Study in Australia

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.

Advantages of Australian Education System.

1. AUD 200 Million Scholarship every year for International students
2. 7 Universities in the top 100 in the world
3. The 3rd most popular destination for students in the world
4. 15 Nobel Laureates from Australian Universities. Hub of the world for research and innovation.
5. 40 hours part-time work / fortnight. Translates to pay of 1440 – 1600 Australian $ per month.
6. 2 years of Post Study Work Visa

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.

So no matter the type of course you want to study, how long you want to study or where you want to study, you can be assured that in Australia you will have a high quality and rewarding study experience.

Universities have been divided into three categories depending upon less misuse of student visa by these students

• Level 1
• Level 2
• Level 3

To protect their levels or to move up the levels, the onus of scrutiny of the applicants lies mostly on the universities.

After receiving your application, the universities will apply the Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) norms to you and go through your profile, your SOP and your academics and only when they are convinced they will give you Confirmation of Enrollment- COE (acceptance). The COE means that you are halfway through to get your student visa. The smoothness of this process depends on the level of the university, the level of the applicant’s nationality and the level of your agent.

List of Colleges & University in Australia

The living expenses to be shown for the Australian student with effect from 1st February 2018, are given below:

Updated cost of living expenses:

1. Student or Guardian : AUD 20,290
2. Partner or Spouse : AUD 7,100
3. Child : AUD 3,040

According to new rules, the universities have changed their entry requirements and they are looking for profiles with Good percentages in highest qualification (60% and above).

IELTS score of 6.5 overall with no band less than 6 for most of the courses depending on the universities and ELICOS will be given only if it is only 0.5 less than the requirement.

Backlogs should not be more than 20 in their highest qualification.

Documents needed for visa purpose:

Once you login to Immigration website, you need to select the subclass, your education provider from the list available at: Education providers and country of origin.

By selecting all these, it will display the requirements for the visa purpose.

The Universities are divided into Pool 1 & Pool 2. Pool 1 Universities are at low risk, and rest of the universities are considered as Pool 2 universities.

If the university is in POOL 1 list and the student is from Low risk country, then it is possible to lodge the student visa application without much evidence of English and financial sources.

If you are applying visa with offer from other than POOL 1 universities, then you need to show below funds:

• 1 year of tuition fee.
• 1 year of living expenses (AUD 19,830 for student, AUD 6,940 for spouse, AUD 2,970 for each child)
• Valid health insurance for the entire duration of the course.

Some important points to be noted for Student Visa:

1. Any visa refusals of any country in respect of the applicant or his/her family members should be declared whether the family members are accompanying the applicant or not.
2. The Immigration Department will not accept any kind of Loan, Fixed Deposits derived from the Gold.
3. If the student has chosen a stream which is not related to his studies, the student has to furnish strong reasons to the immigration Department.
4. The student has to provide his financial capacity in the form of Fixed Deposits, Savings, Educational loan from recognized financial institution and should prove to immigration department that he has genuine access to those funds as and when required.
5. The student has to provide evidence of English proficiency (IELTS/PTE/TOEFL) as required by the Australian University / Colleges. If exempted from English proficiency, the student should provide evidence of exemption got from the University / College.
6. The Agents should ensure that ‘Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statements provide all the required and detailed information pertaining to the student, such as academic, employment, family, and financial details and should give valid reasons to study in Australia by not choosing to study in home country. The student should also demonstrate the benefits of the study outcome of the proposed course to his career plan by providing all the supporting documents for each & every statement given in the GTE along with the application.
7. The student should explain any gaps in his study or employment history and provide proper proofs for the gaps for studies or work/job.
8. The student should explain clearly his/her future career plan on completion of the chosen course in Australia and how the course will benefit in his/her home country. The statement must reflect the student’s circumstances like his/her educational path, employment history, financial status of the family and strong bond with home country.
9. The normal generic statements will not be weighed heavily in the GTE assessment by the immigration department, so the GTE statement should be unique reflecting student’s present circumstances and future career plan after finishing studies in Australia.

Failure to provide any of those documents may lead to a visa refusal.

Permission to work:

One of the advantages of being an international student in Australia is that you can receive permission to work part time (up to 40 hours per fortnight while you study). Students who have studied for a minimum of 2 years will be permitted to work for 2 years (Post Study Work Visa) if they complete Bachelors or Masters Degree in Australia. Students who study Master by Research can get work permit for 3 years, and PhD students are eligible to get a work permit for 4 years and unlimited work rights during their studies.

Types of work for International Students:

International students often find work in retail, hospitality and administration. Working students are covered by Australian workplace law and practice. You may be paid more for working on Sundays and public holidays. If you decide to take on the challenge of part-time work, start with a few hours until you are able to find a balance with your studies. For more information visit the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website. http://www.fairwork.gov.au/languages/pages/default.aspx

Employment:

One of the great advantage of gaining an Australian qualification is that, it makes you eligible to work in Australia and gain licensing to work locally. It gives you an edge over overseas qualified persons.

Employers in Australia and around the world hold Australian graduates in high esteem. Thousands of graduates are recruited every year in all career fields like traditional fields, such as business, finance, law and medicine, to emerging industries, such as environmental sustainability, digital media, bio-technology, nanotechnology and e-commerce. Australian qualification will provide you with an excellent platform to develop your career.

Vocational Placements:

As part of your course of study, you may be required to undertake work-based training or a vocational work placement to gain your qualification. As the requirements for work-based training or work placements vary significantly depending on the course you choose, you will need to check with your education provider about any specific requirement

Employment Assistance:

Many Australian universities and higher education institutions offer returning home seminars for international students. These seminars will prepare you to re-enter your home country for finding a job. The Australian Government has also been very active in developing Memorandum of Understanding and qualifications recognition between Australia and other countries.

Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement for Students:

As per the new streamlined process, the department has introduced Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement which has to be satisfied by the students. Some of the major things which the department looks into the background of the students are as described below:

• The Student needs to maintain 80% of attendance.
• Student’s academic record.
• Student’s links with Australia.
• The student’s intention to remain in Australia.
• For School sector – inappropriate study plans.
• Student’s use of fraudulent documents / statements.
• The student’s intention to take a short course in Australia and whether the proposed study is consistent with the applicant’s circumstances.
• The student’s intention to comply with any condition subject to which the visa is granted.
• The student’s relationship and other personal factors in the home country and many more…

Statement Of Purpose (SOP):

SOP is the heart of the application and it should demonstrate the intentions of the student and it should cover all the points mentioned below.

• It should express the reasons for undertaking the particular course?
• Why you have chosen Australia over other countries?
• Why you have chosen that particular university?
• Why you have chosen that particular course?
• What are your future career plans?
• How this course will be useful for your future career plans?
• What is your complete educational background?
• What is your family background? How many are in your family, what they do?
• Your sponsor financial capacity?
• How your sponsor is related to you and why he/she is sponsoring your education?

Who can be the Sponsor?

• A close Relative (may  provide 60-70% of the required funds)
• 3rd party sponsor (only 30% of the required funds)

The sources of funds (annual income) can be in the form of:

• Salaried Income
• Business Income
• Agriculture Income
• Rental Income
• Pension Income

Others:

• The liquid funds (1 year expenses) to be shown for the visa purpose should be from some of the following sources:
• Fixed Deposits (more than 3 months old)
• Savings (more than 3 months old)
• Educational Loan
• Insurance Policies (surrender value)

Under Student visa subclass 500 the student must follow below mentioned rules:

• The Student needs to maintain 80% of attendance.
• The Student needs to maintain 50% of marks in all subjects.
• The Student is allowed to work 40 hours per fortnight basis.
• The Student cannot change the University for 6 months upon enrollment.
• The Student must have a valid health insurance for the entire duration of stay in Australia.
• The Student must have to notify to university/DHA if he/her change the address/Contact details within 7 working days.
• From 1 July 2016, family members of Student visa holders (subclasses 570,576) will need to apply for a subclass 500 visa if they want to join a family member in Australia.

Problems or Mistakes in writing SOP:

1. High Professionals Help: Students take high professionals help in writing their SOP. We should have a good command over English but not very high-end or over-board English & do not need great writing skills to write SOP. University admissions team gauge the student’s level of English with their IELTS/TOEFL/PTE exam and will clearly know if the students have taken the professionals help in writing the SOP. Good simple English with clear & concise meaning is required to write SOP.
2. Copy SOP: Most students copy the contents of other student’s SOPs or copy from the internet. This should never be done because SOP should be extremely personalized & unique.
3. Grammatical mistakes: Students tend to make lot of grammar & spelling mistakes in their SOP, because of their bad English which results in Admissions Team declining the application. So they should be extra careful with the grammar & spellings.
4. Too Lengthy: Students think that the SOP is lengthy, they have more chances of getting an Admission. This is not correct. They should always keep in mind that SOP is not an essay or an exam to write very lengthy. SOP should be simple, clean, straight forward & honest.
5. Unnecessary Issues: Students write all unnecessary things in the SOP which puts off the Admission Team. They should mention only important & relevant issues of their life which impresses the Admissions Team. They should clearly elaborate the main purpose to study in that country & in particular that university & course. They must give proper & correct reasons for choosing that university & course and also emphasize academic & future career goals after completion of the course. They should prove to them that they are good and fit for their university & will be an asset to the university.
6. Random Events: In the SOP, the students mention the events in their life in random order. This is totally wrong. The events mentioned must always be in order like building blocks in their own life’s journey from schooling through till the present part of life.
7. Flattery: The students in the SOP always flatter the university & program with the words like your university is the top/best/wonderful/fabulous/fantastic etc., etc., This unnecessary flattery will do more harm than good to their chances of approving their application because the university clearly knows its own status very well so it prefers honest & straight forward reviews of it.
8. Only Positives: The students always mention only the positive issues about them & highs in their life in the SOP, which is not right. They should always mention their failures, negatives, weaknesses & lows in their life’s journey & how they overcame all those with their inner strengths, abilities & knowledge.
9. Only Academics: The students boast about their academics & achievements in the SOP. This should not be done. They should not boast about anything in the SOP but only mention it. Not only academics, they should also give details about the extracurricular activities they have participated and mention about their talents & traits they have.
10. Perfect SOP: Students try to write perfect SOP thinking that a top-level SOP will guarantee an admission into the university which is totally a wrong notion. A good simple, clean, specific, truthful, straight forward & honest SOP will impress the Admissions Team.
    

What are the suitable courses which will help us to gain good education as well help us good opportunities there?

A suitable course can be defined as any course in which the student gains knowledge which he / she can then apply to secure their careers anywhere in the world. The Australian education system ensures this. Your career will get a tremendous boost with help of a two year post study work visa if you acquire a graduate or post graduate Australian degree. (Conditions apply).

WHAT IS THE APPROXIMATE COST INVOLVED ?

It varies on the chosen course, duration of the course, It also varies on whether the education service provider is State owned or owned privately. Please find below the approximate tuition fees per annum. All figures are in Australian Dollars.

• School : 7800 to 30000
• Vocational Education & Training: 4000 to 22000
• Undergraduate Bachelor Degree: 15000 to 33000
• Post Graduate Masters Degree: 20000 to 37000
• Doctoral Degree: 14000 to 37000

Please note the fees mentioned above are not applicable for high value courses in Medicine or Veterinary.

Source: Australian government web site: www.studyinaustralia.gov.au

What are our work rights and how much shall we get paid per month?

A student holding Student Visa – sub class 500, is allowed to work for 40 hours in a fortnight when the classes are in session and full time when classes are not in session.

Students pursuing Masters by Research or PhD students have unlimited work rights.

Student dependents are allowed to work for 40 hours in fortnight, however, dependents of students pursuing a Masters degree or above have full work rights.

Australia has one of the highest minimum wages in the world and students and their dependents can expect any where between Rs 72,000 to 80,000 per month per worker.

What are our next options after we complete our study?

All students who complete a course(s), which are of two years or more, are eligible to apply for a two years Post Study Work Visa. This visa allows you to work in any field for two years. This can lead to Permanent Residency if you meet the requirements for a Permanent Residency Visa.

How can you help us in getting a successful application?

Our Director, Mr. Dilip Kumar Nooney is a Registered Migration Agent. It means he is licensed by the Department of Home Affairs, Government of Australia, to offer immigration related advice for prospective migrants and students who either want to migrate to Australia or study in Australia. (https://www.mara.gov.au/becoming-an-agent/professional-standards-and-obligations/code-of-conduct/)

• The Registered Migration Agent can explain available options and suggest a suitable one.
• Help in preparing the documentation required to lodge a visa application.
• Help the applicant to get a faster decision by lodging a well prepared application with correct documentation.
• Registered Migration Agents are qualified to help applicants with regard to their  visa applications and can liaison with Department of Home Affairs (the Immigration Department) and other organizations for the applicants.
• We have tie ups with top universities and colleges in Australia with a proven track record of nearly a decade.
• We also have our own office in Australia, which means we can liaison better with the concerned authorities.

What are the funds we require to show before applying?

The immigration authorities typically require the applicant to demonstrate financial capabilities to fund minimum one year tuition fees and one year of living expense.

The current requirements are AU$ 20290 for the student, AU$ 7100 for spouse/ partner and AU $ 3040 for a non school going child.

How will you be able to help us after landing in Australia?

As mentioned elsewhere we are nearly a decade old organization. Over the years, we have helped scores of students and migrants to realize their dreams. Not only we have our own office, but have build up a strong network of our existing clientele who will help you to assimilate easily in the Australian milieu.

Which are the courses in demand and also have a bright future?

We can help you find a course in demand and which has a bright future by studying the past economic trends and extrapolating the same in to the future. This is possible because of our experience.

Will an Australian education give us a good platform for our career?

• 22000 Courses, 1100 Institutes.
• 200 Million Australian $ Scholarship every year for International students.
• ESOS Advantage – AQF safeguards your studies thru CRICOS.
• 7 Universities in the top 100 in the world.
• 3rd most popular destination for students in the world.
• 250 Thousand alumni of Australian Universities making their mark around the world.
• 15 Nobel Laureates from Australian Universities. Hub of the world for research and innovation.

How is life in Australia? Is it safe?

• Australia offers a first world living experience. Top notch universities and a safe environment.
• Peaceful and safe country with strict gun control laws.
• Multicultural society – migrants from more than 100 countries.
• Abundant personal freedom.
• Egalitarian country.
• Distance from the perennial hotspots of the world.
• No or very little corruption.
• High minimum wages.
• Safe and politically stable.
• Great sporting culture.
• Climatic condition very similar to India.

What are the different ways to fund my education abroad?

Based on your eligibility, we will try to help you get scholarships, which can reduce your financial burden. We can also help you to get an education loan. Based again on your eligibility.

What are my options if my visa is rejected?

If you apply through a Registered Migration Agent and if your documentation is genuine, the chances of getting a rejection are very low. However your individual circumstances are the top most influencer in the decision.

How can I reduce the cost of my education and yet get an Australian Degree?

The cost can be reduced if you take an alternate pathway to an Australian degree. These pathways are also known as articulated study options. For example if you want to pursue Bachelor in Business Management from University of Southern Queensland (a three year course), then you will have to spend Rs 34 lakhs as tuition fee. However if you do a Diploma in Business Administration from Pacific College (one year course, fees Rs 5 lakhs), not only you can get admission in second year of Bachelor of Business Management of University of Southern Queensland (thus not losing one year) but also save around Rs 6.3 lakhs in fees. There are many such options available.

Which English Language Proficiency Tests are accepted in Australia?

• Most English speaking countries require prospective students or migrants to that country to have a specified minimum understanding of the English language. This understanding is mostly evaluated through their reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.
• These skills are tested through various English Language Proficiency Tests (ELP)
• The most popular and widely accepted amongst these tests are:
• Pearson’s Test of English: (PTE)
• International English Language Testing systems: (IELTS)
• Test of English as Foreign Language: (TOEFL)
• Occupational English Test (OET)
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test (also known as Certificate in Advanced English)

When are these tests conducted in India?

• PTE : 360 days in a year
• IELTS: 48 days in a year
• TOEFL: 50 days in a year
• CAE: 22 days in a year
• OET: 91 days in a year

When are the results of above mentioned tests declared?

• PTE : 5 days after the test
• IELTS: 13 days after the test
• TOEFL: 10 days after the test
• CAE: 28 to 42 days after the test
• OET: 16 days after the test

What is the number of institutes to whom these test results can be forwarded without additional charges?

• PTE: Unlimited
• IELTS: 5
• TOEFL: 4
• CAE: Unlimited

If you want to study or if you are studying in Australia as an International student and want to bring your school aged children with you, you have to arrange for them to attend school. The requirements for enrolling students and school fees vary across Australian states and territories, and across schools.

Following is a summary of the fee arrangements for public schools in each of Australia’s states and territories.

• Australian Capital Territory (ACT): From 1 January 2016, the children of Higher Degree by Research (Masters and Doctoral) international students studying in Canberra are eligible to have their fees waived in ACT Government schools. Please note that fee exemption applies only to the dependents of eligible students whose main course of study is a Masters degree by research or a Doctoral degree. Only the dependents of students who are enrolled in an Australian Higher Education Provider, physically located in the ACT are eligible for fee exemption. All others have to pay full fees & cannot apply for exemption.
• New South Wales: Schools fees apply to most dependants of International Students in New South Wales. Student needs an Authority to Enrol before starting in any NSW government school & student has to pay the Temporary Residents Program education fee. Student has to pay the full education fee as a student dependant & student cannot apply for exemption from the temporary resident education fee.
• Northern Territory: Dependants of Higher Education and Vocational Education and Training students are treated as international students and pay full fees. The only exceptions are dependants of Australian Aid students and some PhD home country scholarship students as agreed with Charles Darwin University.
• Queensland: Most student dependants are required to pay fees to attend a Queensland state school. Tuition fees must be paid in advance and are calculated based on the number of weeks of the enrolment. The following categories are exempted to pay fees.
1. The primary student visa holder is a postgraduate research Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) student. Dependants are exempt from paying tuition fees, except where the dependants are from a country whose government sponsors dependant children.
2. The primary student visa holder is studying a Masters by Research Degree at a regional Queensland university located outside South East, Metropolitan and North Coast education regions, except where the primary student visa holder is receiving financial support from their home country government.
• South Australia: If you are a South Australian endorsed scholarship holder studying in a South Australian university or tertiary education institution then the dependant children are exempted from fee payment. If you have been awarded a full tuition fee waiver for your South Australian government endorsed scholarship, your children will also be eligible for a full tuition fee waiver for the length of your scholarship. All other students have to pay the full education fee as a student dependant & student cannot apply for exemption from the temporary resident education fee.
• Victoria: Student has to pay the full education fee as a student dependant & student cannot apply for exemption from the temporary resident education fee.
• Tasmania: Most dependent students are required to pay full tuition fees to attend a Tasmanian Government School. Children whose parents are in Tasmania on AusAID Scholarship Holders are exempt from paying tuition fees.
• Western Australia: Dependants of Masters or Doctoral degree students are not required to pay mainstream tuition fees for overseas fee-paying students for the duration of their parent’s postgraduate study period. All other students have to pay full fees.

Australian universities and colleges provide a wide range of scholarships to meritorious international students to help them fund their studies. Apart from this, many scholarships, grants and bursaries are also offered by the Australian government, public and private establishments. Before you apply to any of these scholarships, do check the eligibility and criteria, along with the closing date.

What is the criteria for applying to scholarships for Indian students?

The primary criterion for most scholarships is a good academic score, however it also depends on factors such as your chosen destination, subject and level. In some scholarships, factors like extracurricular activities, and volunteering can also be used to advantage.

What amount of money is available through scholarships?

Most scholarships to study in Australia cover tuition fee although some may also cover living or travelling expenses. Research programs at times offer up to 100% scholarship to students including tuition fee and living expenses. Do note that the amount of money available and type of award varies as per your institution. Getting a scholarship is competitive and so, it is important that you apply well ahead in time. We recommend you to start with the procedure about 8-12 months before the preferred intake begins.

Here’s an overview of some of the common scholarships programs available for Indian students in Australia:

Given the quality of life and five of its major cities – Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide  making it to the most liveable places in the world*, Australia attracts many students from all over the world for pursuing their higher education. Its multicultural environment is friendly and safe for the students coming from outside the country. Having said that, it is important to take some precautions to remain on the safer side.

Your university security service can help

Almost all campuses in Australia have a special body to ensure the safety of their international students. So, as the first step, check if your school offers one and keep the security officer’s number saved in your phone.

Various universities and schools also offer services like shuttles and security escorts to drop you to your accommodation or stations after hours. Some go a step further and have their own mobile apps with a direct line for students to get in touch with the security.

If, at any point of time, you feel unsafe in and around your campus or accommodation, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your college authorities.

What to do in case of an emergency?

If you happen to face any emergency, call the toll free number 000. This is a common number that can be used for fire, police or ambulance.

Some other emergency contact numbers you should have saved are:

• SES assistance in floods and storms: 132 500
• Police attendance: 131 444 (all states except Victoria)
• International incident emergency helpline: 1300 555 135 (within Australia)
• Outside Australia– external site: +61 2 6261 3305

Stay alert when outdoors

• You must always be aware and vigilant about your surroundings. Trust your instincts and move away from areas where you feel uncomfortable and are not familiar with
• Avoid travelling alone especially during the night. Pre-book a taxi or have a friend drop you
• Do not carry your passport when you go out exploring. If you do not have a permanent place to live, contact your university’s international support team to get you campus storage facilities
• Carry sufficient emergency cash. Prefer using cards and online banking for transactions

Navigate safe through the city

The public transportation system in Australia is particularly well-developed and convenient to use, especially in the urban and metro areas. But it’s always better to be alert:

• Never board an isolated bus or train or metro
• Familiarise yourself with transport time tables especially if you travel at night. Stick to well-lit routes
• Board a carriage closest to the driver or the guard to avoid untoward incidents
• If you are in a carriage with only one other person and it makes you uncomfortable, move on to the next compartment
• Australian laws differ from India. So, learn them beforehand to avoid breaking them unintentionally

Keep your money and documents safe

As an international student, you must keep all your documents safe with you at all times. Your passport, identification, visa papers, and immigration forms should always be kept in safe place. If you prefer to use cash, keep it in various places instead of a single location. It is always a better option to use a card rather than cash.

Do not carry your passport when you go out exploring. If you do not have a permanent place to live, contact your university’s international support team to get you campus storage facilities.

Have fun, but with care

Exploring new venues and enjoying your new surroundings can be exciting but before taking a trip to these areas, research and look up any information you can find on that place to see whether it is safe for you to go venturing. Inform your friends and family about your plans beforehand. You can also share your live location with someone you trust.

Always stay connected

Always keep your friends and family updated on your whereabouts at all times. Here’s how you can always remain connected:

• Always keep your phone charged and on ringing when not in a classroom
• Whether you’re going to another town or to the nearest shopping mall, keep someone informed
• If you feel unsafe at any given time, share your live location with someone you trust

Your FOE counsellors will brief you about all the precautionary measures before you leave India during your pre-departure session so that you are well prepared for the new challenges ahead.