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About Australia |
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Australia is an island continent consisting mainly of low plateaus, which are sectioned off by several rugged mountain ranges, and is famous for its wide and rich variety of unique and distinctive flora and fauna. It is divided into six states and two territories and each of them have unique traditions, products, land and people. Australia is one of the least populated countries in the world, with a population of just over 20 million people and Australians are among the most urbanized people in the world.
Australia has a relatively warm climate and has low average annual rainfall although, the north does receive heavy rainfall. The northern and eastern regions have wet summers where as central Australia is very dry. Overall Australian cities tend to have mild climates in comparison to other cities in the English speaking countries.
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| Why choose to study in Australia |
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Education is a creative process that has lasting benefits throughout one’s lifetime. Quality education develops the latent capacities of humans and brings out their expressions, aspirations and ambitions. This adds more value and aids in the progress and development of the society.
The Australian education system is one that emphasizes on providing knowledge, qualities, skills and attitudes for building a strong foundation for the future of the student.
Studying in Australia will be both a unique and overwhelming experience for many students as it promotes creative thinking and explores innovative methods of teaching.
The Australian education system is recognized world wide for its unique structure and quality and is considered to be one of the best places for pursuing a higher education.
Being a vibrant and multicultural society, Australia also provides an ideal environment for students from all over the world to have a safe and secure life, while pursuing their future goals. Quality education and a healthy lifestyle await those who turn to Australia for higher studies.
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Australian education institutions have a distinct reputation world wide for excellence in many disciplines. The institutions deliver practical and career-orientated training that helps the graduates become more independent and confident in life to achieve their dreams. They instill the right skills and abilities that are required by the employers. Australia has a reputation as an innovative and research-intensive center. Academic staff is recruited from all over the world and often are leading industry experts in their field.
Australian teachers are experienced in supervising students of different cultures from many countries and varying backgrounds. Each year student and staff exchange programs are forged from Australia's international links with education institutions in the USA, UK, Canada, Europe and Asia. New technologies are adopted at a faster rate than in most other countries and therefore, Australia has one of the highest rates of Internet access in the world. Facilities for teaching, training and research are world-class in terms of state-of-the-art laboratories and classrooms, outstanding libraries and modern technology.
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| Importance to quality |
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International students in Australia and their parents enjoy good service and financial protection as quality is assured in a number of ways. Australian Government’s quality assurance measures extend to students in Australia enrolled in a registered institution and course.
The provision of education and training services to overseas students in Australia is regulated by the Department of Education Science and Training (DEST) through The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and associated legislation.
The purpose of this legislation is to protect the interests of all people coming to Australia on student visas by providing tuition and financial assurance and by ensuring a nationally consistent approach to provide registration. The legislation also seeks to ensure the integrity of the industry through visa-related reporting requirements.
Every education provider who seeks to recruit, enroll or teach overseas students, or to advertise their ability to do so, is required to register on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) with respect to each of the course they offer to overseas students.
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| Multi-cultural Society |
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With a small population in a large area of approximately 7.7 million square kilometers, Australia is a very friendly and multicultural society. The social construct is safe, sophisticated and very friendly. Many ethnic groups co-exist harmoniously, making Australia one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world.
Although Australia is a predominantly Christian country, all religions are represented in the society. Australians are known to respect the freedom of people of different ethnic groups to follow their choice of religion and in any major city one can see Churches, Mosques, Temples and Synagogues. International students from all over the world are welcomed and accepted easily by other students and teachers are experienced in taking classes to students from many countries. Australia’s low crime rates and strict laws provide a safe environment and study plans and progress is not hindered by political unrest.
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Living and studying in Australia is an excellent deal and is good value for money. The main reason why international students choose to study in Australia is due to the living expenses and tuition costs in Australia which is considerably less expensive than the United States of America (USA).
Australia’s standard of living is amongst the highest in the world and in addition, earning a Bachelor Degree takes only three years in Australia while it takes four years in the US, with an added year of expenses. Education Matters is able to provide detailed information about living costs for their international students.
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English opens up doors to a wide range of international careers, and what better way to improve their English proficiency while studying, than in an English speaking country?
There are a plenty of English courses available for students to help improve their English including reading, writing, listening and speaking skills for specialized courses. These courses help to meet the needs of the students in technical English proficiency and help them succeed in university studies. Students can enter at any level of the English language programme, from elementary to advanced, and progress from there on at their own pace. This will help students achieve the level of English language proficiency needed to undertake tertiary studies at Australian and international universities, enter educational institutions, work in English-speaking countries and obtain a qualification that is valued by employers in their home country.
IELTS and TOEFL tests, the two major testing systems used worldwide are available in Australia. IELTS is accepted by most Australian, British, Canadian and New Zealand academic institutions. There are also general training tests suitable for candidates planning to undertake non-academic training or work experience, or for immigration purposes.
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| Internationally Recognised Qualifications |
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Australian qualifications are internationally recognized and therefore are extremely useful when students seek employment or when they consider studying further at leading international universities. Most of the courses and training undertaken by international students in Australia are covered by The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
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Australia is an international leader in safeguarding and providing support services to international students. Specialist services are well resourced and quality is assured.
Australian institutions are sensitive to the religious and cultural needs of students and provide a range of support and also monitor services from time to time. This helps the students to settle into the new environment and gives them an idea of the practicalities of living in Australia that will aid them in completing their studies successfully.
There is an excellent range of services that supports the personal and academic achievements of international students in Australia. English language programmes, designated international student advisers, application and visa-processing assistance are all provided to the students. On-arrival, reception and orientation programs are conducted and information on health, accommodation, employment services and counselling are also given to help the students achieve their goals without any hindrances.
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About Studying in Australia |
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Entry requirements vary greatly from institution to institution and from course to course.
In general, to begin a certificate level course, students need a qualification equivalent to Grade10-12 in an Australian high school and an English language proficiency of IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 530-550.
Entry requirements above certificate level may take into account previous training and experience within an industry. Through a process known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), a person can receive recognition and credit for the knowledge and skills they have, no matter how and where they attained it, including overseas. This can include skills from previous study including courses at school or college; through adult education classes or training or even programs at work, i.e. work experience-including both work that is paid and unpaid; life experience- for example leisure pursuits or voluntary work.
Undergraduate courses
Undergraduate degrees require an Australian Senior School Certificate of Education (Year 12) or the overseas equivalent of this. Some degrees may also have certain pre-requisite subjects and grades.
For international students who have attended an Australian High School, entry to higher education institutions is normally based on completion of Year 12 and determined by the student's tertiary entrance score or rank. A tertiary admissions centre then assesses a student’s tertiary entrance rank in the same way as for domestic students.
Most Universities have specialised pathway programs, such as Foundation courses or Diploma programs that enable international students who do not meet academic requirements to gain entry.
Postgraduate courses
Entry to postgraduate courses requires completion to a satisfactory standard of a Bachelor degree. Prospective students may also need to demonstrate research ability or relevant work experience.
Vocational
& Technical Education Programs
Students need to have completed the equivalent of Australian grade 10 or 12 for entry into VTE Programs.
Schools
The entry requirements to schools generally vary from school to school, but most of them do the selection based on the academic performances and achievements.
Other Options
In the event of an aspiring student falling short of the expected level of academic requirements, Australian institutions offer a wide variety of courses to train students to help them get into their desired place of education.
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In Australia you can pursue your dream of quality education from, schools, universities or through vocational education programs and English language training courses.
A qualification from Australia is well recognized internationally, making it highly valued all over the world.
In Australia, knowledge is imparted through a highly structured and unique way that concentrates more on practical learning. Highly skilled and experienced faculties from all over the world have perfected these teaching methods that aims to transform the students into independent thinkers and achievers in life.
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Higher education in Australia enjoys a high international reputation. Australian universities are part of a clearly recognized international community of scholars with academic staff recruited from world over, and students also coming in from overseas. There is also an increasing number of Australian students and staff on study and work exchange programs overseas.
Australia has 40 universities, of which 38 are government funded and 2 are private. There are a number of other recognized higher education institutions also and many Australian universities have overseas branch campuses, twinning arrangements and exchange programs for students and teaching staff worldwide. Australia has approximately 4000 formal agreements with universities around the world. Diversity and autonomy are the key central features of Australian universities.
All of Australia’s universities are established or recognized under government legislation. The federal government has the responsibility for funding the 38 public universities.
Teaching and research disciplines are typically organised in several faculties and schools with dedicated research centres linking into the faculties.
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Vocational means “work” or “career”, so Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) focuses on education and training for practical work. In general, VTE offers a variety of certificates and diplomas develops professional and personal skills, which are closely linked with the industry. It develops career paths through a mix of study and practical work, and generally combines classroom study as well as hands-on training. It is competency based whereby students must demonstrate skills to gain a qualification. Vocational and Technical Education gives students access to many job opportunities after as little as ten months of training and offers students more job opportunities and higher earnings based on their improved qualifications. It enables students to develop both practical and professional skills that are taught by industry-experienced instructors.
Australia’s Vocational and Technical Education (VTE) sector offers a large variety of qualifications for students with a strong practical orientation
VTE students are typically schools leavers seeking to acquire practical skills for work and an alternative pathway to higher education. Workers who are seeking to further develop their career skills, University graduates who need to acquire practical skills for the work and those who simply wish to develop their personal interests also constitute the VTE students.
The Australian VTE system is publicly and privately funded and is delivered by a wide variety of training institutions and enterprises. The three main VTE providers are TAFE Institutes, Secondary Schools and Private Colleges. The VTE sector offers eight qualifications and the quality of the VTE system is assured by the Australian Qualifications Framework and National Training Framework.
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Australian schools are either government or non-government private sector schools and they aim to focus on the individual learning needs of their students. This helps each child reach its full intellectual and educational potential. Study programs are child-centered and focus is on the development of learning skills and strategies, which trains students to be life long, self-motivated learners.
Australian school education offers the opportunity for students to develop life skills in a positive and outgoing environment. Importance is given to personal development as well as academic studies. Schools in Australia take great care in looking after their international students, helping them to adjust to the Australian way of life. The multicultural nature of Australian society means other students readily accept international students, and teachers are experienced in teaching classes to students from many different countries and cultures. Some schools and colleges cater exclusively for international students, whereas others have long traditions of student exchange with other international schools. In many cases students are able to maintain and develop their own language skills as well as become proficient in the English language.
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The English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) sector is an important one within the Australian education system. In 2004 over 90,000 students from more than 110 countries studied English in Australia. English language training commonly takes place in dedicated colleges or centers. These centers are completely focused on the needs of international students, so they have highly developed support services for such students.
English language training is also very often the first type of course an international student may undertake in Australia. So, ELICOS colleges have well-developed reception, orientation and accommodation placement processes to reflect this fact.
An ELICOS student may have a visitor visa, student visa or working holiday visa and may study for only 1 week or up to 52 weeks.
ELICOS courses can be taken by students as a stand-alone course. This means that a student who wishes to improve his/her English proficiency may then return to their home country after the course completion. There are about 220 accredited ELICOS centres across Australia located in all of its major cities as well as in a range of regional locations. There are a number of private or government operated, as well as independent institutions and some are even attached to a high school, TAFE college or university,
There are seven major categories of English language courses generally offered in Australia on student visas:
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General English |
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English for Academic Purposes (EAP) |
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Secondary School Preparation |
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Examination Preparation |
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English for Specific Purposes (ESP) |
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Business English |
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Short Courses |
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The application process involves the student to go through six steps:
Course Identification
The student needs to find a suitable course that suits his requirements and meets his interests.
Course Selection
The student then has to select a registered course and an institution where he would like to pursue his higher studies.
Application
After understanding their study options, the student needs to submit application forms for admission to the institutions. The required documents for an international student’s application are:- certified copies of their academic history to date and the university results and awards.
Visa Application
The next step involves applying for a Visa and also for Medical Insurance.
Getting Acquainted
The student can get himself acquainted with the ways of the Australian life and study by attending seminars and other programs.
Arrival
In the final step, the student has to arrange for a reception on arrival and orientation programs that will guide him through his stay in Australia.
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A major advantage for the students who come to Australia for their higher studies is that they can also work part time. After beginning their course, students need to get a declaration from their education institution and apply for a Working Student visa. This costs $60 and is easy to obtain and can be applied for online. A working student visa shows Condition 8105 on it. This means that the student can work up to 20 hours per week during course time and work full-time when the school/college/ university is not in session. Students must obtain a working student visa even if the work is only for a few hours per week, or an informal arrangement. Though part time jobs will greatly help the students financially, it should not be expected to meet their tuition fees. They can expect to get jobs in retail, hospitality or administration sectors. Many students even get into tutoring where one can earn upto A$40 per hour.
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SUCCESS STORIES |
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