An Indian student’s guide to studying in Australia

Our expert Pratibha Sen delves into why Indian students love Oz for their higher studies 

Ranked as the third most preferred study destination by Indian students, Australian universities have witnessed a sharp growth in the applications from India over the last few years, much owing to their world class education, multicultural environment and post study work opportunities available for international students 

Statistically, over 37,000 Indian students were granted student visas for Australia in 2018-19, registering a growth of 32% over last year according to the Australian Department of Home Affairs. The universities in and around Melbourne and Sydney had the highest number of Indian students enrolling followed by other popular cities like Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra & more.  

 Why Australia?

Australia offers a diverse range of study options for international students, with more than 1,200 institutions and over 22,000 courses to other aspirants. Students can study at all levels of education from primary and secondary school, to vocational education and training (VET), from English language courses to higher education as bachelors, masters and research degrees (at universities). Regardless of what a student is studying or how long you are studying for, Australia’s laws promote quality education and protection for international students. Needless to say, Australian cities have consistently ranked high as the most livable and student friendly cities in the world.

 Popular courses among Indian students in Australia 




Yes, it’s affordable!

Besides offering a quality education system, Indian students say that affordability is a major attraction. Australia offers attractive scholarship options besides opportunity for students to work part-time. Some industries and sectors, which are student-friendly from an Indian student’s perspective include tourism, retail, hospitality and many more making it easier to pick up a part-time jobs and earn some exposure as well as money to partly cover living costs in Australia. Scholarships also include government-funded options like Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS) for bachelors, masters, Ph.D. There are also university-specific scholarships and bursaries that are offered to International students for various undergraduate and post graduate programs. 
 Explore Scholarships

Offers vast course selection 

Australian institutions offer courses spanning diverse study areas, including business, technology, arts, sciences, etc., as well as professional qualifications. Whether you are looking to take up an undergraduate degree with a dual specialization or a double Masters, Australia has everything you need. There are 39 Universities in Australia, including very high ranking Go8 Universities. These universities are Public (expect a few). They are located across the states of Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, Queensland, Western Australia, Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania.

As an international student, when you complete your qualification in Australia (minimum two years) with a Bachelor’s Degree and Masters by Coursework Degree, you can avail a post study work right up to two years. For a Masters by Research Graduate, the work right is granted for three years, while PhD graduates can avail work rights up to four years.

Good news is that all the courses available are accredited under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). These include high school programs, English language courses, Vocational Education and Training (VET) and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) courses, along with undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

In fact, the 2016-2017 survey by ‘Top Universities’ includes The Australian National University, The University of Melbourne, The University of Sydney, The University of New South Wales, The University of Queensland, Monash University, The University of Western Australia and The University of Adelaide as some of the high ranked Australian Universities (QS and THE world rankings).
 

An Indian student’s guide to Australia

As one of the 10 happiest countries in the world, Australia is a melting pot of varied cultures where 200 languages are spoken and more than half the population as first/ second generation migrant. With food and festivals from across the globe being enjoyed and celebrated here, a student experiences a truly global exposure. It is known to be a unique for its diversity and lifestyle.

Further, Australia is known for its scenic beauty and beaches, art and architecture, culture and history, sports and adventure, offering an array of tourist attractions for students to take a breather from their studies every once in a while.  

*indicative costs

Food: Australia offers a variety of enviable national and international cuisines to fit every budget and craving. For many Indian students who are vegetarian there is no dearth of choices. You can also sample home-cooked food and Indian cuisine at many Indian restaurants every time you get homesick. 

Campus Life: Australian Universities offer an exciting campus life. It has beautiful, state of the art buildings and landscaping. There are sports, music, dance and many clubs and facilities.

Australians and other migrants: Australians are one of the friendliest people in the world who are independent and believe in gender equality. They also have a terrific sense of humor and love sports. You will also rub shoulders with people from different countries like New Zealand, China, Malaysia, Philippines etc.

Employment opportunities: Australia offers two years of post-study work permit for international students after the completion of 2 years of full time studies and successful completion of their course work/ research degrees. The employability ratio of international students graduating from Australian Universities is very high.

The qualifications are accepted world-wide and many programs have professional accreditations and work-integrated learning, enabling graduates to be more employable by the time they finish their courses. Dedicated divisions in the Australian Institutions also help in placements, interview and CV preparation to support the international students.

Cost of living: Besides on campus accommodation, there are also other options available. Off-campus accommodations are quite popular with Indian students owing to an efficient transportation system which makes the commute quite smooth.
Read more: Cost of Studying in Australia

You should know

Australian institutions are linked across the country and across the world, which makes it easy to move throughout the education system between courses or institutions and formal agreement and recognition frameworks mean every step of the path will contribute to your future no matter what your study or career goals are.

IDP Education is a global leader in international education services and has on-shore offices in Sydney, Melbourne Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane to support students who need any support while they are in Australia.

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