Andhra Pradesh   

Take a leap to kangaroo land

Nivedita Ganguly

Education in Australia is cheaper than in UK or the US

Heading Down Under for higher studies may appear to be a better idea after you have heard this nugget: Did you know that studying in Australia is 30 per cent cheaper than studying in the UK, Canada or the US? And it is much easier to get a visa to Australia than UK or the US. Many more such interesting facts came out at the Australian Education Fair held in Visakhapatnam that was organised by AFAIRS and supported by the Australian High Commission.

Increase in number

During the last decade, there has been significant increase in the number of Indian students studying in Australia. According to the Australian High Commission, from less than 2,000 students in 1994, today there are more than 21,000 Indian students in Australia. While business management, information technology, engineering, accounting and hospitality sector were popular courses, new fields like aviation and biotechnology are emerging as the preferred choice of many students.

Getting admission in an Australian university is relatively easy. Mostly, admission is based on your past academic record. Australia does not insist on 16 years of education for students who want to apply for post-graduate programmes. GMAT scores may be required by certain institutions for entry into MBA programmes.

Scholarships

Getting a scholarship for studying in Australia may be difficult. "The Australian Government gives two kinds of scholarships to Indian students that are considered on purely merit grounds. If you want to stay back in Australia, the best way is to apply for a Permanent Residency," said Priya Raja, Education Promotion Officer of the Australian High Commission. For details visit their official website - www.studyinaustralia.gov.au. Select two-year courses automatically qualify for a Permanent Residency.

To get an Australian student visa you do not have to attend a personal interview. But the pre-visa requirements are demanding. Any student intending to undertake three months or longer full-time study programme in a registered course in Australia needs to obtain a student visa. Check out the student visa requirement on the Australian Government's immigration website: www.immi.gov.au/study. Getting a part-time job depends on the university you attend. One is allowed to work up to 20 hours a week during semesters and full time during vacations. Ensure that your degree and job is in demand before you think of migration. And to be eligible for a job in Australia, you must have what every successful migrant would swear by -- excellent technical skills!

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