A survey in 2012 even revealed that 88% of international student respondents are satisfied or very satisfied with living in Australia. This is not surprising, as Australia is considered to be the fourth happiest country in the world.
Australia is the sixth largest country in the World. It is a Continent and a country at the same time. The country famous for kangaroos, surfing and koalas, but there is a lot more to Australia. Currently, Australia is also considered as a global leader in education, which is one of the many reasons why students from around the world choose to pursue their studies there. Australia actually has some of the best colleges in the world. If you look at the list of the top 100 countries in the world, you will find that seven of them are actually found in Australia, which is quite a feat when the country only has 23 million residents. With approximately more than 22,000 courses in 1,100 institutions, a great number of fields or study areas are available, making it highly likely that you can take up your choice of degree, training or course.
Scholarships
Another reason to consider going to Australia as an international student is because there is a lot of scholarship money available for you. The Australian government welcomes potential international students with open arms, and they actually offer up to $250 million dollars a year in scholarships, grants, and other financial aid that is specially set aside for international students.
Work during and after Studies
It’s also very easy to find a job so that you can make ends meet while you’re studying. In the urban areas, you may be able to find internships and apprenticeships that are related to the field that you are studying. Working along with study helps the students manage their high tuition fee and living cost. Working while study opportunities also help to develop one’s professional skills.
International students in Australia can work up to 40 hours per fortnight, allowing them to earn money, gain useful work experience in a foreign country and meet a variety of new people.
Students also have the opportunity to stay in Australia to work once they have graduated, taking advantage of the post-study work visa. After replacing the existing Skilled Graduate Visa with Temporary Graduate visa in 2013, it has become convenient for students to stay back in Australia after completing their study programme. The Temporary Graduate visa has opened doors of opportunities in job for graduate students and higher degree holders. Graduate Work stream visa allows students to stay and work in the country for a period of 18 months and Post-study work stream work visa allows the applicants to stay and work in the country for a period of two to four years after their graduation.
Campus Life
Just because most students do not live on campus, it doesn’t mean that there’s no such thing as campus life. Each Australian university, particularly bigger ones located in capital cities, has a selection of clubs and societies that are almost always completely student managed. These clubs receive a small budget from the university that they use to put on events and services for its members, such as barbeques, concerts and daytime picnics. Many clubs host trips and events open to local and international students alike, and often charge a subsidised fee for a weekend that will cover your accommodation, some activity costs and sometimes meals.
Beautiful weather and Landscapes
Australia’s climate remains moderately warm to downright hot year round. Some of the top universities for international students are located in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, all of which would consider a daily high below 50 degrees Fahrenheit a rarity at any point in the year. Also keep in mind that due to its location in the southern hemisphere, the seasons in Australia are opposite of those in the United States, making a trip down under a great way to trade in a frigid North American winter for a sunny Australian summer!
Australia has more than 500 national parks and more than 2,700 conservation areas ranging from wildlife sanctuaries to Aboriginal reserves. Additionally, 17 of the UNESCO World Heritage sites are in Australia. Examples of these are the Great Barrier Reef and the Sydney Opera House. Australia has diverse landscapes — beautiful coastlines, vast outback and modern cities — as well as unique marsupials such as kangaroos, koalas, wombats and quokkas. Studying in Australia is a ticket for you to visit natural attractions, including the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in the Northern Territory, the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland and Rottnest Island in Western Australia. A great benefit of studying in Australia is being able to experience the sunny weather and laid-back attitude for which Australia is well known.
Innovation, Technology and Infrastructure
Universities in Australia are at the forefront of technology, research and techniques. They have a reputation for adopting new technologies at a faster rate than in most other countries and also boast of having one of the highest rates of internet access in the world. Facilities for teaching, training and research are world-class in terms of state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms, outstanding libraries and modern technology. Implementing latest technology in their Education System improves the student’s proficiency and potential and gives them a better learning experience.
Multicultural society
Australia is a safe, multicultural, friendly and harmonious society. Australians value the wealth of cultural diversity and social sophistication that international students bring to the campuses and communities. The multicultural nature of Australian society means international students are readily accepted by other students, and teachers are experienced in teaching classes to students from many countries.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.
Accommodation
Australia welcomes students from all over the world and offers a range of living options to suit all kinds of needs. Depending on the length of your stay, where you’re studying and your personal preference, you can choose between short-term accommodation, rental properties, on campus accommodation and home-stays.
Short-term accommodation options you might want to consider when you first arrive in Australia include hostels and discounted rates on hotels.
You can rent or ‘lease’ a property by yourself or with friends. This can be done through a real estate agent or privately. When renting a property you will need to pay a security deposit or ‘bond’ (which is usually four weeks rent), as well as rent in advance (also usually four weeks)
Campus living can be a great option to minimize travel. Most universities have comfortable and furnished apartment-style living on campus or close by, sometimes with cleaning and meals included. Contact your institution directly to find out the accommodation options they have available and how the costs compare with organizing your own accommodation.
With homestay, you will live with a family in their home. Homestay can be a good option for younger students as you will have all the comforts of an established home, often with meals and cleaning included. Families offering homestay accommodation to international students are thoroughly screened to ensure they can provide a suitable living environment for students.
Transportation
The transport options available in Australia include buses, trains, trams and ferries. Your access to these transport services will vary depending on where you live. You will also be able to access private and public car services from taxis to hired limousines, available to take you from door to door.
Due to the great distance between major cities and different regions of the country, plane travel is a popular option for transportation in Australia. Major airports are located in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Hobart, Cairns and Darwin, with each of these destinations serviced by major airlines generally connecting from the U.S.A., Europe or Asia.
Long-distance train travel is a convenient and scenic way to see Australia if you have time to spare. If you’re intending to travel around Australia during your studies, consider purchasing a flexible or an unlimited rail pass through NSW TrainLink or Great Southern Rail to receive a discount. Rail passes are a great option for students who plan to travel frequently and can assist you in saving money on both long and short journeys.
Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth also have their own suburban rail networks that provide efficient, clean and reasonably priced travel between suburbs. Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and the Gold Coast also have an additional tram or light rail system that operates throughout the city as well.
Travelling by bus is a cheap and reliable way to move around the city. Most services operate on a reusable smart card system but in some cities and regional towns, you may be able to purchase tickets directly from the driver. Travelling by coach in Australia is usually a comfortable trip, as most of the vehicles have restrooms, onboard video entertainment and some of the newer coaches even have USB charger points and WiFi.
Like most countries, you can usually catch a taxi by waving it down on the side of the road, waiting at a taxi rank or calling to pre-book. While travelling by taxi can be a convenient way to move quickly around the city, it can be an expensive option if you’re not splitting the cost with friends.
Renting or purchasing a car during your stay in Australia provides the most freedom and convenience of any option for transportation in Australia. Before you can even consider driving in Australia, you must have a valid driver’s license. Also keep in mind that Australians drive on the left-hand side of the road, so it’s important to familiarise yourself with the local road rules in each state as you’ll be expected to follow them.