Why Students Choose Australia as a Study Abroad Destination

Home
Country
Study in Australia

Study in the Australia

Why Students Choose Australia as a Study Abroad Destination

It's highly likely that Australia will come up whenever you ask someone about their higher studies. There are definitely a lot of people interested in this island country. What are the reasons behind the high demand for studying abroad in Australia? Here are a few of the most compelling ones:

The standard of education offered is, of course, crucial in making a final decision on where to enroll. Throughout history, universities in Australia have been a breeding ground for innovative thinkers and doers. 5 Australian universities make it to the top 50 in the QS World University Rankings in 2023. These prestigious institutions are among the best in the world when it comes to teaching and research.
Australia's diversity is one of the things that draws foreign students to the country. 6 Australian cities rank in the top 40 of the QS Best Student Cities 2023. Among the reasons contributing to these are the cities’ student mix, where Melbourne is leading the race! You'll fit right in with the many languages, cultures, nationalities, and ethnic groups that make up the world's smallest continent.
Post-graduation opportunities are another plus of studying in Australia. The country ranks high on the list of nations that welcome international students with open arms. If you are eligible for a Subclass 485 visa after graduation, you can extend your time in Australia from two to four years upon graduation. This lets you seek and take advantage of work opportunities and work towards permanent residency to call Australia your forever home!

Applying to Australian Universities

Holding an Australian university degree says a lot about how qualified you are as a graduate. To take advantage of this, you need to understand the Australian way of higher education. The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) conceptualizes the different levels of higher education in the country. It offers a system that makes it easy to translate international academic qualifications to their Australian equivalence.

Before enrolling, you also need to verify that your selected degree is recognised by CRICOS (the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students). We’ll discuss both in a bit more detail below.

What is AQF?

Australian education and training are governed by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), a national policy. It combines the credentials from every area of education and training into a solitary comprehensive and balanced qualifications framework.

The AQF has ten levels in total:

Levels 1-7 - undergraduate studies (diplomas, certifications, and three-year Bachelor’s degrees)
Level 8 - four-year Bachelor’s degrees
Level 9 - Master’s degrees
Level 10 - Postdoctoral degrees

What is CRICOS?

The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) was established by the Education Services for Overseas Students Act of 2000. It keeps a list of the schools and programs that have state and territorial approval to instruct international students.

So, naturally, as an international student your course needs to be CRICOS-registered to receive a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE)! And heads up - you need the CoE to apply for your student visa, or the Subclass 500.

Top Universities & Courses in Australia

The world-class universities in Australia offer some of the most popular courses around the world. Let’s take a look at the intakes and courses for these universities!

There are normally two major intakes at Australian universities. Nonetheless, some universities offer three intakes throughout the year.

Semester 1: February-March
Semester 2: July-August
Semester 3: September-November

University	QS World University Rankings	Popular Courses	Tuition Fee Range Per Year
Australian National University (ANU)	30	Bachelor of Applied Data Analytics Master of Engineering in Mechatronics	Undergraduate: AUD 39,024 to 41,030 Postgraduate: AUD 43,680 to 54,880
The University of Melbourne	33	Bachelor of Biomedicine Master of Entrepreneurship	Undergraduate: AUD 40,104 to 49,496 Postgraduate: AUD 44,864 to 46,304
The University of Sydney	41	Bachelor of Pharmacy and Management Master of Project Management	Undergraduate: AUD 45,000 to 57,000 Postgraduate: AUD 41,000 to 73,000
The University of New South Wales	45	Bachelor of Information Systems Master of Data Science	Undergraduate: AUD 41,225 to 49,600 Postgraduate: AUD 32,920 to 48,280
The University of Queensland	50	Bachelor of Architectural Design Master of Quantitative Biology	Undergraduate: AUD 29,655 to 39,540 Postgraduate: AUD 17,504 to 24,688
Monash University	57	Bachelor of Medical Science, Doctor of Medicine Master of Environment and Sustainability	Undergraduate: AUD 29,700 to 39,600 Postgraduate: AUD 28,700 to 42,000
The University of Western Australia	90	Bachelor of Automation and Robotics Master of Information Technology	Undergraduate: AUD: 35,900 to 44,700 Postgraduate: AUD 17,950 to 89,200

Scholarships for International Students in Australia

There are usually plenty of partially or fully funded scholarships available from universities, the Australian government, public & private organizations, and so on. Some great examples of the types of scholarship you can access are:

Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships Scheme by University of Sydney
UOW Postgraduate Academic Excellence Scholarship
Mitchell History Award by UNSW
Reid Malley Foundation Scholarship
Deakin International Merit Scholarship

Research is the key to finding the greatest scholarships in Australia for you. Universities and institutions like the government often specifically set aside scholarships for international students. Scholarships also exist by study level, by subject, and even based on sociodemographic factors like your country of origin. If you put in the time and effort, you should be able to find the perfect scholarship.

Visa Requirements for the Australian Student Visa

Once you receive a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), you can apply for the Subclass 500 visa! The requirements for the student visa are as follows:

Test scores for English Proficiency tests (IELTS, PTE, Duolingo)
Confirmation of Enrolment or CoE from a university in Australia
Recent passport-sized photographs
Genuine Temporary Entrant Statement or GTE
Recommendation Letters
CV/Resume
OSHC, or Overseas Student Health Cover
Proof of funding to study in Australia from Bangladesh

You may also need to provide biometrics, a health check report, and other additional documents.

Work Opportunities in Australia for International Students

Students who have a Subclass 500 visa can work for 40 hours every fortnight (two weeks) in Australia. Some student job opportunities include:

Barista
Bartender
Driver
Nanny
Bookkeeper
Tutor
Library assistant

You can apply for work in person, on campus or through job portals. If your program involves internships and work placements, you can also access real industry experience in Australia!

After you graduate, you can apply for a Subclass 485 visa if you want to continue staying and working in Australia. To apply for the Subclass 485 visa, you need:

A qualification for a CRICOS-registered course from an Australian institution
A valid student visa that you held in the past 6 months
Proof of good character
Proof that you meet the country’s minimum health requirements
Signed Australian Values Statement

You must also not owe the Australian government any debts or have any rejected visas in your travel history.

The length of your post-study visa varies depends on your qualification as well:

Bachelor’s Degree/Bachelor’s (Honors) Degree: 2 year visa
Master’s Degree (Coursework): 2 year visa
Master’s Degree (Research): 3 year visa
Doctoral Degree: 4 year visa

Concluding Thoughts

If you want to study abroad, Australia is a great option. Opportunity knocks when you have degrees from prestigious institutions around the world, and Australia is a great place to get them. In addition to a bright academic future, studying abroad can help you gain valuable work experience in one of the world's most advanced economies, expose you to a new culture, and prepare you for a lifelong commitment to a country with an exceptional standard of living.