Why Study In Australia?
Australia has a strong and consistent reputation for education across the world. They have one of the world’s highest percentages of higher education qualified population. The country also continues to record high literacy and education rates. Australia boasts a world-class education system, offering high-quality education for fair tuition fees.
There are 37 government-funded universities located in Australia and 2 private universities. You will also find a number of other specialists in higher education institutions to study in Australia. There are 25 Australian institutions in the 2019 QS World University Rankings top 500, 7 of which are in the top 100. The highest-ranked of these is The Australian National University, which is placed at 24th. The next highest-ranked are the University of Melbourne, which is placed at 39th, and the University of Sydney, which is placed at 42nd.
The education system in Australia
The public vocational education system in Australia is called TAFE, i.e., technical and further education. TAFE institutes are usually funded by the government and offer qualifications like certificates and diplomas, though some TAFE schools offer undergraduate programs as well. Some universities do accept the credits earned at vocational schools like TAFE, and in such cases, you can transfer your credits towards an advanced degree.
Apart from TAFE, vocational qualifications could also be obtained at private vocational institutes, such as RTO: Registered Training Organisations in Australia.
Vocational colleges are for cultivating adult learning experiences that provide a certificate (I through V) and diploma programs. These schools mostly provide courses that are work-oriented and help an individual to find a source of income immediately upon completion of the course.
Australian university system comprises both public and private universities. There are 38 public and 3 private universities. The higher education providers in Australia are either self-accrediting or non-self-accrediting or universities. And the syllabus of each university is designed by the university themselves, and not by any government body.
Undergraduate courses last from 3 to 4 years, depending on if it’s a general or professional degree. Postgraduate programs are categorised into postgraduate by research that lasts for 1–2 years (full-time study) and postgraduate extended program that lasts for 3–4 years (full-time study).
Students studying in Australia can easily transfer credits and shift between study levels and institutions as per the guidelines mentioned by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), a national policy followed in the Australian education and training. The AQF standards comprise different levels, starting from 1 to 10, which include certificates to doctoral courses.
Intake seasons
Australia generally has two intakes i.e. February and July, with few Universities offering multiple intakes in September & November. You should start your admission process by enrolling with the best Australia visa consultant around six months before the application deadline.
Cost of studying in Australia
An undergraduate degree could cost AUD 10,000–30,000 and postgraduate and Ph.D. degrees could cost AUD 20,000–40,000.
The average living cost in Australia has been estimated to be AUD 18,000 per year. Accommodation costs could be $440 per week and transport and groceries could cost $15 to $280 per week.