Australia remains a premier destination for international students, with over 710,000 enrolled as of 2023. The country’s universities offer a diverse array of programs, attracting scholars globally. Tuition fees for international students vary, with undergraduate degrees ranging from AUD 20,000 to AUD 45,000 annually, and postgraduate degrees from AUD 22,000 to AUD 50,000 per year.
Beyond tuition, students should budget for living expenses, which can be estimated using tools like the Study Australia Cost of Living Calculator. Navigating the application process, securing a student visa, and understanding financial commitments are crucial steps for prospective students.
This guide provides a comprehensive, step-by-step approach to studying in Australia, ensuring a well-informed and successful academic journey.
Why Study In Australia?
As an international student going to university in Australia, a lot of options are available to choose from.
Availability of Internship
Some Universities in Australia might offer internships to their students or sometimes some corporate bodies even while they study. If this option interest you, then you should consider opting to go for your study.
Ease in Getting Student Visa
If you want to study in Australia, then you need an Australian study visa. There are some requirements that the visa applicant must meet to qualify for an Australian visa. See the requirements in the latter part of this article.
Ease in Interacting
English is the generally accepted language in Australia, so students going there to study do not need to be worried about learning the language. English is one of the most common tutoring languages globally for students. This will facilitate a free flow of communication between you and other students over there.
Graduate Work Opportunities
Studying in Australia also has some benefits after you are done with your studies. Australia offers Temporary Graduate Visa which is also known as “Subclass 485”. This visa type permits some international students that choose to stay behind after graduating to continue to work.
Among the Best Global Universities
Australia housed 43 universities in total, 40 Australian, 2 international, and 1 private. Six universities in Australia are ranked among the top 100 most renowned universities in the world. This proves that they have a large program available for potential students to choose from.
These are but a few unique reasons why you should study in Australia. There are many other reasons, but we only highlighted a few very important ones.
Are you interested in schooling in France? If Yes, then you should check out our article on How To Study In France
Study in Australia: A Complete Step-By-Step Guide
- Ensure you have the basics prepared
- Pick a Program and Choose your Colleges
- Choose Your Mode of Application
- Make Your Application
- Proceed to Apply for your Visa
- Go for Your Visa Interview
- Feedback on Your Visa Application
- Travel to Australia
#1. Ensure you have the basics prepared
Notwithstanding your course and school of choice, there are some basic documents that you must present to all schools in Australia and some other countries. You should get these documents available before even attempting to start your application process. These documents are :
- A Proof English Proficiency Test Score
- Documents stating you are able to fund Your study
- A Passport that is up-to-date
#2. Pick a Program and Choose your Colleges
Before commencing your application process you must know to decide on your choice of course and the universities you want to study. If you are capable of it, you can study concurrently at more than one university.
You will fill in this information later on when filling out your application form so it is preferable you resolve this now so as to hasten your application.
#3. Choose Your Mode of Application
The good news about applying to study in Australia is that there are multiple ways you can make your application. Depending on the mode that is easiest for you, will determine the choice of your best application means.
- Application through a local University
- Using the University Website
- You can also decide to apply using an external agent
#4. Make Your Application
Once you make your application and the school deems you fit to be for admission, you will receive a letter of offer for admission via your email. You would have to respond to this mail stating if you accept the offer or not. In some schools paying the tuition is a sign of your acceptance. Sequel to this, you would be given an enrollment confirmation letter.
#5. Proceed to Apply for your Visa
The next step you are to take is applying for a visa. Ensure you apply for a student visa (Subclass 500) and you should submit your visa application 124 days before your selected course begins.
Below is a list of all the documents needed for applying for your student visa
- Proof that you can financially fund your study(a sum of AU$18,610 per year, cost of tuition fee, and return airfare)
- English proficiency test result/ Certificate
- Health Insurance approved by the Australian authorities
- Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement proving that the applicant is going specifically to the study and will return after studying.
- Verification of criminal records
- Enrollment Certificate confirmation(CoE)
Also, note that you translate the documents to English before you upload them.
#6. Go for Your Visa Interview
After submitting your application, you will be informed if you are to go for a health checkup before your visa interview or if the check-up will be after the interview.
#7. Feedback on Your Visa Application
Two weeks or more after your interview, depending on the circumstances at the time, you will receive feedback through an email notification from the Australian authorities if your visa has been accepted or not.
#8. Travel to Australia
Once the Australian authorities approve your visa, you can then decide on the date you wish to travel to Australia. The date should be before the commencement of our course. A specific date will be stated in your enrollment certificate.
Best Universities in Australia
This list was compiled using the QS World University Rankings. The basis on which these universities are ranked is the assessment of each university’s academic and employer reputations, the impact of research, and many others.
- #1. Australian National University (ANU)
- #2. University of Sydney
- #3. University of Melbourne
- #4. University of New South Wales (UNSW)
- #5. University of Queensland (UQ)
- #6. Monash University
- #7. University of Western Australia (UWA)
- #8. University of Adelaide
- #9. University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
- #10. University of Wollongong
Available Australia Scholarship for International Students
Below is a list of some currently active scholarships Australia is giving out to international students who apply to study in Australia.
- Griffith Remarkable Scholarship
- Australian Government Research Training Program (AGRTP) Scholarships at the University of Adelaide
- The Global Excellence Scholarship at the University of Western Australia
- Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships Scheme at the University of Sydney
- Adelaide Global Academic Excellence Scholarships for International Students
- Australian Government Research Training Program (AGRTP) International Scholarships at the University of Flinders
Australian Student Visa Documents (ASVD)
- Copy of passport biodata page (some students may need to provide their passport)
- Completed Australian student visa application form (157A)
- Paid visa application fee – currently AU$620 (~US$420) in most cases
- Enrollment Certificate confirmation(CoE)
- English proficiency test results
- Four recent passport-sized photographs
- Proof that you can financially fund your study(a sum of AU$18,610 per year, cost of tuition fee, and return airfare)
- Criminal record check results
- Evidence of health insurance cover
Study in Australia: Student Visa Procedure
The Australian Student Visa is also referred to as – Subclass 500. So do not be confused when you hear such a term.
After getting your Certificate of Enrollment (CoE) following your application, the next step to take is
- #1. Create an Account with the Australian Immigration Authorities
- #2 Make sure you have all the documents needed (ASDV) In Digital Format
- #3. Begin the processing of your Visa Application Online
- #4. Pay the stipulated Visa Fee and Obtain your Transaction Reference Number (TR-Number)
- #5. Go for Health Checkup and Interview
- #6. Check the status of your visa application using the Immigration website, or sometimes you may receive an email pertaining to your visa status.
- #7. Travel to Australia for your study.
Study in Australia Requirements
a. Academic Requirement
- Higher Education Post Graduate Course: The requirement for this program is that you must have completed a degree at least at the undergraduate level. Your work experience and relevant research skill may also be put into consideration.
- Higher Education Undergraduate program: You need to have an overseas equivalent Australian senior secondary school certificate. Some other undergraduate courses might also have other requirements in addition to this.
- Vocational Education and Training (VET): VET Institutions do not require an entrance exam. Having said that, some courses may require you to have completed work experience.
b. English Requirement
Australia generally teaches educational courses in English. So an English test is necessary for international students coming from non-English speaking nations to certify that he or they can communicate effectively in English.
c. Overseas Student Health Cover
There is an overseas student health coverage program for international students, which is also referred to as OSHC. This cover will help you pay for any medical care you may need during the period of your study in Australia.
d. Visa Requirement
A student visa is mandatory to enable you to travel from your country to Australia. There are some conditions that you must meet in order to qualify for a student visa. These requirements have been mentioned earlier in this article.
Study in Australia Cost
As much as Australia has some of the best Universities in the world, there is one drawback to studying in Australia. Australia is one of the destinations globally where the cost of the study is quite high.
According to the Australian Government, the cost of study for international undergraduate programs ranges from US$10,000 to US$23,000. For Masters Programs it ranges between US$18,000 to US$26,000. Lastly, for Doctoral programs, the fee ranges from $9,000 to $26,000. Please note that there are some courses where the fee might be quite higher than what is stipulated here.
Low-Cost Study In Australia
Notwithstanding the fact that Australia hosts some of the most expensive universities in the world, there are still some universities whose fees are actually considered low for those that are not able to afford the high-cost universities.
- Kaplan Business School, Adelaide
- Charles Darwin University, Darwin
- Victoria University, Melbourne
- La Trobe University, Melbourne
- International College of Management, Sydney
- Oxford Education Group, Melbourne
- Asia Pacific International University, Melbourne
- Australian Catholic University, Ballarat
Study in Australia for Free
A certain and the most stress-free way to actually study in Australia for free is to opt for scholarships. This is a way that all study costs can be totally covered. There are many Australian Universities scholarships available. I have already listed some of the scholarships in this article, do well to scroll back up and read about them.
Conclusion
Making the choice of doing your study in Australia is actually a great choice and a good one. Most of its universities are recognized globally and are among the world’s top universities. The cost of study in Australia is extremely high but they have actually made scholarships available to cushion the cost.
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