Australia is a smart choice for education as it is full of educational opportunities. Australia has some of the top-ranking universities with high education standards, a variety of courses, scholarships, modern facilities, affordable fees, and valued degrees to offer. You have more opportunities to explore and can see a different culture than your home country. Here are a few tips for international students studying in Australia:
- Search and decide on your study course
There are 43 universities throughout Australia offering courses from science to humanities, art, computer, law, and engineering. You can opt for a bachelor’s, postgraduate/master or doctorate. Australian National University, the University of Sydney, the University of Queensland, and the University of Western Australia are some of the top universities. You can select the right course with the help of CatEight and some research.
- Pass the IELTS exam
As an international student, you need to have a minimum of 6.0 IELTS score. Most universities in Australia require a passing score, so you should prepare well for it.
- Get a Student Visa
While planning to study in Australia, you must apply for a student visa with the High Commission of Australia. A new student visa framework known as SSVF was launched in 2016 which focused on simplifying the process of a student visa application in Australia.
- Get an offer letter
Then you need to apply for your desired course or subject. You can apply directly to the university or through an educational agent. Wait after the application and you will get an email of confirmation after three to four weeks. It might take a lot of time as there are a lot of applications and competition is high in top universities.
- Managing finances
The course fee is somewhat higher in Australia as compared to other countries. Being a foreign student, you are expected to pay more but there are many scholarships that you can avail of. You have to pay the tuition fee before starting the course. A master’s degree will cost you 20,000 to 37,000$. Similarly, for a doctorate, you can pay 14,000 to 37,000$. All the prices are in Australian dollars. For medical, science, and business courses, the prices might be somewhat high.
- Get a health insurance
To study in Australia, you need to get a private health insurance plan. You can decide what it covers for the complete duration of your course. Many students prefer travel medical insurance which health insurance covers in case of any unexpected happening. If you get sick or need a medical emergency, health insurance is very helpful. There is also a special health coverage called overseas student health coverage. You can easily avail of this on your student visa.
- Managing work and job
If you want to work with your degree, you can get a job with up to 40 hours of work. Your student visa is necessary to get a job. Many students work to meet their expenses and getting a part-time job is much of a tradition.