Study in Australia
Australia is known globally as being one of the world's most diverse and welcoming countries, and it is something for which we take great pride. In fact, of Australia's 23 million population, almost half (47%) of all Australians were either born overseas or have one parent born overseas.
Australia's diversity and friendly attitude is matched by its economic stability. To date, Australia has experienced more than 20 years of continued economic growth, weathering the 2008 global financial crisis better than most advanced economies. Australia is the biggest island in the world, the sixth-biggest country in the world in land area, and the only nation to govern an entire continent. Within our expansive country, there are more than 500 national parks and more than 2,700 conservation areas, ranging from wildlife sanctuaries to Aboriginal reserves. There are also seventeen UNESCO World Heritage sites - more than any other country - including the Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu National Park, Lord Howe Island Group, Tasmanian Wilderness, Fraser Island and the Sydney Opera House. Many people around the world know Australia for being a beautiful country. We also have world-class infrastructure, with five of the top 40 cities with the best infrastructure in the world. Australia also have a reputation for building 'big' things - over 150 in fact from the Big Banana in New South Wales, to the Big Koala in Victoria, the Big Mango in Queensland, and the Big Ram in Western Australia. It's worth a trip to see them all!
With all these wonderful attributes around Australia, we have good reason to be happy.
World class education
Australia is recognized as a great place to live - Australia also offers a world class education? The Australian education system has produced scientists, designers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists and humanitarians who have changed the world, winning awards from Oscars to Nobel prizes. Their global achievements include the "black box" now on every airplane, the Earth hour initiative, and the invention of Wi-Fi. Australia is proud of the individuals who have studied and worked in Australia (whether they were born here or another country) and gone on to achieve great things and contribute to making the world a better place.
Global Recognition
By studying in Australia, you will receive a qualification that's recognized and sought after around the world. The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) allows students to easily move through the education system here and provides an easy way for countries around the world to recognise your qualification, and issue the comparable qualifications for local use.
Quality Assurance
For over 20 years Australia has led the world in putting in place systems and processes to ensure that international students receive the high quality education they expect. These measures include:
- The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000, which sets out the legal framework governing delivery of education to overseas students studying in Australia on a student visa.
- The Tuition Protection Service, which helps you find an alternative course or refund your unspent tuition fees in the rare case that your institution (education provider) can't continue to offer your course.
- The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the national regulator for Australia's vocational education and training sector. ASQA regulates courses and training providers to ensure nationally approved quality standards are met.
- The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) regulates and assures the quality of Australia's higher education sector. It undertakes both compliance assessments and quality assessments.
- Ombudsman organisations that can investigate complaints about problems that international students have with their institutions. You can find out more about these organisations on the Support Services page in the Australian Education section of this website.
International students rate Australia highly
In 2012, the Australian Government, in collaboration with peak education bodies and state/territory government education departments, conducted a survey of current international students to obtain information about their living and learning experience in Australia. The key findings of the survey included:
- 87% of international student respondents are 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with their overall experience in Australia.
- 86% of international student respondents are 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with their study experience in Australia.
- 88% of international student respondents are 'satisfied' or 'very satisfied' with living in Australia.
Your learning environment
By choosing to study in Australia, you will join hundreds of thousands of students from Australian and all over the world - including many from your home country - who are discovering new friends and opportunities in this beautiful country. You will work closely with classmates, researchers, instructors, and other faculty - collaboration is a key part of our students' successes. And in many cases you can gain practical and hands-on training in the industry in which you are studying.
Australia - a research intensive country
Australia has a long and proud tradition of world class research and development that has benefited millions around the world. Australia has a proud record of contributing to the benefits of the world:
- Through the Backing Australia's Ability initiative, A$2.9 billion will be invested over the next five years to fund research that will stimulate economic and scientific innovation.
- Australia is investing over A$140 million will be spent over the next five years to establish Federation Fellowships. The fellowships aim to recruit world-class researchers to Australia, with up to five of the fellowships each year awarded to high-profile non-Australian researchers from overseas.
- There are 35 special Research Centres and Key Centres of Teaching and Research based at Australian universities undertaking high-level research, and providing a diverse range of undergraduate, postgraduate and specialised professional education courses in a variety of fields.
- Australia has established an additional 63 Cooperative Research Centres which foster joint research between universities and private industry.
Australian education
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.
Along with the ESOS Act and National Code, there are also regulatory and quality assurance organisations for higher education and VET institutions. These government organisations are responsible for registration/re-registration of institutions and accreditation/re-accreditation of courses. These organisations are:
- Higher education - Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)
- VET - Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)
Education costs in Australia
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. 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 - $7,800 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*
- Deciding on your preferred course and institution.
- Submitting your application to the institution.
- Receiving and accepting a Letter of Offer.
- Receiving your electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE).
- Applying for your student visa.
- Academic requirements.
- English language requirements.
- Evidence of funds to support your study.
- Overseas student health cover.
* Note: This does not include high value courses such as veterinary and medical. All costs are per year in Australian dollars. To convert to your own currency, visit http://www.xe.com
Apply to study in Australia
To study in Australia you'll need to apply for both admission to an institution and also for a student visa from the Australian Government.
There are a number of steps you must go through including:
There is a range of entry requirements that you will need to meet both for you institution application and your visa application. This can include:
If you're already living or working in Australia, you may still be able to apply to study here as an international student.
Education agents in your home country can also help you with applying to study in Australia.
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