Overview of opportunities
Study & settle
Australia has a ton of world-renowned schools and universities that can cater to the educational needs of almost any student. Guess what, out of the 44 universities that Australia has, 25% fall under the top-rated category, As an international student, these are the 5 most popular courses you must consider:
- Architecture
- Core Engineering
- Software & IT
- Accountancy
- Bio-Engineering
Working opportunities
The job scene in Australia is slightly leaning towards the competitive side. But there’s still a huge demand in the fields of Engineering and Medical Diagnostics. Manufacturing and production vacancies are on the rise. However, if you are planning on taking up a managerial course, you MUST at least have 8 to 10 years of experience to even stand a chance.
Part-time jobs
The minimum wage in most Australian states is close to or above $19 AUD. During your semester, you can work up to 40 hours per week which is more than enough to pay for your expenses (excluding tuition). Apart from your strengths and interests, manage to find a job that’s close to where you live.
Some student favourites:
- Retail Stores
- Hospitality (Bars, hotels, and take-away stores)
- Supermarkets
- Petrol stations
Why Australia?
Education system
The education that you can get in Australia is internationally recognized. Highly qualified instructors and pleasing campus life are what’s helping the colleges in Australia rank higher. Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) makes sure that your degree gets recognized and authorized by the government. It also helps you plan your career with better flexibility and choices.
Popular study destinations
Melbourne, also known as the cultural capital of Australia, retains its second rank as the best student city in the world. It has over 7 universities that have their spots among the top ranking list. Followed by Melbourne, Sydney ranks fourth in the best student city index. Two of Sydney’s universities have secured their spot in the top 50 overall world ranking list. The list isn’t over yet. Here are the top picks for the best study destinations in Australia.
- Canberra
- Brisbane
- Adelaide
- Perth
- Gold Coast
Standard of Living
Australia ranks really well when it comes to citizen engagement and has an above-average ranking in income and wealth, health, and housing.
- The average income of a person per year is slightly higher than $32,759 USD.
- Almost 75% of the people who fall under the age of 15 to 64 have a paying job.
- Australia could get extremely competitive since 81% of adults over the age of 25 have completed an upper secondary education.
- The life expectancy (83 years) is also commendable.
- The salary of the top 20% of working employees is six times higher than the bottom 20%.
Professors and Research
Australian Universities have a rich reserve of educated professors who are the best in what they do. Most professors have double doctorates and come from all around the globe. Throughout the past century, researchers in Australia have helped us with Wi-Fi, penicillin, cancel vaccines, and body implants. Colleges work closely with the government to encourage global innovation. Research in the fields of biotechnology and medical diagnosis is rapidly booming in Australia.
Employment opportunities
Australia has a really low unemployment rate (less than 5%). This means that the chances of you being jobless are close to zero. In global standards, the minimum wage that an employee can get in Australia is extremely high. Over the past 25 years, the entire continent has continued to have steady economic growth which is creating new jobs each year. The employers and people, in general, are so welcoming to people from other cultures. 1 in every 4 people you meet in Australia has come from overseas. There are constant vacancies in the following fields that you can make use of:
- Finance
- Construction
- Education
- Engineering
- Healthcare
Eligibility
Academic requirements for UG Courses
The basic qualification for a UG admit is to have a secondary school completion certificate. This must be equivalent to or better than the regular Australian year 12 certificate. Proof of English is another basic criteria. You should’ve written at least one of the following language tests (IELTS, TOEFL, PTE, and VU English). The minimum required scores may vary from one college to the other but the higher the score, the better.
Academic requirements for PG Courses
You should have a UG degree that’s equal to an Australian bachelor’s degree. Although it is not essential for your UG degree to match with what you want to study in your Masters, it would increase your odds of getting an admit. An honours degree or a graduate diploma can also help you just the same. Considering how competitive graduate admits are, your English language test scores should be impressive.
Application requirements
- Official Transcripts (With your cumulative marks/grade)
- Official Test Scores (GRE/GMAT as per the requirement of your college)
- Statement Of Purpose
- Letter Of Recommendations (Minimum 2)
- Proof of Employment (to prove your work experience)
- Proof of finances (To prove that you can live independent)
Admission Tests To Take
IELTS
Almost every college and school in Australia (and the UK) would accept your IELTS scores. The colleges are pretty stubborn with their minimum scores. If you fail to acquire at least 6.0 in all four verticals (LIstening, Reading, Writing, and Speaking), your chance of getting an admit is almost close to zero. You will at least need a band 7 to even stand a chance while applying to a good college.
TOEFL
TOEFL is also globally recognized and it is no different from IELTS in terms of testing criteria. Australian colleges aren’t accepting the TOEFL scores that you’ve received from TOEFL iBT. The maximum score that you can get is 120 but anything above 105 can keep you safe. The cost of taking up TOEFL could differ from one country to the other and could range anywhere between $160 and $250.
PTE
PTE is another major exam that most students consider while applying for an Australian college or Visa. It is fast, secure, fair, and secure. It is valid for 2 years and almost every Australian college would consider your PTE score while reviewing your profile.
GMAT
If you’re planning on getting admitted into a graduate or management school, you have to take up the GMAT. GMAT is relatively hard since only 6% of the 200,000 tests take to manage to score over 720. But a good score will certainly have its benefits. Apart from helping you secure an admit, it would also help you acquire a scholarship.
GRE
Most colleges in Australia do not recommend that you take up GRE. Submitting your GRE score may or may not increase your chances of getting an admit. But there are certain colleges and courses that demand/consider your GRE score as an indicator of your overall performance. It is important that you score at least 300 in order to stay on top.
Top Universities
1. University Of Melbourne
Ranking among the top 50 global colleges and #1 in Australia, the University of Melbourne is one of the best colleges that you can possibly get into. Known for its research, the university has connections with over 100 research institutes worldwide. Don’t let its acceptance rate (70% – 80%) fool you. Getting an admit in sought-after fields might get quite competitive.
2. University Of Sydney
Due to its location, the University of Sydney still remains to be one of the favourites among both overseas and Australian students. With over 400 areas of study, it welcomes over 70,000 students annually. It ranks #40 globally and still remains one of the most popular public universities in Australia.
3. Monash University
Monash is a public research university in Australia which ranks #55 on the global scale. It has a huge reputation when it comes to Engineering and Technology which draws more than 22,000 overseas students every year. It is definitely not the cheapest option but still manages to be quite competitive.
Cost of Living
Your monthly living expenses as a student could vary from one state to the other. This includes your accommodation, food, transport, and other social activities. Cities like Canberra would only cost you about 1,400 AUD/month whereas living in cities like Sydney could easily push the expenses to more than 2000 AUD/month. Your food and living costs also depend on where you are going to stay (on-campus or off-campus).
Cost of education
Your educational costs rely on the type of university (public/private) you have opted for. Here’s a tentative range of popular streams that you can use for your reference.
- UG / Bachelor’s Degree – $15,000 to $33,000 / year
- PG / Master’s Degree – $20,000 to $37,000 / year
- D. / Doctoral Degree – $14,000 to $37,000 / year
- MBA – $11,000 t- $121,000 in total
Earn while you learn
Even after proving that they have enough personal funds, most students prefer working part-time. Unlike the US, Australia doesn’t restrict its international students to only within their campus. Every student is eligible for the legal wage of $18/hour which could earn you up to $720 per work-week. This is more than enough to take care of your expenses.
Loan opportunities
Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) is a popular program in Australia that helps native students by funding their education. However, overseas students are not eligible for HELP and have to rely on Universities and private banks for student loans. Either of these options has its own set of criteria to which the students should adhere to.
Scholarships
There are a ton of factors that contribute to scholarships. But a strong academic base with good grades in all your previous schools is vital. While some Universities automatically consider all the profiles for scholarships, some still require students to apply for it separately. So it is your responsibility to apply for as many scholarships as possible. A good language test result is another important way to get to the top.
Visa Requirements
Every international student would need a student (subclass 500) VISA if you’re planning on studying at an Australian University. Here’s a list of all the documents that you’ll be needing:
- Academic Transcripts
- Work experience documents
- Valid Passport
- Proof of Enrollment
- Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement
- Health insurance policy
- English proficiency test results
- Statement of Purpose (SOP)
- Passport-size photographs
