5 Things You Must Know before Study in Australia
There are a lot of things to consider when you decide to study abroad. There are so many universities and beautiful countries and cultures to discover. However, here are some reasons we think Australia is the best place to study.
Australia has one of the best education systems in the world. According to Quacquarelli Symonds’ World University Rankings 2020, The Australian National University, The University of Melbourne, The University of New South Wales, The University of Queensland and The University of Sydney are among the top 50 in the world. They attract a lot of international students every year.
If you are wondering which city to choose, know that Melbourne, in addition to having one of the best universities in Australia, was voted the 3rd best city for students according to QS Best Student Cities 2019.
Compared to other countries, Student Visa Australia gets pretty easily. Of course, you must meet certain requirements in order to obtain your visa. You will not escape all this paperwork!
Get your student visa in a few steps:
- Provide the Confirmation of Enrollmentoffered by an Australian school or university;
- Prove that you have enough money left to pay for school, your plane ticket and others;
- Have a certificate of Englishtest (IELTS, Cambridge …)
- Subscribe to medical insurance and liability insurance
It may seem like a lot but I reassure you, once you have collected all these papers, the process of obtaining a visa is done quite quickly in Australia.
Incredible Landscapes
One of the reasons to study in Australia is, of course, all the incredible landscapes offered by this wonderful country! The territory has 5 different climates. Some places like the rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef are part of UNESCO World Heritage. During your stay in Australia, you will certainly have time to travel.
The good thing is that you can both go skiing in the mountains of the Southeast, go on an adventure in the jungle, or go exploring the many white beaches and try surfing on the East Coast! The East Coast stretches for more than 36,000 kilometres and has more than 11,000 beaches. You will never have time to visit the entire Australian territory during your stay but do not panic, you will certainly return from your adventure with stars in your eyes! We advise you to make a list of things you want to do and places to visit to not miss anything.
Improve English
Going to study in Australia is a great way to improve your English. You’ll hear English every day, whether at the supermarket, cafes, university, street or on TV. All that is related to the administration like to make your registration at the university, your visa application, the booking of your accommodation will also be in English. So living and studying in Australia is really the best way to learn English because you will be constantly confronted with it in your daily life.
After 2 or 3 years in Australia, you will be bilingual and will be able to understand the Australian slang, the idiomatic expressions as well as the accent so particular of the Australians. Locals tend to shorten the pronunciation of words. No other English-speaking country uses so many abbreviations! Your ear will be trained and you will be able to understand any English accent.
To get an idea, try to understand this sentence: When you play with your footsteps Translation: When you play football with your friends in the afternoon, be careful not to get bitten by mosquitoes! footy = football cobbs = friends arvo = afternoon mozzies = mosquitoes. If you understand this sentence the first time, well done you’re really good! If not, you can find a list of expressions and Australian slang here. You have to tell yourself: “I can meet people anywhere, no need to cross the earth for that! But I promise you, you will not regret having met Australians and shared their culture. Do not be surprised if people talk to you informally from your first meeting. It’s a totally normal way of speaking in Australia.
Social Diversity
Your boss or even your doctor will call you by your name. If people do not know your name, they will call you “mate”! Australians are known to be very friendly and warm people. They are generally open-minded and relaxed so it’s very easy to approach them. Almost 30% of the country’s population is foreign, which greatly influences its culture. You will meet a lot of Europeans from, for example, Great Britain, Germany, Italy and even Croatia.
There is also a large Asian community in Australia. Indeed, many Chinese, Filipino or Indian have also immigrated to this territory. In addition, by studying in Australia you will have the opportunity to discover the indigenous community, their culture and way of life.
Want to eat something typical Australian? Why not try crocodile or kangaroo during your stay? Yes, this kind of meat is really sold in supermarkets! According to some nutritionists, these meats contain less fat and are healthier than the meats usually consumed.
Part-time Job
If you want to work at the same time as you study in Australia, know that it is very easy to find a part-time job. Thanks to the student visa, you have the right to work a maximum of 20 hours per week and per semester. During the school holidays, you will even have the opportunity to work full time.
If your goal is to make your pocket money by doing a job that does not require special skills, you can apply for a post of the seller, server, promoter… You can go to join hunting platforms like seek.com (the best known) or Gumtree. However, it is essential to get your TFN (Tax File Number). Your recruiter will need to pay you.
Look For Job after Graduation
After your studies in Australia, you will certainly have a better chance of finding a job. If you decide to go back to your homeland to seek job, your Australian diploma will be a great advantage. Your future employer will see that you are able to evolve in an international environment and that you have a good level of English which is not negligible nowadays.
The skills you will have gained from your training in Australia will be a real asset in the job market. After graduating from Australia, if you want to stay in the country, you will be able to apply for a “Temporary Graduate Visa”. It will give you the opportunity to work for 12 months in Australia. Know that in other countries like the United States, it is very difficult to get a work permit after graduation.