Study in Australia for Indian Students: Top Universities, Courses, Fees & Requirements

Home to over 8 lakh international students, Australia is one of the top study-abroad destinations. The top universities in Australia are gaining a reputation worldwide for providing quality education and lending an excellent support system to international students.

Other reasons behind  the  popularity of studying abroad in Australia are its quality lifestyle, comparatively low cost of living and spectacular natural attractions. Along with this, the post-study work opportunities are also something to look out for.

Australia is culturally diverse, traditionally sound yet modern in their education and development. This amalgamation makes your decision to study in Australia one of a kind. 

Choosing to study in Australia for Indian students and other international students can bring forth a number of queries. Given below is a quick look at some of the factors that an international student must know about pursuing  higher studies in Australia:

Why Study In Australia?

Australia has been emerging as a preferred study abroad destination for international students owing to a number of reasons. Some of the main benefits of studying in Australia for international students are:

• The Australian government ensures high standards of education. The educational quality check has got global recognition to the country and made it a popular student destination. 
• The cost of living and studying are comparatively low in Australia. Especially, when compared to the costs of the UK and the U.S. 
• The top benefit of studying in Australia for Indian students is the access to advanced technology. This makes the choice to study in Australia for Indian students more fascinating. 
• Along with the developmental factors, the decision to study at universities in Australia is convenient due to the absence of a language barrier. As English is one of Australia’s main languages, it is easier for foreign students to live there. 
• The choice to study in Australia for international students is rewarding in terms of career advancement. The Australian market is growing which offers students a number of lucrative job opportunities.

The education system in Australia is well structured and rightly formulated to provide wise options to students for their future. 
The Australian education system has attained its popularity because of the AQF or Australian Qualifications Framework that was introduced in 1995. 
Broadly, the AQF provides certificates at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education. And overall AQF certifies students based on different levels. In total, there are 10 levels starting from Certificate 1 to Doctorate.

The various degrees given under the AQF education system are: 

• Diploma (Level 5): Students receive specialised knowledge and skills for skilled/paraprofessional work and/or further learning. It takes about 1-2 years to complete.
  
  
• Associate Degree/Advanced Diploma (Level 6): Students are provided a broad knowledge and skills for paraprofessional/highly skilled work and/or further learning. This takes 1.5 - 2 years to complete.
   
• Bachelors (Level 7): Studying for 3-4 years, this undergraduate degree aims at providing broad and coherent knowledge for professional work or further learning.
  
  
• Bachelors Honours (Level 8): This is a specialised undergraduate degree that imparts advanced knowledge and skills for professional highly skilled work or for further  learning. This is a 0.5-1 year course. 
  
  
• Masters (Level 9): Masters in Australia is an expert level graduate degree in a particular subject. It can be completed in 1-2 years.
   
• Doctorate (Level 10): This is a postgraduate degree that takes a total of 3 to 4 years to complete in Australia.

To study abroad in Australia, have a look at the various types of institutions that facilitate higher studies in Australia:

Your study in Australia is monitored by a well-planned credit system. Credits are given to students based on the number of hours they spend studying per week. 

• Universities in Australia usually have a credit score range of 6-8. This may vary based on the university you are studying in. 
• According to the Australian credit score system, you require 144 credit scores (in 3 years) to successfully complete your Bachelors. 
• The required credit score to complete Masters in Australia is 96.

There are a number of top universities in Australia. Scroll through the top 10 universities in Australia: 

Choosing the best course to study in Australia is as important as choosing the university. Your interests need to align with the curriculum, that’s how you can choose among the best courses to study in Australia. A few of the best courses in Australia are:  

• Accountancy
• Architecture
• Engineering
• Earth Sciences
• Agricultural Sciences
• Computer Science and Information technology
• Tourism and Hospitality Management
• Business Management

The most popular programs that students opt to study in Australia are:

The application process to Australian university is quite simple if you know the process to follow. Here’s a look at the steps to apply for Australian university:  

1. Decide the course you wish to pursue and start searching for the best universities offering your desired course. 
2. Once you have shortlisted your universities, check out the official university websites to gather the necessary information about requirements and eligibility criteria.
3. Fill the application form and upload all the required documents and certificates. Proceed to pay the application fees.
4. Once you’ve submitted your application, wait for the universities to revert. 
5. Once selected, you will need to update your health insurance and also apply for student visa Subclass 500.   

To understand how to study in Australia, you must also understand the admission requirements for different courses in Australia:

The cost of studying in Australia depends upon the course and university you choose. The total cost you will incur also depends on your lifestyle. The overall cost of studying can be divided into two categories – Tuition Fees and Cost of Living.

The tuition fee in Australia differs for domestic and international students, the latter being pricey. 

The expenditure of international students in Australia depends upon their lifestyle. Some of the top expenses to study in Australia that an international student has to bear are:

After gaining some clarity on the specialisation you wish to pursue, your next dilemma would be to look for the best place to study in Australia. Some of the best cities in Australia for Indian students are Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide.  Let's take a look at the top places to study in Australia:

If you are travelling to Australia for a short course of 6-12 weeks, you can apply for a tourist visa. However, for courses of longer duration, you will need to apply for an Australia Student Sisa. 

Follow the instructions step by step as mentioned below and get your visa sanctioned:

1. After you’ve been selected by your desired university, you receive an offer of acceptance. After which, you can go ahead to pay the tuition fee for the course. By doing so, your university will send you a Confirmation Of Enrolment letter or CoE. This is an important document for your visa application. 
2. The student visa process for Australia is initiated online by opening an account on the Australian Immigration website. 
3. Make sure you have all your documents in digital format to apply for a Subclass 500 student visa. 
4. Fill your visa application form online for Subclass 500 student visa, along with your CoE no and country codes. The application might take up to 125 days to process. Therefore, you are suggested to process your application in advance. 
5. After completion, pay the visa fees of AUD 620 and get your TRN number. 
6. After receiving your TRN no., have a medical check-up done as a prerequisite. 
7. Attend your Australia visa interview. Wait for your visa document. 
8. Prepare to travel!

To manage the cost of studying, students can apply for a number of scholarships to study in Australia. Some of the best scholarships in Australia for Indian students are given below:

Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS)

• Students aspiring to study Bachelors, Masters, or PhD, hailing from selected countries within the Asia-Pacific region, Africa and the Middle East.
• Amount/ Benefit: Covers Airfares, full tuition fees, allowance, contribution to living expenses (CLE), Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), Introductory Academic Program (IAP), Pre-course English (PCE) fees, etc. 

Destination Australia awards

• Domestic and International students aspiring to study in the Australian region.
• Amount/ Benefit: AUD 15,000 in a year

Research Training Program (RTP)

• Students aspiring to pursue their post-graduation in Australia - Masters or PhD. 
• Amount/ Benefit:  Covers tuition fees and offers Research grants and stipends

Australia APEC Women In Research Fellowship

• Women researchers in the field of Science, Math, Technology and Engineering. 
• Amount/ Benefit: AUD 3000 / month; establishment and travel allowance.

International Postgraduate Research Scholarships

• Students pursuing postgraduate research degree - Masters or Doctorate.
• Amount/ Benefit:  Covers tuition fee and health insurance.

University Scholarships

• Many Australian scholarships offer various scholarships and aids too.
• Amount/ Benefit: Varies between the programs and universities

As discussed above, studying abroad in Australia might make your pockets lighter. To deal with this, international student jobs in Australia come to the rescue. According to the law, an international student is allowed to work for 40 hours per fortnight (15 days). 

• This implies you can work as per your wish every week. However, the sum of the number of working hours for every two weeks must be 40 hours. 
• Research students and PhD students can work part-time for an unlimited amount of time during their research period. 

Although, in both cases, students are allowed to take up part time jobs in Australia only after their courses have commenced. Some of the part time jobs in Australia for international students are: 

Students going to study abroad in Australia who wish to settle there can work after their study. The Subclass visa 500 allows students to take up jobs after finishing their degree. 

Job Outlook for International Students after Studies

Here’s a quick look at the top sectors to look for jobs in Australia for indian students are-

After the completion of your course in Australia, you will not be able to live there with a student visa. To continue living there, or to find a job in the same country, you will need to apply for a post study work visa. There are a number of options available to obtain a work visa. Some of the temporary work visa options are: 

• Temporary Graduate Visa (Subclass 485): A temporary Graduate Visa is granted based on your qualification and the shortage of skill in the country. There are two types of temporary graduate visas: 

• Post study work visa: Students graduating from Australia are eligible to apply for this visa regardless of the type of field they work in. You can stay for about 2-5years with this visa. But, you are required to apply before 6 months of the completion of your course. 

• Graduate work stream: Similar to the above, this work visa requires you to work in any profession that is listed on the skills storage list of Australia. This Australia work visa allows you to work for about 18 months. Although similar to the post study work visa, you will have to apply 6 months in advance. 

• Skilled Recognised Graduate Visa (Subclass 476): This is a special visa granted for Engineers of any sort who aspire to work in Australia. However, you should have studied at a recognized university. You can live up to 18 months in Australia with this visa. 

If you are interested in staying in Australia for a longer period, you might want to apply for a Permanent Residency. Obtaining a PR in Australia is based on a point-based system, and is quite straightforward. A set score is allotted to some of the main aspects, that are: 

• Age
• Work Experience 
• Qualification
• High in-demand profession of Australia
• Number of years of work experience in Australia

Each of the above criteria is scored and you must score a minimum of 65 to be selected for PR in Australia. Your total score reflects your eligibility and probability of getting a PR. 

You’ve now gauged an overall picture of studying abroad in Australia as an international student. Academically and otherwise, Australia is a good country to travel, explore, study or even work. If you’ve made up your mind to move to this glamorous country for further studies, schedule a call with a Yocket Professional to help you get there!