About Australia

Australia is the world?s smallest continent and the largest island. It is like nowhere else in the world. It has an area as big as mainland of the United States but has a population of only 20 million people.

It?s a friendly, young, adventurous and stylish nation that welcomes international students. The entire country has unique animals and a fabulous climate. Aussies like the great outdoors, they love sport, worship their beaches, having BBQs with their mates and eating out at the 1000?s of multicultural restaurants.

The population is comprised of over 130 nationalities which makes Australia one of the most multicultural countries in the world. This broad ethnic mix has created a rich cultural blend of languages, fashions, architecture and cuisines..

The Aboriginal people have lived in Australia for over 50,000 years and it is believed they are the oldest,
continuous civilisation in the world. You can enjoy a tour with an Aboriginal guide to learn about their unique relationship with the country and listen to their stories that have been handed down for generations.

You can also view their rock art which is the oldest in the world. When Aussies go to the beach they try and wear as little as possible.

Australia is a land of extremes so make sure you come prepared. Up in the mountains down in the southern part of the continent its cold and snows from June to October).

Up further north its hot and humid from November through to March. Sharpen your spirit with an Australian adventure.

Credit: Tourism Australia Copyright

There are literally endless adventures you can take including a boat ride in the tropical rivers where you?ll see crocodiles as you cruise by. You can drive for days through the red deserts in the outback where kangaroos, lizards and emus thrive.

Along the coastal plains you can visit the rainforests where there are prehistoric plants like the 200 million year old Wollemi Pine.

The tree is thought to be one of the world?s oldest and rarest plants dating back to the age of the dinosaurs.

There are less than 100 trees known to exist in the wild. The remarkable discovery of the Wollemi Pine in the Blue Mountains near Sydney was an essential factor in the park being created as a World Heritage area in December 2000.

If you?re into adventure travel you can do a vast range of thrill seeking activities like rock-climbing, white water rafting, bungy jumping, ballooning, abseiling, skydiving, scuba diving, para-sailing and horse riding.

Australia is vast with over 46,000 kms of coastline, over 3,000 national parks and 15 World Heritage sites.

Many beautiful national parks are quite close to the major cities like the Blue Mountains National Park which has incredible mountain trails, flora and fauna and is only an hour away from Sydney. Tours run to almost all the national parks downunder.

The wildlife is often thought of as quite frankly - weird. Australia has kangaroos which bounce along at a rapid clip, wombats which look like big ungainly dogs, cuddly fluffy koalas who spend most of time asleep in gum trees, platypus that live in rivers and have a duck-like beak and fur, wild dingos, emus which are a peculiar looking animal with a long neck and a funny haircut!

There are over 1000 bird species in Australia with one of the most famous being the kookaburras which laughs almost like a human, and pretty pink galahs.

Because Australia is so multicultural you will notice there is a very sophisticated cafe society just like in Europe. Aussie restaurants provide outstanding food, wine and service. You can walk down the street and see a Thai restaurant next to an Italian trattoria alongside a Greek food house with a fish and chip shop.

Starting at the budget level there are endless accommodation options including hostels, backpacker lodges, motels, cabins, camping grounds through to boutique hotels and resorts and onto major international hotel chains.

You can also get away from it all staying in wilderness lodges, romantic tropical island resorts, B&Bs and very friendly farm and home stays.

If its entertainment your after you wont be disappointed. This is after all the country that produced such singing greats as Cold Chisel, Silverchair, Midnight Oil, INXS, AC/DC and Kylie Minogue. Its film stars include Mel Gibson, Hugh Jackman, Nicole Kidman,Cate Blanchett, Bryan Brown, Toni Collette, Anthony LaPaglia and Eric Bana

Australia is truly a gem in the South Pacific with its amazing natural and man made icons such as Uluru (Ayers Rock), the Great Barrier Reef, Kakadu National Park, the Daintree rainforest, the Opera House, the Sydney Harbour Bridge which you can walk right over the top of, the ever-popular Gold Coast and the amazing Skyrail near Cairns.

So do your self a favour. Come and visit Australia. For an international student its the adventure of a lifetime.

For more information visit www.StudyinAustralia.com

Overview of the Australian Education System

The Australia Education system offers over 12,000 courses that are recognised internationally and are of world class standards. The tuition fees and living costs to study in Australia compare better than most other countries with quality tuition being more affordable than in the UK, USA or Canada, whilst offering a safe studying environment for international students, and a standard of living that is among the highest in the world.

Australia has the third largest number of international students in the English-speaking world behind the USA and UK, but in many counties Australia is many students? first choice for international study.

Australia Education has a standardised system of qualifications, and together with great lifestyle opportunities there is no wonder why more than 200,000 international students choose to study in Australia. This together with Australia?s long history of teaching international students is proof enough that international students at Australian universities in Australia and their parents enjoy a level of service and financial protection that is unrivalled.

Australia has a dynamic multicultural society in which students can learn and travel in an English speaking country. There is the added advantages of being in close proximity to Asia, and the fact that international students can work up to 20 hours per week during semester and full-time during vacation periods.

All institutions from Australian Schools to Australian Universities, Australian English Colleges to Australian Vocational Education and Training colleges and TAFE?s must be registered with the Australian Government and meet stringent Australian education registration conditions ensuring that courses are of high standards in both ethics and quality.

Emphasis is placed on not only understanding concepts but also on their applications and theories, and the ability to critically examine different viewpoints and arguments, to collect and analyse data, to develop an argument in a logical form and to participate in discussion and debate with other students and teachers. This is an active learning process and not a passive listening one. Should assistance to develop a student?s study skills be required most institutions offer counseling services.

Assessment methods in determining a student?s progress vary between institutions. The students should fully understand how they will be assessed at the time of registering at a particular institution.

Resources

Australian Education Living and Study Expenses
Australian Education Qualification Types
Australian Education Quality Standards and Accreditation

Can I Study in Australia?

Before planning to study abroad, these three factors must be considered - high quality of education, safe living conditions, and cost. A high quality of education is very important for those who want to land a job easily. It is a competitive world in the labor market and having graduated from a school that has a high standard of education would yield additional points for your resume. Recently, aside from skills, more and more employers have considered the quality of education, and good English communication skills to be one of the most important basis for employment.

Another important thing that must be considered are safe living conditions at lower cost, and lower cost of education. Most countries that provide high quality of education also have a high cost of living conditions and tuition fees.

This is why more and more people have discovered Australia as the perfect education haven. Australia has become as one of the top ranking in education destination just after the USA and UK. For 2 years now, Australia has the most increase in the number of international students. This is because Australia provides a high standard of education and a variety of courses, and safe living conditions at a reasonable cost.

Now that you?ve chosen the ideal study destination, another question comes to mind: ?Can I study in Australia?? Anyone interested can study in Australia providing he/she is eligible. To be accepted into the course you are interested in, minimum academic requirements must be met. Entry requirements may vary from course to course or from one institution to another. Some Post-graduate courses, for example, may require relevant work experience.

You will be taking the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test. This would measure your proficiency in the English language. For entry into any course falling into the Higher education category, the student is required to have a score of at least 6 on the IELTS conducted by the British Council. For vocational studies, training courses and Secondary school courses, an overall score between 5-6 is required, depending on the course chosen. A score of 213/300 and above in TOEFL is also accepted.

Finding work in Australia

Australia, because of its low unemployment rate, is known as the land of opportunities. Australia welcomes all hard-working, well-qualified individuals with open arms. Therefore, landing a job in Australia is not so difficult. There is a vast range of career opportunities in Australia- from Aerospace and Defense, to the Automotive industry, Government sector, Biotechnology, Building and Construction, I.T., Logistics, Heavy industries and Infrastructure, Health (general practitioners, nurses, radiologists, physiotherapists), Education (high school teachers ? especially science & math), Hospitality, Skilled and Farm labor ( hairdressers, farmers)

The Australian Government has a skilled migration program that targets young people with skills, education, and outstanding abilities that will contribute to the Australian economy.

One advantage for graduating from higher education institutions in Australia and gaining an Australian qualification is the opportunity of finding good employment. An Australian qualification is highly honored by employers in Australia and in many countries around the world. Thousands of graduates are recruited every year from all career fields. Half of the people assessed under the skilled migrant program are those international students with Australian qualifications.

The main issue to be considered is that finding job opportunities in Australia depend on the visa you will be granted. There are various categories of Australian visa and for each category, a point system is used. For applicants who intend to obtain a migration visa or work permit, they must accumulate a certain number of points. This point system is based on their educational qualification, work experience, skills, and good English Communication skills.

A good resume (CV) is also one of the factors for an easier employment in Australia. Thus, your resume is your marketing tool, and should persuade your employer to invite you for an interview.