Q. If I want to study in Australia, where do I start? How do I know which program to go on?
A. There are several ways to study in Australia. Students can apply directly to the Australian university, go on a program through their own or another university in their home country, or go through an ‘agent’ (also known as a third-party provider or full-service provider).
Q. When should I apply and what are the application deadlines?
A. Depending on how you are studying in Australia (directly with an Australian university or through a program provider), you may have two deadlines – that of your program provider and that of the Australian university. Normally, a program provider (either your home university or a full-service provider/agent) would have a specific application deadline, which is usually anywhere from 6- 3 months before you are due to depart for Australia.
Most Australian universities have ‘rolling admissions’ and as such they actually accept applications up to a month before classes start for the semester. Having said that, it’s not recommended to leave the application process to just a month before! You need time to make sure you select appropriate courses, apply for the Student Visa and do all the necessary preparatory work that comes before spending a semester abroad.
Q. How many classes do I need to take each Semester? How do I know what kind of credit I will receive for the classes I take in Australia?
A. This really depends on your home university, and your personal objectives. Keep in mind whether your university is awarding you credit for the courses undertaken in Australia. An Australian university will be satisfied by your enrollment in the minimum full-time load, therefore meeting Australian immigration requirements as a full-time student. However, your home university/program provider may require your enrollment at the maximum full-time load or at least the normal full-time load, in order to satisfy your North American credit requirements. The credit requirements vary from program to program, so you should check with your home university’s Study Abroad Office to ensure you are aware of any enrollment and credit requirements while in Australia.
With regard to credit transfer, this also varies and is dependent on your home university. As a general rule, credits will only transfer if you receive the course equivalent of a Pass grade or better. However, you will need to confirm with your home university Study Abroad Office or Registrar’s Office to determine how credit from your Australian university courses will transfer to your home university degree.
Q. What is it like to study at an Australian university – is there anything I should be prepared for?
A. Depending on where you are from, there may be several aspects of studying abroad in Australia that are very different from studying in your home country, from the lifestyle or ‘campus culture’ to teaching methods and the overall academic experience. For example, you may find that there is not as much guidance when it comes to the work presented at an Australian university. There is a lot of material presented in class, but it is also expected that you will do research/further study on the topic on your own, outside of class. North American students in particular may have trouble adjusting to ‘independent learning’ when it comes to testing, as professors may not let you know explicitly what will be in a test and many students discover that they are often tested on things that were not clearly explained or stressed in lectures. In the same regard, you may not be told exactly what is expected of you with respect to papers/assignments. It will be up to you to develop your topic or theme, and support your argument in your papers.
Q. What are the different accommodation options while studying in Australia?
A. There are several accommodation options while studying at an Australian university, from living on-campus in a Residential College, to living off-campus in a specifically designed Student Apartment Complex or sharing a privately rented apartment/house with other students.
However, it is important to know that housing at Australian universities is very different from what most international students are used to in their home country, in that Australian universities provide little or NO university housing. Therefore, in most cases, it is up to students to find their own accommodation and international students are advised to arrive 2 – 3 weeks before the start of semester to search and secure suitable off-campus housing.
In general, 90 – 100% of students live off-campus and commute to campus each day for classes, which means that there are plenty of off-campus housing options for students to choose from. However, demand for places is high, especially for housing located conveniently near the university. Therefore, if you are planning to live off-campus you should expect to arrive at least 2 to 3 weeks before the university orientation starts so you can find suitable accommodation before classes commence.
Becoming more popular are purpose-built Student Apartments, which cater to students and have fully furnished apartments with all the amenities a student would need like internet connection, etc.
Living on-campus in a Residential College (also known as Hall of Residence) is a good option because it is a great way to live with Australian students and other international students. There is a stronger sense of community and students have the opportunity to participate in many organised social and sporting activities. Only some universities offer on-campus housing, and places are very limited – therefore you need to apply very early to secure a place (for example, the deadline can be October for a February start the following year).
Q. How do I apply for the Student Visa?
A. All non-Australian citizens wishing to study at an Australian university must first apply for the Student Visa, which will allow you to enter Australia and study at an Australian university. Before you can apply for the Student Visa, you must first have been officially accepted to the Australian university and have paid your first semester’s tuition fees, along with the mandatory Overseas Student Health Care (OSHC) fee. The Australian university will then send you a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) – the document necessary to apply for the Student Visa.
Once you have your COE document, you can then apply for the Student Visa. Depending on what country you are a citizen of, you may either be able to apply for the Student Visa online or directly with your nearest Australian Embassy.
Q. Can I work while studying in Australia?
As of 26 April 2008, all Australian Student Visas are issued with a ’Permission to Work’ condition. The permission to work will allow you to work for 20 hours per week when school is in session and unlimited hours per week when school is not in session (e.g. during scheduled university vacations, like the mid-semester/mid-year break and summer holidays). The permission to work conditions apply to any paid, unpaid and even voluntary work.
You may only apply to work once you are in Australia, enrolled full-time, and you have started your studies at the Australian university (e.g. once the semester has started). This is important to note, as many students arrive in Australia early and try to obtain work before the semester begins, but you cannot start work until classes have actually started!
