Australia is a fun and vibrant country with a well-established university education system that’s recognised worldwide. There are over 22 million people living in Australia, with a wide range of backgrounds including English, Irish, Italian, German, Chinese, Greek, Dutch, Lebanese, Indian, Polish and many more.
There are many options for study in Australia for both international and local students, and many Australian universities offer support to international students settling in at a new country.
Benefits of studying in Australia
Australian universities are among the highest ranked in the world, according to the respected Times Higher Education 2009 university rankings.
The Australian National University in the nation’s capital, Canberra, is the highest ranked university outside of the UK and US, coming in at No 17.
Also ranking in the top 100 are the University of Melbourne and University of Sydney (equal 36th), University of Queensland (41), Monash University (45), University of New South Wales (47), University of Adelaide (81) and University of Western Australia (84).
Not only will you get a quality education in Australia, you’ll also be able to experience a diverse culture and beautiful tourist attractions.
Education in Australia
High school students in Australia can graduate at Year 10 or Year 12, depending on the career paths they wish to take.
If you graduate at Year 10 and wish to take on further study, you can go back and complete the final two years or go to TAFE, which stands for Technical and Further Education. Courses can go from six months to a couple of years.
People who finish Year 12 can go to university by applying through a state tertiary admissions centre.
Some high schools teach the International Baccalaureate (IB), which is internationally recognised.
Australian university entry requirements
When you graduate at Year 12, you will get an Australian university entrance ranking – the name of the ranking system varies from state to state, eg ENTER, ATAR – which determines your eligibility for your desired university course.
International students usually have to apply directly to the university and must satisfy English, work history and visa requirements.
Australian TAFE courses and fees
Students who go to TAFE can study apprenticeships/traineeships, short courses, certificates I-IV, diplomas and advanced diplomas.
The cost of TAFE programs vary but using TAFE NSW as a guide, the annual fees range from A$438 for short courses and certificates I-II, to A$1490 for an advanced diploma.
For international students, course fees are between A$5000 for single semester certificates and A$37,000 for an advanced diploma (three years).
Australian university courses and fees
Australian undergraduate degrees typically last three to four years.
Tuition fees range between A$10,000-$16,500 for undergraduate international students, depending on what you study. Arts and business courses cost less, while science and engineering courses cost more.
Australian or New Zealand citizens or permanent residents can enrol as domestic students. They are eligible for Commonwealth Supported Places, where the government subsidises their studies.
The Student Contribution depends on the university and the course. Generally, CSP students pay A$4000-9000 per year. In contrast, international students in the USA pay at least US$10,000 a year at public institutions and US$18,000 at private ones.
Most Commonwealth Supported students are eligible for HECS-HELP, which assists in paying your fees.
Domestic students who don’t quite meet the CSP entry standards can get a full-fee paying place at university. FEE-HELP is the loan program for full-fee paying students who can’t afford to pay upfront.
If you want to continue your tertiary studies in Australia, you can do a postgraduate degree (by coursework or research) then move on to Masters and PhD levels.