Why study in Australia With a motto of Live, Learn, Grow Australia has opened its arms to the worldwide student community. A heaven of sorts, students not only gain knowledge from daily classroom teaching but also gather a world of experience from the museums, cultural festivals and innumerable sporting events. Home to world-class universities, Australia proffers courses in disciplines ranging from management studies, medicine, finance, literature, visual arts, astronomy, which is a fraction of an almost exhaustive list of subjects. How much will it cost to study in Australia? On an average an internationalstudent may spend about AUD 360 per week accommodation, food, clothing,entertainment, transport and telephone. Do keep in mind that this figuredepends on your style of living; location and also what course are you studying. However you have to show that you have enough financials to cover your living cost, pay tuitions and your travel. Are Scholarships available for international students? Yes. There are various scholarships available for international students. Though majority of these scholarships are available at Post Graduate level by Universities but some institutes also offer scholarships. Pls check with your nearest VIEC office for an update. Is 15 years of prior education acceptable in Australia? Yes it is acceptable. Is IELTS mandatory to study in Australia? Yes. IELTS is the only test accepted by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for visa purposes. What type of accommodation is available for the students? Students have a number of options available that can be on-campus or off-campus such as hostels, rented housing, home stay etc. Can I work in Australia? Yes. International Students on a Student visa in Australia can work 20 hours in a week during course time and full time in vacations. However, you cannot start work until you have commenced your course in Australia. Can I extend my visa onshore ? Yes you can do so however in some cases a student is granted a 'No further Stay' clause on their visas. In that case one has to come back and re-apply for a fresh student visa application from the home country. Can my spouse or child accompany me in Australia while I am studying? Yes they can apply for student dependant visa and meet the criteria to be granted a dependant visa.   Quick Facts Known to the Romans as the Unknown Land of the South, Australia is the worlds smallest continent with a total land area of 7.61 million sq km. Located in the Southern Hemisphere, between the Indian Ocean and the South Pacific Ocean, Australia ironically indeed is also the largest island on Earth and is made up of many smaller islands like Lord Howe, Macquarie, Fraser, Kangaroo amongst others. A land of sun-baked beaches and dense tropical rainforests, Australians biggest appeal lies in its fascinating natural beauty. Given the vast expanse of this land, climatic differences seem no more a revelation. The northern regions of the country experience tropical climate and as one move southward, it change to being arid and temperate. Year round temperatures across the continent with regional and seasonal variations fluctuate between 38C and 1C. A look at the economy shows that Australia is no less than any other developed country and at a GDP per capita of $36,300 is raring to grow leaps and bounds even today. A negligible BPL population with a mere 4% unemployment rate and an inflation of 2.3%, the Unknown Land of the Roman times has certainly become much known and acknowledged for its enviable economic advancement. Capital:  Canberra Population:  20,600,856 (July 2008 est.) Nationality:  Australian(s) Climate:  Generally arid to semi-arid with tropical in the north and temperate in the south. Languages:  English, Chinese (2.1%), Italian (1.9%) and others. Govt.Type:  Federal parliamentary democracy. Currency:Australian Dollar (Varies between Rs 39.5 and Rs 42) Calling Code: +61 Time Difference:  Divided into 3 time zones (Standard): Eastern Standard Time- 10 hours ahead of UTC/GMT; Central Standard Time- 9 hours and 30 minutes ahead of UTC/GMT; Western Standard Time- 8 hours ahead of UTC/GMT (Daylight Saving Time on Standard Time from the 1st Sunday of April until the 1st Sunday in October for those states that adopt the same). Education System in Australia With a motto of ‘Live. Learn. Grow’, Australia has opened its arms to the worldwide student community. A haven of sorts, students not only gain knowledge from daily classroom teaching but also gather a world of experience from the museums, cultural festivals and innumerable sporting events. Home to world-class universities, Australia proffers courses in disciplines ranging from management studies, medicine, finance, literature, visual arts, astronomy, which is a fraction of an almost exhaustive list of subjects. The distinguished universities include names like the Australian National University, Charles Sturt University, Deakin University, RMIT, LaTrobe, UTS, UWA, James Cook University, and many others. Popular courses: Engineering, computers, business administration, para-medical, science, arts, humanities, social sciences. Benefits of studying here: Multicultural society. High standard of living. Internationally recognized qualifications. Recognition of previous studies. Strong student support services. Ample of part time job Opportunity   Approximate tuition fees (in AUD) Foundation courses:  9,000 to 14,000 Bachelor degree:  13,000 to 20,000 Graduate certificates and diplomas:  9,000 to 16,000 Masters and doctoral degrees:  14,000 to 20,000 Vocational training:  9,000 to 12,000 Approximate living expenses:  Average AUD 250 per week (including sharing accommodation, food, clothing, entertainment, transport, telephone) Work-permit options: International students receive permission to work along with their visa. You are allowed to work 20 hours a week during term and work unlimited hours during term Christmas breaks. But you cannot begin work until your course has started. If any dependants come with you they are also allowed to work 20 hours a week once your course commences. In case you are pursuing a Masters or Doctoral degree your dependants may work unlimited hours.