Destination AUSTRALIA!

Australia has emerged as a popular destination for higher education because of its strong educational infrastructure, a high quality of life, and relatively lowers expenses. Australian degrees are gaining increased acceptance in the global arena. A peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, together with the cosmopolitan charisma of cities like Sydney and Melbourne have made the land referred as Down Under a hot destination. About 200,000 international students from 140 countries are studying in Australia.

Education System

1. Primary and Secondary schools.
The system is equivalent to 10 +2 education in India. Certification at the end of schooling is by continuous assessment within schools and public examinations .The course forms the basis for entry to universities or other tertiary institutions.

2. Foundation studies.
Foundation studies give international students the knowledge and skills for a smooth transition from learning in their home country to undergraduate studies in Australian universities. Foundation studies are usually one year in duration .The foundation course is divided in to various streams like arts and science subjects the common feature of the program is that university allocates a provisional admission for the student who achieves the prescribed grades.

3. Vocational Educational and Training Institutes.
The Vocational Education and Training gives students practical skills for their careers. The VET sector is divided in to two sections.
A) A nationally recognized government system of Technical And Further Education ( TAFE)
B) Private Providers

TAFE is the largest provider of tertiary education courses in Australia with about 250 institutes and over a million students including about 41,000 are international students. The VET awards certificates, advanced certificates, associate diplomas and diplomas. Studying at TAFE level is also a way of gaining entry termed a pathway to Australia’s Universities. Most TAFE institutes have arrangements with specific universities, enabling students to gain credit for a portion of their study undertaken at TAFE. The VET courses include computing, design, pilot training, business management, hospitality and tourism and many other courses.

4. Universities. (Higher Education)
There are 37 public universities and two private universities in Australia which offers both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The most popular courses of study for international students have been in the field of Business Administration, Economics, followed by Science, then Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. University studies can lead to following awards – Undergraduate - Bachelor Degrees, Bachelor Degrees (with Honours), Undergraduate Diplomas, Associate Diplomas; Postgraduate - Doctoral Degrees, Masters Degrees, Graduate Diplomas, Graduate Certificates.

Financial benefits of Australian Education.
Undergraduate degrees are generally three years in Australia as compared to four years in US.
There are many One Year masters program including MBA, thus you can save on living costs and tuition fees.

Cost of Education: A Brief Look

All Tuition Fee (In Aus $)
Undergraduate Courses Annual Tuition Fee
Bachelor Degree
Arts,Business, Economics, Law A$10,000-$ 13,500
Laboratory Based degree course
Science and Engineering programs A$11,000-$ 16,500

Postgraduate Courses Annual Tuition Fee
Graduate CertificatesGraduate Diplomas A$ 9,000 - $ 16,000
Masters degree coursesDoctoral degree programmes A$11,000 - $ 18,500

MBA
Length of MBA program varies considerably between institutions, depending on the mode of study, but ranges from approximately nine to 15 months full time. The fees in the table below are shown as the approximate annual cost of the full-time MBA program.
Courses Annual Tuition Fee
MBA A$15,000 - $ 30,000

Annual Living Expenses in Australia - Approx. A $ 12,000 per year

Entrance Test required
IELTS exam (Academic Module) is required for studying in Australia. It is necessary to take the IELTS in order to gain admission and a visa. For admission into undergraduate degree programmes your band in IELTS should be at least Band 5.5 and for Masters Degree program it should be Band 6 and above, however the score would vary from university to university.

Accommodation
Australia has a large range of different accommodation options. With choices ranging from university accommodation or Homestay, to self-catered apartments or share houses, there’s an option to suit every personality and budget. Different types of accommodation are obviously subject to different costs and availability. The type of accommodation you choose influences how much you will have to pay and how early you will have to arrange it. For instance, university halls of residence are generally very popular and require students to apply for a room well in advance, whereas rental accommodation is generally readily available and can be organized when you arrive.

MUST DO:
Before you arrive in Australia you should contact the accommodation service of the Australian institution you will be studying and confirm the accommodation options available and the costs involved.

Summing UpYou can make an informed choice of studying in Australia by visiting these 2 web sites they contain comprehensive information http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/ and http://www.immi.gov.au/ which can help you with regards to all your detailed queries.