Australia opens up so many opportunities for international students during and beyond their studies, that we believe itβs important for as many career starters as possible to know why Australia is just such an excellent choice for higher education.
Student Visa (subclass 500)
First up! Letβs discuss what you get with the Australian student visa.
The Student Visa (subclass 500) offers students 5 years of stay in Australia, in line with their enrolment and course of study. Your family members, such as your spouse or children, are also given the opportunity to join you during your stay in Australia. Additionally, the visa allows both you and your partner the ability to work up to 40 hours a fortnight while your course is in session, which is a great opportunity to undertake some Australian work experience.Β Following your course of study, it is entirely possible for you (and your dependent applicants) to remain in Australia for a further 2 years, along with unlimited work rights.Β Undoubtedly, these features make our student visas a popular choice amongst the international community.
Student lifestyle in Australia
Australian universities are a pack of fun! Beyond the high-tech lecture halls and classrooms, architecturally diverse campuses, extensive libraries and wrap-around student services, there are so many recreational and student-based activities that you can join. Itβs pretty much sunny all-year-round so signing up with local sailing clubs, swim meets, trekking groups, basketball, cricket, hockey and football clubs is the social norm. The Australian way-of-life prioritizes staying fit and healthy so giving your mind a breather is always within reach, even if for you that means a nice spot of yoga!
Multiculturalism is celebrated here so no matter where you are in Australia, youβll definitely be spoilt for choice with the diversity and range of cuisines available. From Indian curries, Chinese noodles, chic cafΓ©s, hipster coffee shops, French-style bakeries, vegan and healthy options and more, you can always find something to satisfy any craving.
Oh and the best part of student life? The local student tavern/bar thatβs either on campus or not too far away from it!
Reputable degrees and qualifications
The quality of education in Australia is considered to be one of the best in the world. According to the QS World University Rankings 2020, 7 Australian universities were among the worldβs top 100. 3 of those were among the top 50!
There are also several international scholarships and grants which you can use to finance your studies in Australia. These opportunities are offered by the Australian Government, higher education providers, and a number of other public and private organisations.
Educational options
In Australia, you can study pretty much anything.
Across Australian universities, you can find courses tailored to traditional, emerging and niche professional fields. From marine sciences to aviation, aeronautical science and engineering, you can cover the Earth and beyond.
An interesting fact to note, is that quite a high percentage of international students study two courses at the same time in Australia. This is usually done as a double degree. In 2019 for example, the proportion of international students enrolled in two degrees at the same time was almost 25%. This may have something to do with the comparably cheaper course fees in Australia. Mostly however, we believe international students are simply enjoying the high quality of education programs in Australia.
Australiaβs largest vocational and educational training (VET) institute, Training and Further Education (TAFE) provides courses across a diverse range of vocational and professional fields. TAFE is known for simplifying all aspects of the higher education system. TAFE programs are delivered in person and online. They offer students a significant number of practical activities to get ready for skilled vocations, such as beauty therapy, community work, child care and landscaping.
Adding on to TAFE, there are an abundance of specialist colleges. Fields covered by these providers include business, finance, hospitality, tourism, construction, engineering, visual arts, information technology and more.
Educational culture, community connections and flexibility
Academics working in Australian higher education institutes are very approachable, warm and well-organised people. Most academics prefer to be on a first-name basis with their students. All academic requirements, such as your assessments and exams will be spelt out to you on the first day of your course, providing you with ample opportunities to raise questions and confirm the exact expectations you need to meet to satisfy course requirements.
Australian higher education providers have strong connections with businesses, community and industry. A lot of communication occurs between these parties, to ensure that courses have sufficient theoretical and practical scope to meet global standards for all types of workplaces. Often this leads to excellent opportunities for all students β as some coursework involves direct exposure to workplaces.
Probably one of the most noticeable parts of student life in Australia is the sheer flexibility offered to students. Youβll notice as you progress through your course, Australian higher education providers offer the same subject a few times in a week, giving students the chance to be flexible with their studies whilst managing an active student life.
What’s really a game changer, is that a significant proportion of course materials, recorded or live lectures, group work activities, assessment submissions and grading are often housed on online learning systems. Your need for flexibility as an adult is genuinely understood and accepted in Australia!
Extra on-campus support
On campus, the range of student services includes English as a Second Language (ESL), career guidance, health and psychological support. These services are put in place by the Australian higher education providers to ensure that you never have to go far to get extra help when needed.
Cultural diversity
Australian universities and other higher education providers often create spaces for people of different religious backgrounds to meet and have dedicated prayer rooms. You will find multicultural groups on campus as well, so you may find people experiencing similar cultural shifts as yourself to chat with.
Around Australia, ethnic communities celebrate their own religious and cultural activities. Certainly, some of the larger traditional celebrations introduced to Australia, such as Chinese New Year or the Hindu festival of Holi, are completely open to the public. This celebration of diversity has a basis and is enriched by Australiaβs own culturally diverse traditional owners and Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander people.
Reliable governance, economic stability and safety
Australia ranks in the global top 5 on the Index of Economic Freedom. How has Australia achieved this? Well, frankly Australian politicians are reasonable people who work to get the βjob doneβ. They provide effective governance over national and international businesses, banking and finance industries, which has resulted in economic stability in Australia and in higher remuneration of professionals and skilled workers.
The Australian government is very transparent about how things work. There are several statutory institutions responsible for guiding people working across all sectors in Australia. These institutions ensure safeguards are implemented to protect businesses, professionals and consumers alike, and encourage the workforce to deliver their best to address current issues, changing markets or consumer demands.
Australiaβs quality of life is considered to be the seventh highest globally. In 2019, Global Finance produced a Safety Score examining with equal weight the possibilities of war and peace, personal security, and natural disaster risk in 128 countries. Of those, Australiaβs safety ranked 18. In 2020, the DQ Institute conducted the worldβs first real-time online Child Safety Index, and found Australia to be the second safest country for children online of 30 developed nations.
What VEVS Global does best
VEVS Global has witnessed the personal growth of all our clients in Australia, firsthand. We have seen how Australia has provided the right opportunities for international students at the right time, to enable them to flourish in their adult lives.
VEVS Global specialises in advising students on their entire career paths in Australia. With a 99% conversion rate across student visas and post-study visas, we are in a privileged position to help you plan your long term migration prospects and future careers in Australia.
We counsel students interested in Australian academic and VET courses, and maintain up-to-date knowledge on which courses are nationally or internationally recognised. Our services match the flexibility and choices offered to international students in Australia, so that you can always rely on us to be there for your needs and interests.
