Australian universities have a completely different approach to study and the world of work and offer courses for Advanced Diploma, Bachelor, Master, and Doctorate degrees. Studying in Australian universities, for international students, becomes an increasingly popular choice year after year. This is because Australia has many universities, public and private, present in the ranking of the 100 best universities in the world.
In Australia, there are 39 universities, of which eight (known as Group of Eight) are among the top 100 universities on the planet. The most prestigious and oldest university is the University of Melbourne, but the others are no different. Attending a university or post-university course in Australia is synonymous with a qualification recognized all over the world.
Undergraduate courses – Bachelor’s Degree (3, 4, or 5 years)
University programs for Bachelor’s Degrees prepare students for a professional career in Australia and postgraduate studies.
Entry requirement required: at least 12 years of study (for an Italian student it corresponds to having obtained a high school diploma). Alternatively: an Advanced Diploma taken through a Specialization Course or TAFE allows you to have access to the relative Bachelor’s Degree, complete with credit recognition. Courses typically last three or four years.
Postgraduate courses – University Master
The study programs of the University Masters category in Australia give students truly advanced knowledge in the chosen field.
Entry requirements: there are different criteria for admission to university courses, these criteria vary mainly according to the faculty and university chosen.
The basic entry requirements, common to all university enrollments, are mainly two:
Academic Requirement:
The student must be academically qualified, therefore have a minimum background of studies.
The academic background requirement should already be met by attending university or high school in your home country. Alternatively, you can qualify in Australia by obtaining the academic entry requirement directly on Australian territory.
English Requirement:
The student must have the required level of knowledge of the English language, which can be IELTS Academic or TOEFL or Cambridge high-level certifications, sometimes an EAP English course is also sufficient, but it must be done in a college that offers pathway in the faculties of interest.
The requirement of knowledge of the English language can be met through the certifications mentioned above. The official centers to take your English certification exam are present all over the world. Check on their official websites for the exam center closest to you.
Always keep in mind that the level required varies according to the faculties and the university you have chosen. The EAP English course, on the other hand, allows you to access the faculty even without an English certification, but it is a course that must first of all be done in Australia and well planned in order not to risk enrolling in a school that then offers no outlets in the desired university.
How much does it cost to attend the University in Australia?
The costs of a course of study in a university faculty vary according to the University and Faculty are chosen, on average a university course has a cost of approximately 25,000 Australian Dollars per year.
International students, i.e. those who are not permanent residents or citizens of Australia do not have access to government grants or aid, therefore students who intend to enroll in a University in Australia must apply for a student visa and pay the annual fees in full in advance.
What do I choose between a professional specialization course and a university degree course?
It depends on what your final academic goals are if your goal is to have academic training at some of the best universities in the world and recognized everywhere, there are no equally valid alternatives.
TAFE (Technical And Further Education) is the professional training school funded by the Australian Government: these are study programs aimed at obtaining highly requested and specialized qualifications in the Australian work field. The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) considers bachelor’s and postgraduate qualifications at a higher level than the Specialization and TAFE schools, but keep in mind that your career is established by the type of qualification you will have achieved when you have stopped studying and by the different levels of learning that you will have climbed.
The study areas are varied (information technology and technology, business with marketing and administration and finance, sciences, maritime sciences, design, engineering, tourism, agriculture ..) and are types of courses considered among the best learning systems in the world.
TAFE qualifications range from Certificate 1 to 4, up to the Diploma or the Advanced Diploma: the latter two qualifications are recognized as credits by Australian Universities and therefore often reduce the number of exams to be performed.
So the most important thing is to understand which career you want to face in order to find which is the best course for you: sometimes professional specialization is preferable to university study.
Get a Part-time Job While Studying in Australia
Student Job Board explains that getting a degree can be an expensive undertaking, wherein tuition fees usually cost between $20,000 to $37,000 a year. Also, the cost of living is soaring high, leaving students thousands of dollars of student debt.
Getting a job while studying will provide you with a source of extra money. Also, it’ll help you learn basic work skills that you can bring when you’re able to apply your degree after graduation. For example, you’ll learn how to be more patient, hard-working, and punctual, ensuring that you provide excellent customer service. So, how can you balance your studies and work?
Here are some recommendations on how to perfectly balance studies and work:
- Get a part-time job: You’ll find plenty of part-time jobs available in Australia, such as a serving crew in a restaurant or bar. Even with a low hourly salary, you can still save up for your groceries and school requirements. There are also university jobs available, such as a library assistant or clerk.
- Find an online job: You’ll find freelancing jobs online, such as copywriter for sales ads, ghostwriting, social media specialist, or a teaching job. Making viral videos on YouTube or other social media platforms can also give you extra income to sustain your needs.
- Save money: As much as possible, save every penny by only buying the things you need. Prioritize and budget your money once you receive them from your parents. Before spending on leisure, make sure to allocate an amount to all the things you’ll need in school, such as supplies for your projects.
- Use coupons: One way to save up while studying in Australia is to use coupons. Coupons are available online, in social media, in newspapers, and grocery flyers. Little discounts, like 5 % or 10% can make a big difference in your monthly budget.