Study in Australia Information
Australia has world-class educational facilities and faculty. More than 320,368 student visas were granted for study in Australia in the 2008-2009 program year, representing more than a 15 percent growth in the student-visa program from the previous year. With such a visa, you can undertake study in any of thousands of subjects or train for a vocation in Australia.
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Visas
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In order to study in Australia legally, you must apply for the appropriate student visa from the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). Part of your visa application will involve an objective measure of immigration risk for each of 190 different countries. This "assessment level" will determine your visa requirements. There are five assessment levels in the student-visa program, with Level 1 representing the lowest immigration risk and Level 5 the highest.
The higher your assessment level, the more evidence you will be required to submit to demonstrate support of your claims made in the application. These levels are determined by each student group's compliance with visa conditions and other indicators from the previous year. Levels are raised and lowered based on these factors. So the behavior of your country's student group from last year will affect your visa requirements this year.
Courses
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If you do not already have a bachelor's degree and you want to work toward that, look into undergraduate university programs. This is the most common type of degree found in Australia.
If university is not an option for you, or if your career ambitions are better serviced by a more practical qualification, look into one of the public Technical and Further Education (TAFE) Institutes. You can also undertake vocational training at private colleges, schools and universities. TAFE qualifications may be applied credits toward a degree program, should you decide to pursue a bachelor's degree later on.
If you already have a bachelor's degree and are looking to advance in your chosen profession, gain additional training or make a career change, look into postgraduate study. You can work towards a graduate certificate, graduate diploma, master's degree or doctoral degree (PhD).
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Fees
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Fees for Australian courses will vary depending on the program and school you apply to. If you are applying as an international student, you are only able to study in Australia in an overseas fee-paying place, and international student fees will apply.
There is no Australian government fee assistance for non-citizens unless you are in Australia on a permanent humanitarian visa. You can, however, apply for scholarships in order to reduce some or all of your out-of-pocket costs. You can also apply for private loans.
The only way to pay local student rates is to become a permanent resident of Australia. Any holders of a temporary visa---even if you are on the path to permanent residency---will still have to apply as an overseas student and pay overseas fees.
Grades
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While primary and secondary schools use the A, B, C, D and E system (the letter 'E' stands for failure instead of 'F'), most tertiary institutions issue results based on the following: High Distinction (HD), Distinction (D), Credit (Cr), Pass (P) and Fail (N). The numerical equivalent to these marks will differ depending on the institution you attend. A few universities use either the A, B, C, D, E marking system or their own titles for mark categories.
Applying
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Once you have decided on a course, request application forms by following the instructions on the university's or school's website. This may be as simple as downloading them. You will be required to submit your previous academic records, which must be official copies from the schools where you studied in the past. You will also be required to prove your English proficiency if you are applying as an international student. University applications will usually require a personal essay and/or statement of purpose, and there may be additional requirements for your particular course. Postgraduate courses, for example, may require you to submit your work history, letters of recommendation and/or a research proposal. Consult the school you have chosen to find out exactly what you need in order to apply.
If you are applying for an undergraduate program place, you may want to (or be required to) take an entrance exam. Some programs in Australia are very competitive, and taking the ACT or SAT test can give you an edge if you score high enough. There may also be more specific entry requirements for some courses. For example, you may need to have taken and passed prerequisite subjects in high school. While there are generally no entrance exams for TAFE, there may also be prerequisite course requirements for these programs.
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References
Resources
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