Becoming an International Student? Here's What You Need to Know
- Written by Auzzi Shopping
Up to an extent, a student in a foreign land is no less than a wanderer in a forest. From food to shelter to health, they have to rely solely on their abilities, skills, and preparation.
Since you have decided to cross oceans and explore experience multi-culture, places, and food while fulfilling your career dreams, this blog post is for you.
Of course, you have distilled your thoughts about where you want to be. It’s Australia! But, just choosing the 3rd best destination in the world for higher education is not the only checklist in the basket. There are many other things to know consider before studying in Australia. Remember the food, shelter , in this case, overseas student health cover (OSHC).
To help you take the next leap, we present a checklist that every student must consider before studying in Australia.
Let’s begin with what to know before studying in Australia in this essential guide from Visa to OSHC Australia.
University
Research Your Interest or Passion - is the key to locate the university that suffices your career needs. There are hundreds of institutions universities offering multitudes of programs across Australia. Ranging from Engineering, IT, Medical Nursing, Economics Politics, Arts, etc. The best thing to do is to study the country academic-wise. E.g., if you like to dive deep and study marine life biology, then Queensland is the best choice due to the Great Barrier Reef. Similarly, research all the regions starting from Western Australia (WA), South Australia (SA), New South Wales (NSW), Victoria, and Northern Territory concerning your area of study.
The pattern of foreign education and grade structure is quite different. Students have more options regarding module choices, taking re-test of exams, and more weight-age on self-study rather than lecturer-driven classes. But beware, a costlier course fee does not necessarily mean the best university. Choose wisely!
OSHC
The COVID-19 pandemic couldn’t possibly have opened our eyes more when it comes to fighting viruses.
We believe you ought to fall in the range of young carefree. However, to be covered under health insurance is the most pressing thing you’ll ever do before studying in Australia. A pupil might undergo a lustrum including degree, research work, or Ph.D. Thus, the Australian government has made it mandatory for all international students to keep valid overseas student health cover during their entire stay.
English Language Proficiency
English is the medium of language for delivering the course and tutorials in Australian academic institutions. Thus, proving your ability to understand English is a prerequisite for most universities and colleges. The grades you achieve differ on a case-to-case basis, but majorly international students must take a language proficiency test such as IELTS, PTE, etc.
A few of them are even offering English courses, to begin with, named ELICOS. ELICOS stands for “English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students.” As the name suggests, it helps international students even further in fulfilling their study abroad dreams.
VISA
You’ll need to apply online and acquire a valid student visa from the Department of Home Affairs. It is suggestive of applying at least 3-4 months before the course commencement date. Though not a tedious process, be mentally prepared. Depending upon how your Visa application is furnished, the visa officer will conclude your intentions about the study, work, etc.
Cost of Education Budget Living
Australia is expensive. Tuition fees vary from a couple of thousand dollars to a whopping AUD 33,000 per year, depending upon your course, campus, competitive modules, extensive research programs, university accreditation, and many more. Being an international student, one must check for financial assistance and scholarship options from their home country.
Apart from the tuition fee, you would incur a fixed monthly expenditure for food, rent, and transportation. Hence, it is advised to plan your monthly budget and stick to it. Remember to claim student discounts wherever applicable!
Know Australia Before You See Australia
Extending your search, a little bit from the usual 'how to study in Australia' to 'things to know about Australia' could go a long way. Think of places to visit, seasons in Australia, Australian nightlife, economy, history of Australia, etc. Tête-à-tête with your college senior or a professor could pave the way for personalized learning about Australia.
Housing Earning
Upon receiving your confirmation of enrollment (CoE) from the university, you can start hunting for your shelter. You can check with the international admission officer from your university about campus housing, or even can live off-campus in home-stay programs, hostels, or rental properties.
You can even register with the international affairs ministry and your home country's embassy to help you stay in Australia.
Another benefit of studying in Australia is that students can work 40 hours per 2 weeks while the course is in session. Whereas, you can work full time during course break. The minimum wage is $20.33 per hour per week, and it truly helps students keep their expenses boat floating.
To get a job while studying in Australia, one can visit a university job placement officer or check online portals like Seek, CareerJet, Gumtree, LinkedIn, etc.
What After Study in Australia?
Once you graduate, you are eligible to apply for a post-study work visa (PSW). Unlike part-time jobs like entertainment, tourism, etc., you’ll be finding a job about your study.
Enjoy Be a Part
Australia happens to offer a comprehensive vivid range of experiences in every segment. The land down under promotes the rich diversity of people from around the world. Be prepared to find people from varied backgrounds, interests, and ethnicity.
Additionally, you could attend a match-day, scuba diving, river cruising, hike in the Australia National Park, museums galleries, and much more.
Wrap Up:
For every reason mentioned above, you should consider studying in Australia for higher education. Hopefully, the article will help you with things to know before studying in Australia. Once again, don’t forget to primarily equip yourself with food, shelter, and overseas student health cover. We hope this essential guide will make your study abroad stay in Australia a pleasant one.
