Studying abroad today is not uncommon, many people make their first study trip abroad to school: it can be language courses, summer schools c with a particular discipline (programming, law, creative writing, etc.), Preparatory programs to prepare applicants. admission. But travel to some countries raises questions, it is still a journey into the unknown - Australia also belongs to them. This large country with a diverse population, climate, and landscape maintains high educational standards, with 43 universities more than a million students, and a staff of more than 100,000. Australia is also a provider of English language education, the only country in the world that has an accreditation and quality assurance system for English language teaching.
Students are attracted to the country by the average cost of tuition, the opportunity to have a unique experience of living abroad, safety, and social well-being. Let's take a closer look, SMAPSE experts, at what financial, housing, weather, cultural, ethnic realities await students in Australia.
Accommodation and work
On-campus residences are rare in Australia, so most students live off-campus in private rented apartments, host families or apartments.
- Homestay is a great way for international students to fully integrate into local life. These programs are popular with high school students or students taking short-term English courses. Families usually offer single or double rooms, which vary in cost depending on the level of comfort and usually range from A$110 to A$270 per week. Meals are often paid separately; there are options where the student cooks his or her own meals. Institutional housing services keep a record of reliable family housing providers.
- Accommodation in a dormitory or guest house is suitable for independent students. Kitchen and bathroom facilities are shared, students cook on their own or eat in cafes and canteens. Living costs between $80 and $135/week. Living in a dormitory provides a valuable opportunity for social interaction, socializing international students.
- Rental properties are an option for those who wish to share a home and the cost of renting with multiple roommates. Students who choose this type of housing often buy their own household items, which incurs additional costs. Rent costs between $70 and $250 per week per person: a prepayment and a deposit equal to the monthly rent is usually required.
- Some Australian universities provide housing for students in dormitories or student apartments. Prices and the number of places depend on the university, so international students should apply for housing as early as possible because such options are popular. Campus housing costs between $80 and $250/week.
- Residential colleges provide students with housing, meals, housekeeping, and a range of social and educational services. The cost of living here is more expensive than in dormitories.
- Apartments - Housing in or near the campus offered by an educational institution. Students receive guaranteed housing and independent living.
On average, 90-100% of students in Australia live off-campus, so while the supply is enormous, demand remains high. International students are advised to arrive in Australia 2-3 weeks before orientation in order to have time to choose a place and move in before classes.
Work for students in Australia
International students can work and study in Australia on a student visa, but there are restrictions: students work 20 hours per week during term time and up to 40 hours per week during vacation periods. You can arrive in Australia 90 days before the start of your course, but you cannot work for pay before you start. These restrictions do not apply to internships, which are a compulsory part of education, and volunteering is also allowed.
Visa and Financial Issues
A student visa is only required if you wish to take a registered course or part of a registered course on a permanent basis. A registered course is a course offered by an Australian educational institution which is registered with the Australian Government and offers courses for international students.
International students must demonstrate that they have an income of at least $18,810 per annum which is the approximate cost of living for a student in Australia.
Approximate cost of some daily needs:
- 80-200$ AUD - groceries
- $60-100 AUD - utilities
- 10-50 AUD for transportation
- AUD 18 for dinner at a restaurant
- AUD 7 - local beer
- AUD 18 for movie tickets.
Types of student visas:
| Type of student visa | Courses / Qualifications |
| ELICOS | Intensive English Language Courses for International Students (ELICOS) are offered as a stand-alone course that does not lead to an Australian award/degree |
|
Schools | Elementary school High school including: exchange programs for junior and senior high school |
|
Vocational education
| Certificates I, II, III and IV, diploma, advanced diploma |
|
Higher education |
certificate Diploma |
|
Masters and PhD students | Master Doctoral studies |
|
Not a diploma of education
| Basic education without a degree Other full-time or non-university courses |
Geography, Climate
The climatic seasons in Australia can take some getting used to: the season that coincides with summer is the coldest in Australia and the warmest in winter.
Australia is a country of diverse climate and landscape: there are various geographical areas, from tropical rainforests to golden beaches, rare deserts, vast grasslands, rich coral reefs, rich marine life. Summer temperatures in Western Australia reach 40 ° C above zero, in Tasmania - only 23 ° C above zero, in winter inland temperatures average 14 ° C above zero, and in Tasmania it drops to 3 ° C above zero. All tourists note the high humidity in winter, in some areas - dry periods in summer.
Population, religion, culture
Although Australia is a predominantly Christian country, with about 52 percent of all citizens identifying as Christian, there is no official state religion: locals practice religions from around the world to complement cultural diversity. Most universities and communities have institutions and places of worship for major religions.
Language
Australia does not have an official language, but the majority of the population is native English speakers. According to the 2016 Census, 73% of Australians speak English only at home. In Australian English, special attention is paid to lexical differences. Because the population consisted of about 200 countries, many languages are practiced here: Mandarin, Italian, Arabic, Cantonese, and Greek. There were once almost 400 Australian Aboriginal languages, but today only 70 survive, 40 are on the verge of extinction.
Culture
Australia has many major art museums and galleries supported by national, state, local government, universities and private museums. The most famous:
- National Gallery of Australia.
- National Portrait Gallery of Australia
- National Museum of Australia
- Canberra Museum
- National Gallery of Victoria (Melbourne)
- Art Gallery of New South Wales
- Museum of Modern Art (Sydney)
- Queensland Art Gallery (Brisbane)
- Art Gallery of South Australia (Adelaide)
- Tasmanian Museum, Art Gallery (Hobart)
- Northern Territory Museum and Art Gallery (Darwin)
- Art Gallery of Western Australia (Perth).
Transport
Australia is a sparsely populated country: it has a well-developed transportation system that makes it easy to get to remote areas and travel on your own.
- Riding a bicycle can be a great way to get around campus and university. Some state laws require cyclists to wear a helmet and obey traffic laws.
- The bus system, like most public transportation systems in Australia, is fairly extensive, making it easy to get around town. Suburban buses are less frequent - students living in the suburbs will have to find alternative ways of getting around.
- Australia is a big country, so for longer journeys it's recommended you take the train or plane.
- The most extensive form of public transport in Australia is the rail network, which connects many rural areas to the major urban centres. The railway network of the country is large: the total length of roads is 33819 km.
- Cabs are expensive for students, but they are good for long journeys if there is no bus or subway system. Australian cab drivers don't pay tips.
- Rideshare's rideshare system is a more economical option than cabs.
- Sometimes air travel may be the only option for getting around the country. Australia has two major national airlines and many regional networks. There are about 450 airports in Australia.
- Roads allow to move around the country: there are 3-4 times more roads per capita than in Europe, 7-9 times more than in Asia. Australian road system also serves rural areas and is divided into 3 categories: federal, state highways, and local roads. Students have the option of renting a car, but they will have to get used to left-hand traffic.
