Australia has 39 universities with more than 1 million enrolled students and undertakes more than $5.4 billion worth of research and development each year. Australian education is world recognised and offers the most modern technology and on-campus facilities.

Leading subject areas

Australian universities have an international reputation for excellence in all areas of education and training. If we should mention popular areas for international students it would be the following;

• Architecture
• Technology 
• Science 
• Construction
• Design 

International students in Australia 

Australian education is world recognised and as such thousands of students from all over the world are applying to Australian universities around the world each year and increasing.

University ranking

Many universities in Australia are in the top 400 universities in the world according to Times Higher Education. On the top Oceania University Rankings 6 Australian universities takes the lead. 

The Australian education system has a strong international reputation and is known for its innovative structure and links with industry as well as the high calibre research facilities available.

Most university degrees will be delivered with a mix of lectures, seminars, small group work. Students are actively encouraged to take a semester studying abroad in another country and many degrees will also allow for a period of work experience/internships.

The teachers will encourage you to think of original, practical solutions to real-world problems.

There are several different types of universities that you can choose from and are unique in their own ways:

Group of Eight

These universities are seen as the leading universities in Australia (in terms of research outputs, graduate outcomes, academic staff, industry links). They are very popular with students who want a rigorous academic training and have a high level of prestige attached to them.

Examples are:

• Australian National University, Canberra
• University of New South Wales
• University of Western Australia, Perth
• Monash University, Melbourne

Innovative Research Universities

These universities make up about 15% of University enrolments and work together in their research and innovation. They are known for conducting research of national and international standing and each has a specific area of expertise.

Examples are:

• Griffith University, Brisbane & The Gold Coast Australia
• La Trobe University, Melbourne

Australian University Technology Network

The Australian Technology Network brings together five of the most innovative and enterprising universities in Australia.

They produce students who are ready to fill the needs of industry (engineering, teaching, nursing) etc. and about 1 in 4 international students choosing to study at an ATN university.

Examples are:

• Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Brisbane
• University of South Australia
• University of Technology Sydney (UTS)

• Strong analytical skills
• Communicative skills
• International work experience 
• Global viewpoint

• On-campus accommodation available
• `Homestay` where you live with an Australian family
• Private room

• unilogde.com.au
• s-h-a.com.au
• studentliving.com.au

• Make sure you check what bills are included in the rent, as it may have a large impact on your budget. Some accommodations include gas, electricity, TV and internet in the rent, for others you are expected to pay them separately.
• Make sure you read through your rental contract before signing it and check what you are allowed to do with your room.  
• Some rooms are rented unfurnished and some furnished. Make sure you are aware of the costs of furniture if you decide to rent an unfurnished room and if you decide to rent a furnished room know what furniture that includes.  

• Tuition fees starts from £9000
• For TAFE Colleges the fees starts from £5000
• Each university will have a small amount of funding for international student funding. There are also external bodies that offer scholarships, such as the Endeavour Awards which offers Postgraduate scholarships. 
• Students from the UK can also get a Career Development Loan for postgraduate courses in Australia. 
• International students pay their fees in 2 instalments at the start of each term.

Living costs in Australia

Below you see a breakdown of the costs per week approximately of living in Australia.

Living in Australia costs around £10,000 per year unless you have family/friends to stay with. This may seem expensive but students who have studied in Australia have told us that it is worth it!

Students in Australia get discounts (in Western Australia and Queensland, international students get half-price travel) and there are other forms of student discounts everywhere (cinema, shopping etc.) 

• The entrance criteria vary between universities. At Degrees Ahead we can inform you on the entrance criteria for each university in Australia. 
• Students are required to complete an application form and provide original copies of their qualifications.
• Some degree applications require personal statements and references as a part of the application process.
• Most degree programs do not require an interview and offers will be made on application forms and qualifications.  
• Some universities will give conditional offers is students have not finished their studies. 

The first thing that catches the eye when you arrive in Australia is the beautiful architecture and fantastic nature, which is one of the biggest attractions. The landscape varies from endless horizons to tropical rainforests to southern beaches. The enthusiastic culture of outdoor life is very different from the UK. Similar to the UK is the diverse population and it allows individualism and make the society unique.

You may think that you know a thing or two about Australia but it can be an overwhelming experience at first when you are to live there and study. Population density is among the lowest in the world with an average of 2.5 people per square kilometer.

Leisure
The opportunities to get involved in daily life are endless whether you are into arts, sport, partying, book clubs, the great outdoors or cosy cafés. There are many ways for international students to join in and have fun.   

People in Australia loves to watch and play Football and being a part of a crowd at an AFL (Australian Football League) game is a must even if you do not like sport that much. Swimming is also very popular in Australia and here are lots of possibilities for swimming in the ocean or pools all around the country. As Australia is surrounded by sea it is not surprising that Surfing is a popular sport as well. It is not easy to stat with for most people but once you get a hang of it, it is a wonderful sport. 

Food
Australia’s first settlers brought the tastes of 18^th century Great Britain with them. Meat pie puddings and fish'n'chips are everyday food in Australia but with so much diversity there are a few things Australians would like to call their own dishes; Barbecued snags from the traditional pork or beaf and flavored with herbs and spices. Barbecues are very common in Australia. The Emu is a native Australian animal and seen in most zoos but in Australia it is also used for its meat. You can get pies with Emu meat and smoked Emu as pizza topping.