Why Study in Australia? A Guide for International Students

In spite of the fact that it has a smaller population than bigger nations on the list, Australia ranks third in the whole world in terms of being a popular international student destination. This is complemented by the fact that the country is ranked 9th in the world in terms of its University System ahead of Germany and Japan. Add to that the fact that 5 out of the 30 best student cities in the world are located in Australia, and it’s not so hard to understand why that’s the case.

Money Matters

Those numbers only tell part of the story, however. Another thing that many people consider is that the relative cost of education in Australia is much lower than in the United States and the United Kingdom. That and the fact that most Asian countries are close neighbors makes Australia more potent in terms of its ability to pull in more students annually. All in all, this number of students from neighboring Asian countries comes up to about 550,000—and that appears to grow constantly as the years wind forward.

Getting There

The various embassies of Australia in many Asian nations have helped greatly in their promotion of study to their country. This is greatly reflected in the relatively affordable requirements. A five-year Student Visa costs AUD 560 and only requires comprehensive health insurance coverage as well as acceptance in an Australian educational institution. This latter bit is much easier given that many such institutions offer easy enrollments online with guidance and assistance to those who are interested.

Culture, Community, and Cost

One reality that many students have to face is that the cost of living is generally higher than in their home countries. These, in fact, can go as high as twice or even thrice the price in terms of general commodities and rent. Fortunately, however, there are also thriving communities per nationality across the major cities of Australia. These communities provide essential support and culture that allows students to seek ways to live smarter in the country. They often also offer part-time work to help offset these costs of living.

A Matter of Celebration

Australia prides itself on being culturally diverse and that’s reflected in the warm acceptance of peoples of different nationalities. This translates to lively celebrations on holidays that are similar across different nations—like Christmas and New Year’s Eve and Day. That also means, however, that even if the holiday isn’t particularly celebrated by Australians, the various international communities are more than welcome to their own festivities. This is perfect for students who are particularly prone to feeling homesick.

Greater Potentials

Education in Australia is certainly an investment. Over the course of the study, students can expect to spend quite a lot to get to the end of their journey. This more than pays off however in the work opportunities available to graduates in Australia. These fall in some of the most popular fields of work in Asian countries—like management, IT, healthcare, and others. Best of all, these come with salaries that are twice or thrice—at least—what graduates can expect in their home countries.

If you’re looking for a better means with which to advance your career, studying in Australia is one of your best bets. It’s an investment, for sure, but it more than pays for itself with the quality of work and income potential with jobs you can get in Australia. The prominence of many Asian communities in Australia’s cities makes it just as easy to feel at home.