Australia offers an educational experience that makes a real difference. It provides a unique kind of education and a learning style that encourages one to be innovative, creative and think independently. Graduates from Australia are very successful in finding jobs and hold prominent positions worldwide. Additionally, they are readily accepted for postgraduate study at leading international universities.

Why studying in Australia is the best destination for an international student

Australia marks its position as one of the top five hot-spot study-abroad destinations across the globe for Australia overseas students. With its globally recognised qualifications, Australian academic quality is recognised worldwide. The country houses some of the world’s most prestigious colleges with seven Australia overseas universities continuously ranking in the top 100 of the QS World Ranking and Times Higher Education Rankings, making it a popular choice for international students.

International students who wish to study in Australia have their rights protected by the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) framework. ESOS not only provides quality assurance but also provides tuition fee protection. This reinforces the security and assurance of the immigrant student. The consistent prominence in delivering excellent education gives a significant competitive edge to an international student paving the way for more promising career opportunities and employability. Australian graduates are among the most employable in the world which is reinforced by its internationally recognized qualification & Universities.

The Australian government extends generous support to international students through a wide range of scholarships and grants available. The students are also allowed to work part-time 20 hours a week and full-time during study breaks, this serves as a chance to work in the domain of their studies or interests while offsetting the financial expenses.

Australia is a safe and hospitable destination to live and study, being one of the world’s safest countries attracts students from all over the globe. There is a plenitude of accommodation options from Purpose-built student villages, private rentals, and share-houses to boarding schools to choose from. Australia welcomes & protects multiculturalism and has been housing half a million outlanders from 192 countries. Besides pristine academic excellence, the country is a unique mix of bustling cities, scenic landscapes, golden beaches and dense biodiversity for nature lovers who wish to explore the best, the world has to offer.

Being a technologically advanced country with a strong, globally competitive economy. Australia has lots to offer, the aspiring student can enjoy all the benefits of high-quality services, transportation and infrastructure and government services.

Life in Australia is lavish & adventurous!

VISA REQUIREMENTS AND OBLIGATIONS

To achieve the unrelenting dream of studying in Australia, the international student must apply for a Australia Student Visa (subclass 500). This visa allows the immigrant student to live, work and study in Australia for a maximum of five years, in line with the intended course. The Visa application fee is AUD$ 650.

*Note: Applications are received in Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST). Hence, students have to be mindful of indifferent time zones while applying for a Australia student visa.

There are specified prerequisite requirements to apply for a subclass 500 visa. The successful applicant will receive the Letter of Offer from the desired University, this letter will outline the course details, enrolment conditions and the tuition fees to be paid post accepting the letter of offer. After acceptance of the same, the candidate will receive the Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which verifies the enrolment in a specific course. The CoE will be sent once the student has accepted the offer and paid the deposit. This mandate document in the visa application will serve as proof to the Australian government that the student has registered for the declared course. The student is also required to furnish proof of English language Proficiency.

The Australian government has to ensure that the intention & purpose of your stay solely is academic and you will return to your home country after completion of the course, for the same the immigrant student has to generate a written statement addressing these two above-mentioned pivotal criteria to meet the mandate Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) requirement in the australia visa application process.

To receive the Australian student visa, the student must submit proof of sufficient funds to support them throughout the study tenure. To support the same, the student can show the proof of annual income of the Parent/Partner, which must be AUD$62,222 in the same year immediately before you apply.

The immigrant student also needs to abide by the general laid-ground rules of the Department of Home Affairs, which are to maintain satisfactory academic progress and attendance criteria throughout the duration of the study and should pay tuition fees by the census date of each term. The enrolled student is not allowed to change the course of study without approval by Minister. The students are allowed to work part-time up to 40 hours per fortnight during the term and can work full-time during study breaks. The student is also expected to maintain their Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) throughout the duration of the australia student visa. The immigrant student has to provide a medical certificate governing the health requirements before entering the Australian territory along with a Police Clearance Certificate instating confirmation of no criminal background history. The student can’t be granted any other visa or a new substantive visa to prolong their stay in Australia after completion of the course.

POST-STUDY WORK PERMIT

The Australian Government has announced a two-year extension on post-study work rights for international students. The extension will give eligible graduates an additional two years to work in Australia. The extension aims to strengthen the areas of verified skills shortage through skilled international graduates. With this announcement, it’s a winsome situation for both the Australian government and international students who wish to explore employment opportunities.

Now, the student with a bachelor’s degree can work up to 4 years which was earlier 2 years. Similarly, the master’s graduate can work up to 5 years which was 3 years earlier and for PhDs the extension extended to 6 years from 4 years.

To get the post-study work permit, the student must meet all the eligibility criteria, this includes your status of qualification must be enlisted in the eligible qualifications and must hold or lodge the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) if you meet all the requirements your visa will automatically extend based upon the level of your qualification.

ROUTE TO PERMANENT RESIDENCY

There are various ways to get permanent resident in Australia, the three common ways of becoming a permanent resident are through gaining: a family-stream permanent visa, a work-stream permanent visa and business or investor-stream permanent visa.

The intended student should start apply for permanent residency after completing their studies from Australian Universities. In order to apply, the student must submit an Expression of interest (EOI) to the Australian government’s Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s Skill Select migration program. Students should submit details such as their personal information, work experience and level of English language proficiency. They should also include details of their skill assessment related to their nominated occupations.

For Australia PR, the students usually apply for a Skilled Independent Visa (subclass 189) which allows them to live and work in Australia as permanent residents. This visa is granted on a points-based system for skilled workers who are aged between 18 to 49 years and are not sponsored by any employer or family member or nominated by the state government.

The most common visa options for Australia Permanent residence are as:

Post study work visa: This is a two-year visa that allows students to work without restrictions. Applicants with a two-year full-time degree (usually a bachelor’s or master’s degree) can apply for this visa. For students who do not qualify to apply for permanent residency because they do not have an employer or a sponsor or the required work experience to accumulate the required points to apply, this visa comes as a blessing.

Skilled migration: International students can apply for PR in Australia under this program provided they have the required skills and work experience. They need not have an employer to sponsor them. However, they need to prove their English language skills and get the required points in the points test.

Employer sponsored visas: This is another popular way to apply for long-term Autralia visas application. Many candidates who cannot meet the skilled immigration requirements apply for employer-sponsored visas. For this visa, the candidate must first obtain a temporary visa (subclass 482), work for an Australian employer for at least three years, and then apply for a permanent residence visa. In some cases, a candidate can apply directly for permanent residency (186 visa), but employers prefer the TSS 482 visa route.

There are certain ways that you can increase your chance of getting a PR in Australia via scoring the requisite points in the point system of PR Visa application. This includes higher academic qualification, English language proficiency, work experience and Age factor (you will be rewarded 30 points for 25-32 years old and 0 points if your age is above 45).

AUSTRALIA SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Australia with its soaring figure of immigrants has an extensive range of scholarships, fellowships and grants to offer to students coming in.

These may include Merit-based Scholarships – for an excellent academic record. Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor and Dean Scholarships come under this bracket. Sports Scholarships, Faculty and Departmental Scholarships for specific courses like Architecture / Design, Engineering etc.

Equity Scholarships for personal disabilities and difficult medical conditions. Government Scholarships – There are four types, Australia Awards, The Endeavour, Research training program (RTP) and Australia awards pacific scholarships (AAPS)

Undergraduate scholarships where students can get 100% tuition fee awards. Australia awards fully-funded scholarships to deserving Indian students with excellent academic records. This award covers tuition fees, living expenses, travel and establishment allowances. The student who has 85% and above can avail of 50% off on the tuition fees from Griffith University Scholarships, Bond University Scholarship, Charles Darwin University Scholarships and Deakin Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship.

Australia has 100% tuition fee awards for postgraduate students. Australia Awards Scholarships funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for merit-based students award 100% tuition fees, health insurance, living expenses & airfare.International Tuition Fee Research Scholarship provided by The University of Sydney awards 100% tuition fee exemptions. Rotary peace fellowships cover tuition fees on a merit basis. STEM Scholarship for Southeast Asian Students awards AUD 10,000.

Not only do UG and PG get full awards in Australia, but MBA programs too also provide 100% tuition fees for the right candidates. MBA International Prestige Scholarship offers 100% off on tuition fees to 10 deserving students funded by The University of Western Australia. Australian National University (ANU) MBA Scholarship & AGSM Global Reach Scholarship offers 25% – 100% off on tuition fees. Global Business Diversity Scholarship awards AUD 25,000 – AUD 1,20,000 funded by SP Jain School of Global Management for merited students.

Some of the University based scholarships provided by various universities in Australia are Flinders International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (FIPRS) given to full-time post graduate research students, awards 100% off on tuition fees, AUD 40,000 living allowance, AUD 2,000 relocation cost and airfare. Adelaide Global Academic Excellence Scholarship and Griffith Remarkable Scholarship provide 50% off on tuition fees for UG & PG graduates.