AUSTRALIA
Australia is a country and continent surrounded by the Indian and Pacific oceans. Its major cities – Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide – are coastal. Its capital, Canberra, is inland. The country is known for its Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, a vast interior desert wilderness called the Outback, and unique animal species like kangaroos and duck-billed platypuses.
With over 22000 courses at 1100 institutions, Australia has always been a popular higher education destination for international students. Backed by its strong infrastructure for education, a higher standard of life, education in Australia has gained increased acceptance globally.
Apart from strong academic might, most of these education institutions are housed in five of the 30 best cities in the world for students based on ethnicity of students, affordable tuition fees and living costs, higher quality of life, and employment opportunities.
International students can also avail scholarships provided by the Australian Government totaling to AUD 200 million each year across various study areas of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Life & Agricultural Sciences, Clinical Medicine & Pharmacy, Physics, Accounting, Business Administration, Engineering, Aviation and many more.
Australia offers a diverse range of study options for international students, with more than 1,200 institutions and over 22,000 courses to choose from. You 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 (including universities). And regardless of what you are studying or how long you are studying for, Australia’s laws promote quality education and protection for international students. This includes the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007 (National Code). These provide nationally consistent standards for providers of education and training for international students.
As an international student on a student visa, you must study with an institution and in a course that is registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). CRICOS registration guarantees that the course and the institution at which you study meet the high standards expected by international students. You can search for courses and institutions here on the Study in Australia website.
Along with the ESOS Act and National Code, there are also regulatory and quality assurance organizations for higher education and VET institutions. These government organizations are responsible for registration/re-registration of institutions and accreditation/re-accreditation of courses. These organizations are:
Higher education – Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)
VET – Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)
So no matter the type of course you want to study, how long you want to study for, or where you want to study, you can be assured that in Australia you will have a high quality and rewarding study experience.
The costs of studying in Australia depend on the institution and the level of study you choose.
As an international student, your tuition fees are payable before you study. You can use the Course Search on this website to find courses and see details such as their tuition fees. There may be additional costs for your course, including course materials and access to institution facilities.
The list below gives you an indication of the range of course costs for different types of qualifications.
- School – A$7,800 000 per annum to $30,000
- English language studies – Around $300 per week depending on course length
- Vocational Education and Training (Certificates I to IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma) – $4,000 to $22,000
- Undergraduate Bachelor Degree – $15,000 to $33,000*
- Postgraduate Masters Degree – $20,000 to $37,000*
- Doctoral Degree – $14,000 to $37,000*
* Note: This does not include high value courses such as veterinary and medical. Please visit institution websites directly to see costs for these courses.
In May 2014 the Australian Government announced possible changes to university fees from 2016. If implemented, these changes would only apply to fees for domestic students, and are not expected to apply to international students.
- The announced changes relate to new policies applicable to domestic students only. These policies are not expected to have any implications for the fees charged to international students.
- From 1 January 2016, the limits on domestic student fees will be removed and the Government subsidy paid toward the cost of the course will be reduced. Universities and higher education institutions will be able to determine the fees they charge domestic students.
- The Government has announced changes to the repayment thresholds and interest rates for the Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) to ensure the HELP scheme is sustainable into the future. HELP eligibility is restricted to Australian citizens and holders of permanent humanitarian visas
Applying for visas is often seen as complicated, but our trained counselors at IEAVS are experts in guiding students through the application process.
There are several types of student visas for Australia; the one you need depends on the type of study you are planning to undertake. You are required to lodge your application for a visa at least 12 weeks before the orientation date at your institution.You will need the following documents for your visa application:
- Visa application form (which your education counselor will help you complete)
- Visa application fee
- Four passport-sized photographs
- Valid passport
- Electronic Confirmation of Enrollment (once your counselor has applied to institutions for you)
- IELTS result (your counselor can book your place in an English test)
- Academic and work experience documents
- Statement of purpose
- Evidence of financial ability (tuition fees, living expenses, expenses for dependents, return airfare).
* For detailed visa application checklist, please speak to your counselor.
On lodging of your visa application, your counselor will download the medical forms. You will need to undergo a medical examination by a doctor and have the forms completed. Your application will be allocated a unique Transaction Reference Number (TRN) by the Australian Government. You may find out about the status of your application online.
During your studies
Most student visas allow you to work for up to 40 hours every two weeks during semester and unrestricted hours during any scheduled course break, but before you undertake any paid work you need to make sure your visa allows you to work.
Find out more at the Department of Immigration and Border Protection website.
After your studies
Having an Australian tertiary qualification is highly regarded around the world. If you have completed a bachelor, master or PhD degree, you may be eligible for the Post-Study Work stream of the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa. This may enable you to stay in Australia following your studies to gain practical experience working in your field.