Study in Australia
Australia, the smallest continent and one of the largest countries on Earth, lying between the Pacific and Indian oceans in the Southern Hemisphere. Australia’s capital is Canberra, located in the southeast between the larger and more important economic and cultural centers of Sydney and Melbourne.
Capital: Canberra | Dialing Code: +61 | Currency: Australian Dollar (AUD)
The Australian mainland extends from west to east for nearly 2,500 miles (4,000 km) and from Cape York Peninsula in the northeast to Wilsons Promontory in the southeast for nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 km). To the south, Australian jurisdiction extends a further 310 miles (500 km) to the southern extremity of the island of Tasmania, and in the north it extends to the southern shores of Papua New Guinea. Australia is separated from Indonesia to the northwest by the Timor and Arafura seas, from Papua New Guinea to the northeast by the Coral Sea and the Torres Strait, from the Coral Sea Islands Territory by the Great Barrier Reef, from New Zealand to the southeast by the Tasman Sea, and from Antarctica in the far south by the Indian Ocean.
Australia has been called “the Oldest Continent,” “the Last of Lands,” and “the Last Frontier.” Those descriptions typify the world’s fascination with Australia, but they are somewhat unsatisfactory. In simple physical terms, the age of much of the continent is certainly impressive—most of the rocks providing the foundation of Australian landforms were formed during Precambrian and Paleozoic time (some 4.6 billion to 252 million years ago)—but the ages of the cores of all the continents are approximately the same. On the other hand, whereas the landscape history of extensive areas in Europe and North America has been profoundly influenced by events and processes that occurred since late in the last Ice Age—roughly the past 25,000 years—in Australia scientists use a more extensive timescale that takes into account the great antiquity of the continent’s landscape.
Australia is the last of lands only in the sense that it was the last continent, apart from Antarctica, to be explored by Europeans. At least 60,000 years before European explorers sailed into the South Pacific, the first Aboriginal explorers had arrived from Asia, and by 20,000 years ago they had spread throughout the mainland and its chief island outlier, Tasmania. When Captain Arthur Phillip of the British Royal Navy landed with the First Fleet at Botany Bay in 1788, there may have been between 250,000 and 500,000 Aboriginals, though some estimates are much higher. Largely nomadic hunters and gatherers, the Aboriginals had already transformed the primeval landscape, principally by the use of fire, and, contrary to common European perceptions, they had established robust, semi permanent settlements in well-favored localities.
History
The history of Australia is the story of the land and peoples of the continent of Australia. Aboriginal Australians first arrived on the Australian mainland by sea from Maritime Southeast Asia between 40,000 and 70,000 years ago, and penetrated to all parts of the continent, from the rainforests in the north, the deserts of the center, and the sub-Antarctic islands of Tasmania and Bass Strait. The artistic, musical and spiritual traditions they established are among the longest surviving such traditions in human history.
The first Torres Strait Islanders – ethnically and culturally distinct from Aboriginal Australians – arrived from what is now Papua New Guinea around 2,500 years ago, and settled in the islands of the Torres Strait and the Cape York Peninsula forming the northern tip of the Australian landmass.
The first known landing in Australia by Europeans was in 1606 by Dutch navigator Willem Janszoon. Later that year, Spanish explorer Luís Vaz de Torres sailed through, and navigated, what is now called Torres Strait and associated islands. Twenty-nine other Dutch navigators explored the western and southern coasts in the 17th century and named the continent New Holland. Macassan trepangers visited Australia’s northern coasts after 1720, possibly earlier. Other European explorers followed until, in 1770, Lieutenant James Cook charted the east coast of Australia for Great Britain. He returned to London with accounts favoring colonization at Botany Bay (now in Sydney).
The First Fleet of British ships arrived at Botany Bay in January 1788 to establish a penal colony, the first colony on the Australian mainland. In the century that followed, the British established other colonies on the continent, and European explorers ventured into its interior. Indigenous Australians were greatly weakened and their numbers diminished by introduced diseases and conflict with the colonists during this period.
Gold rushes and agricultural industries brought prosperity. Autonomous parliamentary democracies began to be established throughout the six British colonies from the mid-19th century. The colonies voted by referendum to unite in a federation in 1901, and modern Australia came into being. Australia fought on the side of Britain in the two world wars and became a long-standing ally of the United States when threatened by Imperial Japan during World War II. Trade with Asia increased and a post-war immigration program received more than 6.5 million migrants from every continent. Supported by immigration of people from more than 200 countries since the end of World War II, the population increased to more than 23 million by 2014, and sustains the world’s 12th largest national economy.
WHAT IS THE WEATHER LIKE IN AUSTRALIA?
Australia’s climate varies greatly throughout the eight states and territories; there are four seasons across most of the country and a wet and dry season in the tropical north.
Australia’s seasons are at opposite times to those in the northern hemisphere. December to February is summer; March to May is autumn; June to August is winter; and September to November is spring.
Lifestyle in Australia
Australia is an incredibly diverse country, and is home to so many different wonderful cultures and communities. But there is something truly unique that links everyone together here – a one-of-a-kind shared spirit and attitude that is the Australian way of life.
From laid-back attitudes to a serious love of nature and sports, here’s what you need to know about the Australian lifestyle.
A “NO WORRIES” ATTITUDE
There’s something Aussies are known the world over for, and that’s their easy-going, friendly attitude. Of course food, events, art and history are all vital parts of the Australian culture, but what really distinguishes an Aussie is his or her laid-back outlook on life. It’s the way friends turn up unannounced for a catch-up (but always with a six-pack of beer in hand). It’s the reason you’ll hear the words “no worries, mate” exchanged between strangers on the street. Most of all, it’s about putting aside stress to appreciate the good things in life that are right in front of you.
A LOVE OF BEING OUTDOORS
From the red sands of Uluru to the clear blue waters of the Great Barrier Reef and the flora- and fauna-rich rainforests, Australia is blessed with some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world – so it comes as no surprise that Australians love to be outdoors. This passion for nature runs deep through Australia’s veins, and is anchored in the foundations of the country’s history; a respectful connection with the earth has been central to Aboriginal culture for more than 50,000 years.
Seasonal wildlife means you can swim with whale sharks one month and manta rays the next. But locals are eager to explore their own backyards, too. Sydneysiders enjoy ocean swims at sunrise, Canberrans take weekend bike rides around the lake, and Perth’s King Park is the local’s favorite for a picnic.
MAKING THE MOST OF THE COASTLINE
What do you get when you pair a nature-loving lifestyle with so much dazzling coastline? A thriving beach culture, of course. Australians find countless ways to kick off their shoes and enjoy their many beautiful beaches, be it surfing, fishing, kayaking, picnicking, sharing an impromptu game of beach cricket or just soaking up some sunshine.
You can find elements of this beach culture even when Aussies are away from the waves. For decades, this culture has influenced everything from Australian music to children’s television programs.
COMING TOGETHER TO CELEBRATE EVENTS
Australia has an exciting calendar of events and festivals, where locals and tourists alike gather to celebrate food, sport, art or culture. Australia hosts a huge number of world-renowned sporting events like the Australian Open tennis tournament and Sydney to Hobart yacht race. When it comes to food, the Western Australia Gourmet Escape is a highlight, while Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras celebrates our diversity and sees people come together from all over the world.
Of course, Australia’s sense of humor has hatched more than a few quirky events. If you’re up for some Aussie fun, celebrate outback culture in Queensland with the Boulia Camel Races, or head to Alice Springs for the Henley on Todd Regatta to watch dry river bed racing.
Australian People
- 49% of Australians were born overseas or have at least one parent who was born overseas and moved to Australia
- Someone from Sydney is typically referred to as a Sydney-sider
- A person from Melbourne is called a Melbournian
- Former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke once held the Guinness World Record for the fastest beer sculling, downing 2.5 pints of beer in 11 seconds (he recreated the legendary feat at the SCG in January 2017)
- Despite being a massive continent, 90% of Australia’s population live on the coast due to the majority of the interior being a vast desert
- Australia’s Aboriginal people are estimated to have lived here for roughly 50,000 years, yet they now make up only 1.5% of the total population
- The average Australian will eat the equivalent of 18 full cows and 90 full sheep in his or her lifetime
- After Athens, Melbourne has the world’s largest Greek population
- Australia has one of the world’s lowest population densities – it’s size is only a bit smaller than the USA, yet the population is only around 23 million, as opposed to 313 million in the United States.
- The average Australian drinks 83 liters of beer per year
- In Aboriginal culture, women are not permitted to play the didgeridoo
Education
Except for universities, the governments of the states and territories manage all aspects of education. The federal government is responsible for funding higher education and provides supplementary funding to the states. The national government also develops national education policies and guidelines.
Basic literacy rates are high, and school attendance is compulsory throughout Australia between the ages of 6 and 15 years (16 years in Tasmania). Most children begin primary school at about 5 years of age. The final two years of schooling are non compulsory. About seven-eighths of students complete 11 years, and some three-fourths complete 12; the number of students in the final year varies considerably by region, from less than half in Northern Territory to nine-tenths in the Australian Capital Territory.
Of students attending primary and secondary schools, most are enrolled in government schools; nearly one-third attend private institutions, mainly Roman Catholic schools. Secondary-school curricula tend to focus on compulsory scores in traditional subjects coupled with a generous list of options or electives. Specialist services include educational, psychological, and vocational counseling, assistance for Aboriginal children and adults, programs offering English as a second language, courses for gifted and disabled children, and programs to assist children in remote areas.
Despite an emphasis on multiculturalism, foreign languages traditionally have not been well represented, and several ethnic groups have felt obliged to organize independent programs. Since the late 1980s, the government has promoted the teaching of Asian languages, especially Indonesian, Japanese, and Chinese; it has also favored applied science and technology and computer literacy.
Higher education is provided in self-governing universities and colleges and in institutions operating as part of the state-controlled TAFE (Technical and Further Education) systems. In 1988 the federal government launched an assertive restructuring program to produce fewer, larger institutions, with each institution offering a broader educational profile. To facilitate the process, student fees were reimposed, and central funding mechanisms were amended. However, progress was hampered by an economic downturn in the early 1990s and by opposition from academics. Most higher education institutions are funded by the Commonwealth government through charges on Australian students under a Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) and from international and other fee-paying students. About one-third of operating revenue comes from the HECS income and other fees.
The original state-sponsored system guaranteed an even spread of universities, and it is still somewhat unusual for undergraduates to attend universities outside their home states. Most of the older public universities were founded in the colonial era, and all were established before World War I. In chronological order of establishment, they are the Universities of Sydney (1850), Melbourne (1853), Adelaide (1874), Tasmania (in Hobart, 1890), Queensland (Brisbane, 1909), and Western Australia (Perth, 1911). The Australian National University in Canberra, a research-oriented institution, was established by the federal government in 1946.
There are some 40 higher educational institutions with operating grants from the Commonwealth Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs. There is also an Australian Film, Television and Radio School, a National Institute of Dramatic Art, and an Australian Defense Force Academy. Two private universities, Bond University in Queensland and Notre Dame University in Western Australia, also provide higher education instruction. Except for the Australian National University and the Australian Maritime College, universities operate under their respective state and territory legislation and are regarded as autonomous institutions.
Universities
There are 42 universities in Australia: 40 Australian universities (37 public and 3 private) and 2 international private universities. The Commonwealth Higher Education Support Act 2003 sets out three groups of Australian higher education providers: universities, other self-accrediting higher education institutions, and state and territory accredited higher education institutions.
List of universities.
Western Sydney university – https://www.westernsydney.edu.au/
CQ university – https://www.cqu.edu.au/
Charles strut university- https://www.csu.edu.au/
Southern cross university – https://www.scu.edu.au/
La Trobe university – https://www.latrobe.edu.au/
James cook university – https://www.jcu.edu.au/
Pathway universities:
Flinders university – https://www.flinders.edu.au/
USC Australia – https://www.usc.edu.au/
Federation University – https://federation.edu.au/
Charles Darwin University – https://www.cdu.edu.au/
Deakin University – https://www.deakin.edu.au/
Curtin university – https://international.curtin.edu.au/
Griffith University – https://www.griffith.edu.au/
Edith Cowan University – https://www.ecu.edu.au/
University of south Australia – https://www.unisa.edu.au/
The university of Newcastle – https://www.newcastle.edu.au/
Macquarie University – https://www.mq.edu.au/
The university of Adelaide – https://www.adelaide.edu.au/
TAFE Colleges
William Angliss Institute – https://www.angliss.edu.au/
holmesglen – https://holmesglen.edu.au/
Private colleges
Sibt – http://www.sibt.edu.lk/
Pibt – www.pibt.wa.edu.au
Saibt – https://www.saibt.sa.edu.au/
Attc – https://attc.org.au/
Nic – https://www.nic.nsw.edu.au/
Eynesbury – https://www.eynesbury.navitas.com/
La Trobe – https://www.latrobecollegeaustralia.edu.au/
UC college – https://www.canberra.edu.au/uc-college
CELUSA – https://international.unisa.edu.au/pre-entry-and-pathway-programs/celusa/
Deakin College – https://www.deakincollege.edu.au/
Curtin College – https://www.curtincollege.edu.au/
ATMC – https://www.atmc.edu.au/
ACAP – https://www.acap.edu.au/
Why study in Australia?
- Globally recognized excellent education system.
- High ranked universities and colleges
- Variety of study options
- Opportunity to scholarships and discounts
- International Student protection policies for safety and well being
- Affordable payment schemes
- English speaking environment and multicultural atmosphere
- State of the art technologies and modern knowhow
- Eligible to work 20 hrs. per week while studying
- Full time work during summer holidays and semester breaks
- Post study work visa after completion of studies
- Opportunity to accompany spouse and children while studying
- Full time or part time working rights for spouse
Melbourne -Adelaide – Perth -Brisbane -Sydney -Canberra -Gold Coast -Wodonga
Most demanding Jobs in Australia
| Field | Average salary (per annum) |
| Healthcare and Medical | $60,000- $300,000 |
| Legal | $60,000- $120,000 |
| ICT | $80,000- $100,000 |
| Accountancy | $70,000- $85,000 |
| Banking and Finance | $40,000- $100,000 |
| Consultancy | $80,000- $100,000 |
| Mining Jobs | $100,000- $250,000 |
| Sales | $50,000- $100,000 |
| Rail and Maritime Transport | $80,000- $100,000 |
| Field | Average Salary ( |
| Cost of living for international students |
| Accommodation | Charges |
| Hostels and Guesthouses | $90 to $150 per week |
| Shared Rental | $95 to $215 per week |
| On campus | $110 to $280 per week |
| Homestay | $235 to $325 per week |
| Rental | $185 to $440 per week |
| Boarding schools | $11,000 to $22,000 a year |
Other living Expenses
| Groceries and eating out | $140 to $280 per week |
| Gas, electricity | $10 to $20 per week |
| Phone and Internet | $15 to $30 per week |
| Public transport | $30 to $60 per week |
| Car (after purchase) | $150 to $260 per week |
| Entertainment | $80 to $150 per week |
- For students or guardians – AUD$21,041
- For partners coming with you – AUD$7,362
- For a child coming with you – AUD$3,152
Visa Requirements
Evidence of Enrolment
One of the important requirements for a student visa application is that you must be accepted for enrolment, to undertake a course, by a Government registered Australian education institution. This is verified by the advice of acceptance from the Australian institution (commonly known as Letter of Offer), which is issued to a student who has been offered enrolment in a full-time course. You should not pay any part of the course tuition fee prior to the outcome of the PVA.
Financial Ability
Sponsors will have to provide documentary evidence of having cash assets (immediately encashable assets like savings and fixed deposits in banks) held for at least 6 months prior to the pre-visa application date. For school applicants, funds need to be held for 3 months prior to the pre-visa application date.
Who can be a Sponsor?
Sponsor/s can be the applicant, parents, grandparents, or spouse only ( relatives like brother /sister /uncle /aunt /cousin / family friend are not acceptable). School applicants have no restriction on sponsor/s.
How much funds have to be shown?
For Masters and Doctorate Courses
Sponsors must provide evidence of cash assets for the first year tuition fee (as on the letter of offer) and living expenses (assumed at A$ 12000 p.a.) and access to additional funds (from acceptable sources) to meet the cost of the remainder of study and stay in Australia.
Commercial loans from Banks and government loans are acceptable.
In case the applicant holds a partial scholarship from an Australian institution or an institution in India ( eg. Educational Trusts), funds to cover the remaining costs must be provided as prescribed above.
Private corporate sponsorship is acceptable subject to certain conditions. However if the company is a family owned business and if one/both parents are directors/partners, it is treated as a parent sponsor.
English Proficiency
All students have to demonstrate a minimum level of proficiency, measured by an IELTS overall band score of at least 6.0, except those enrolling for a Diploma course (VET) in which case 5.5 is acceptable. Please note that TOEFL score is not acceptable and IELTS is compulsory even if the student has studied in English medium institutions throughout his/her academic career.
