an Australian family whilst you are studying. In this case, estimated cost is around A$180-250 per week. You can also live in residential facilities on campus, in which case expenses will be down to approximately A$100-160 per week. You can also stay in private or church-owned boarding hostels that cost around A$90-130 per week. In other words, the estimated A$11,000 to A$12,000 per annum cost of living may be considerably reduced, depending on the choices you make. Apart from the Money Aside from the monetary advantages of studying in Australia, there is also the advantage of living in a new and exciting environment – a chance to meet and learn about different people and cultures.  This would lead to the development of a well-rounded personality that can interact with different people and temperaments, someone who will feel comfortable in a wide range of social occasions and interactions – someone who will be more able to deal and easily relate with people in their work environment. Aside from the people, Australia in itself is home to a wide variety of places to explore – which will be of immense importance in building one’s character and experiences. Leisure time can be spent exploring the natural wonders of Australia (from deserts to beaches), its ecology (from kangaroos to kookaburras), its cultural heritage (from the indigenous peoples to the world-class entertainment of Sydney’s Opera House), and other fascinating facets of Australia. So if you’re wondering where to study, Australia should be on top of the list. Money-wise, studying in Australia can be a very wise decision indeed.