Australia Guide

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The predominant reasons for international students choosing to study in Australian Universities are - excellent lifestyle, vibrant cultural experience and a comparatively less expensive world-class higher education. The cost of living in Australia is comparatively less than the US and the UK.

We hope these articles will help you prepare yourself for the challenges ahead and make your journey to Australia simple and successful.

Wish you all the best! Financial Assistance for Higher Education in Australia Posted by Selva to Help and Advice | March 02nd 2013 Australia is one of the destinations where as an international student you have the liberty to choose a course that suits your particular goals. Whatever course you choose, you’ll experience a kind of education that is unique and one of a kind which promotes innovative, creative and independent thinking. Australian institutions apart from helping you with your education, they help you learn to work as a team, communicate effectively and develop practical and intellectual skills needed for success. The education system in Australia has a strong international reputation and is known for its effective structure and innovative policy developments. Many countries, eager to improve their own education systems, turn to Australia for advice. Despite the fact that educational expenses are economic compared to the US, the UK and Canada, studying in Australia can still be costly for many Indian and South Asian students. The important deciding factor which enables international students to study abroad is proving their ability to meet their educational and living expenses before travelling to Australia. Australian Financial Assistance for Indian Students  Financial assistance is a significant opportunity, serving qualified students to complete their education. Australia provides many outstanding scholarships, grants and fellowships. Some of the popular Australian scholarships, grants and fellowships are: Australian Development Scholarship Australian Development Scholarships (ADS) are scholarships for international students who wish to study in Australian Universities and return to their home country to contribute to the national and regional development of their country. ADS are available for undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, PhD degrees and vocational education and training courses. The application deadline is 30th February, 2013 contact india@southasiascholarships.org immediately for more information. Australian Leadership Award The Australian Leadership Awards (ALA) scholarships act as a supplement to ADS. The recipients undertake a Leadership Development Program which provides chances to augment their leadership capacity and extend their association while in Australia. The application intakes are generally around March-June. International Postgraduate Research Scholarships  The International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) allows foreign students to take on a postgraduate research qualification in Australia and gain experience working with leading Australian researchers. Funds are available for a period of 2 years for Master’s by research or 3 years for Doctorate by research. The application intakes are generally around July-October. Endeavour Postgraduate Scholarship Awards The Endeavour Postgraduate Awards provide complete financial support for international students for 2 to 3.5 years to pursue Master’s or PhD either by coursework or research in Australia in any field of study. The application intakes are generally around April and closes by June. Endeavour Executive Awards The Endeavour Executive Award offers professional growth prospects of 1-4 months in Australia for achievers in business, industry, education or government from developing countries. The Awards centres on constructing skills and knowledge through a host work environment rather than enrolling recipients in a formal study program at a host organisation and are not intended to fund direct academic research. The application intakes are generally around April. Australia Leadership Awards Fellowships The Australia Leadership Awards Fellowships are research, short-term study and professional attachment programs offered by Australian organizations. The ALA Fellowships are a part of a regional program that aspires to develop leadership and build partnerships and linkages with developing countries.  The program is meant for those who are already leaders or have the potential to take up leadership roles that can influence socio-economic policy reform and development outcomes. CSIRO Postgraduate Scholarship Program The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation Postgraduate scholarship program provides opportunities in science and engineering for exceptional students who enrol at any Australian tertiary institutions as a full-time postgraduate student for research leading to PhD. Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships The Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships from Rotary Foundation of Rotary International provide funds for an academic year of study in Australia. This fund is meant to help pay costs related to round-trip transportation, course fee and living costs and at a flat grant amount of AU$27,000 for Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD in research or coursework. Indian Financial Assistance for Indian Students Mostly, Indian scholarships and grants provided by the Indian government and nongovernmental organizations are in the form of no-interest or interest free loans to assist Indian students to study abroad. Indo-Australia S&T Visiting Fellowship Programme The Indian National Science Academy, intakes applications from outstanding Indian Researchers and Senior Professional Scientists who have regular positions in Indian recognized S&T Institutions/Universities and actively engaged in research in frontline areas in all fields of Science & Technology including Agriculture and Medicine and to visit Australia. The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund The Australia-India Strategic Research Fund (AISRF) allows Australian researchers from public and private sectors to contribute in leading edge scientific research projects and workshops with Indian scientists and support the progress of strategic alliances between Australian and Indian researchers. Postgraduate Merit Scholarship for University Rank Holders The Postgraduate Merit Scholarship is awarded by University Grants Commission to students pursuing PG first year regular non-professional degree course in any renowned university or a post-graduate college. The application intake’s deadline is on October. Postgraduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child The University Grants Commission invites students to apply for Post-Graduate Indira Gandhi Scholarship for Single Girl Child with the purpose of supporting post-graduation education through scholarships to female students who happen to be the only child in the family. The application intake’s deadline is on October. West Bengal Government Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme The West Bengal Government offers an ongoing scheme the Merit-cum-Means Scholarship Scheme for providing financial assistance to poor and meritorious students of West Bengal looking to pursue higher education abroad. Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana Fellowship Department of Science and Technology (DST), Govt of India offers the “Kishore Vaigyanik ProtsahanYojana” (KVPY)  program, which was started in 1999 encouraging students of Basic Sciences to take up research careers in Science. Hope this article helped you know about the financial assistance available for Indian students to study in Australia. How to Apply an Australian Student Visa? Posted by Antony Chacko to Help and Advice | March 21st 2013 From the contemporary, urbane capital cities to pastoral rural towns in the outback, Australia is one country that is very exciting to explore. Australians are known for their friendly, tolerant, hospitable and laid-back attitude. Politically, the country is secure and stable making it an ideal place to study, work and live. Good quality institutions and standards in education. Though the standard of living is quite high it is relatively inexpensive and so is the cost of education, without compromising the standard. Student looking to study in Australia for more than 3 months should apply for a student visa and for courses which are under 3 months will be considered for a visitor’s visa or working holiday visa. Visas are issued by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) only if the study program is a fulltime registered course offered by Australian government for international students or a part of a registered course. Obtaining an Australian student visa has become easy today by adapting to the e-visa system approved by education agents. In India there are thirteen education agencies that process student visas electronically and submit supporting documents electronically. There is a steady increase in granting student visas to Indian students to study in Australia. Visa Application Procedure, Payment and Related Components  Before applying for a visa, students need to submit a letter of acceptance from the Australian institute they are joining. Students are expected to pay their tuition fee before applying at the Australian High Commission and are required to submit complete documents including their passport. Applications can be filled by paper or done online. There are components to be considered apart from the common application and payment process; components like acceptable course of study, correspondence method, information disclosure consent and applicant rights. Read more about visa application procedure. Student Visa Assessment Levels The student visa assessment is usually done on individual merits and is done to basically streamline the application process and allow the department to deliver quickly. The clarity in visa requirements and the reliable decisions are the essential parts of the student visa program. With visas being granted to students from over 190 different countries, assessment levels, as a possible measure of immigration risk for each of these student groups, are a key tool in determining visa requirements and enable consistency in decisions across this diverse range of clients. Assessment Level Student Visas In the student visa program there are five assessment levels. They serve to bring into line the student visa requirements to the immigration risk posed by applicants from a particular country studying in a particular education sector. Assessment Level 1 represents the lowest immigration risk and Assessment Level 5 the highest. The higher the Assessment Level, the better the evidence an applicant is needed to demonstrate to support their claims for a student visa to be granted. Requirements for the Grant of a Student Visa Students’ capacity to cover the travel expenses, tuition fees and living expenses for the duration of their stay in Australia. Students living expenses in Australia are set at AUD 18, 610/INR 10, 29,293.05 per annum. The period for which students must provide evidence of funds, the type of funds considered acceptable, and the savings period for funds may vary with their assessment level and the sector of study. Living expenses are a minimum amount set for visa purposes and can vary depending on the place students will be living and studying. It is the students’ responsibility to determine their expenses and study in Australia. Even though students’ might have permission to work, they should not rely on work to sustain themselves in Australia as a student.  Read more aboutrequirements. Required Documents for Visa Application Document submission is an important aspect of the Australian visa application procedure. The Embassy usually does not ask for original documents but demand certified or notarized copies of document and transcripts. Thesupporting documentation required may vary depending on the student’s assessment level and the education sector of their main course of study. The Interview and the Visa Processing Time The student visa interview for Australian student visa is different to some extent from the immigration interview in that the student is questioned on the subjects of the requirements and the need for the higher education choice in Australia. There are diverse types of categories when it comes to the Australian student visa interview and they change based on the type of visa obtained by the student. It is mainly a program that takes in different levels of education. The processing time service standards for various types of visa applications are concurrent to the Portfolio Budget Statements. The department aims to process 75% of applications within these service standards, yet the actual processing time may vary depending on a range of factors. Members of the Family Unit A member of the family unit is the student’s partner (spouse or de facto) or a dependent child of the student or the student partner’s child who is not married, not in a de facto relationship and who has not turned 18. Members of the family unit may apply for a student (Subclass 570–576) visa to live with the student in Australia as their family unit members. They can apply at the same time as the student, or after they have arrived in Australia.  Nomination of student dependants A person who becomes a member after the student lodging their application and before it is decided is eligible for entry provided the student should inform the department in writing of that member’s personal particulars and provide evidence of their relationship to the student. Periods of stay granted to members of the family unit will generally be the same as the student’s period of stay. Family members should ensure that they always hold a valid visa while in Australia. Read more about nomination of student dependants. Student Visa Conditions If students are issued a student visa, the student should satisfy attendance and/or course progress requirements and maintain a valid enrolment for their chosen course of study. The student and members of their family unit should not work unless they have been granted permission to work as part of their initial visa grant and they have commenced their course of study in Australia. They should maintain their approved Overseas Student Health Cover while in Australia. If students are an Assessment Level 3, 4 or 5, their overall Intended period of study is 10 months or less, they will be subject to a ‘no further stay’ condition. This means that after entering Australia, they may not be granted any other visa while they remain in Australia, other than a further student visa with permission to work, or a Graduate or a skilled visa. Read more about student visa conditions. Education Provider's Approval to Deliver Courses are Removed The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has particular activities in place to help students if their education provider has ceased operations and is no longer able to deliver their course and the scenario is known as education provider ‘default’. The department is aware of the fact that students may be concerned about their visa status and that the situation is beyond their control. In which case, special arrangements will be made to provide you enough chance to study in a different institution on their student visa. Read more about education provider's defaults. List of Australian Embassies and Consulates New Delhi High Commission of Australia Australian Compound, No. 1/50 G Shantipath Chanakyapuri, PO Box 5210 110-021 New Delhi Phone: +91-11-41399900 Fax: +91-11-26885199 Email:austhighcom.newdelhi@dfat.gov.au  Website URL: www.ausgovindia.com Mumbai Consulate General of Australia Level 10, A Wing Crescenzo Building Opp MCA Cricket Club G Block, Plot C 38-39 Bandra Kurla Complex Mumbai 400 051 Phone: +91 22 6757 4900 Fax: +91 22 6757 4955 Website URL: www.ausgovindia.com Chennai Consulate General of Australia 9th Floor, Express Chambers Express Avenue Estate Whites Road Royapettah Chennai 600014 Phone: +91 44 4592 1300 Fax: +91 44 4592 1320 Website URL: www.ausgovindia.com Sri Lanka High Commission of Australia Australian High Commission  No. 21 Gregory's Road, Colombo 7 Phone: + 94 11 2463200                 +94 11 2463270  Fax: +91 44 4592 1320 E-mail: immigration.colombo@dfat.gov.au Website URL: www.srilanka.embassy.gov.au Nepal Australian Embassy Bansbari PO Box 879 Kathmandu  Nepal Phone: +977 1 4371 678  Fax: +977 1 4371 533 Website URL: www.nepal.embassy.gov.au Bangladesh High Commission of Australia 184, Gulshan Avenue  Gulshan 2  Dhaka 1212  Phone: +880 2 8813105 Fax: +880 2 881 1125 E-mail: ahc.dhaka@dfat.gov.au Website URL: www.bangladesh.embassy.gov.au Pakistan High Commission of Australia Constitution Ave and Ispahani Rd,  Diplomatic Enclave, No. 1 Sector G-5/4, Islamabad, Pakistan Phone: +92 51 8355 500 Fax: +92 51 282 1150 E-mail: immigration.islamabad@dfat.gov.au Website URL: www.pakistan.embassy.gov.au Top 10 Universities in Australia Posted by Kavitha Vijeyavelan to Help and Advice | December 17th 2012 Colourful reefs, rainforests, chilly beaches, lively cities, interesting museums, stunning architecture; Australia has something for everyone. It is one country-continent that will offer you an enriching experience with its vastness. If you plan to study in Australia, you should embrace yourself for a fun-tastic ‘uni life’ ( as its commonly known).  Here are 2012’s top 10 universities in Australia as per the THE Times Higher Education World University Rankings 1. University of Melbourne! The University of Melbourne has been ranked first by THE Times Higher Education World University Rankings in Australia and 28th in the world. The University of Melbourne has also taken the leading position as per the Shanghai Jiao Tong and Higher Education Evaluation and Accreditation Council of Taiwan rankings, and it ranks second in the QS table nationally. It proves to be a great place to develop skills that international employers look for the globe-over, as its curriculum is in alignment with the world's top universities in Asia, North America, and Europe. It has student exchange programs with nearly 135 partners in 32 countries world-wide.  2. Australian National University The Australian National University (ANU) is a university of intensive research and commits around 80 per cent of its operating budget to research activities each year. The University is widely recognized not just for its research, but for its undergraduate and postgraduate education and policy engagement.   The University is home to an interconnected community of scholars. It has around 4,197 international students and 12,522 domestic students. Its campus at Canberra, Australia’s capital city, proves to be a perfect location for student life, research, and education.  3. University of Sydney The University of Sydney, founded in 1850, is a university that has a commitment to education and strives to make a difference with its research and education. It has a student population of about 50,000 with international students from 134 countries. It has around 286 student exchange agreements in over 30 countries. 4. University of Queensland The University of Queensland (UQ), having been founded in 1911, is Queensland’s oldest university and has sent out over 200,000 graduates. The University has a student population of 45,000 with nearly 11,000 international students from 134 countries. UQ sees the most PhD enrolments in the country and is one of Australia’s top three universities when it comes to PhD completions. UQ has a research income of about $338.5 million and is a founding member of the Group of Eight and is one of the three Australian members of Universitas 21. University of Queensland has won numerous Australian Awards for its University Teaching.  5. University of New South Wales The University of New South Wales (UNSW), established in 1949, also makes it to the top 60 universities from around the globe. It is a leading research and teaching university that is a founding member of the Group of Eight and is also part of Universitas 21. UNSW is the country’s most cosmopolitan university with a student population of over 52,000 students with more than 11,000 international students from 120 countries from round the globe. The University offers 900 programs at various degree levels. UNSW has more than 250 partnerships with universities world-wide.  6. Monash University  “ The World’s Top CEO’s are more likely to hire Monash graduates”  stated the New York times recently. The University’s high reputation is due to its career- focused programs, research that strives to make a difference, and its high standards of academia. It has a total student population of 63,338 out of which over 21,000 are international students. Monash is truly an international university, with campuses in Malaysia and South Africa and strong partnerships with universities round the globe (inclusive of Sichuan University from China, Arizona State University from the USA, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Warwick University from the UK).  Monash has made it to in the top 1% of world universities as per Times Higher Education World University Rankings.  7. University of Adelaide  The University of Adelaide is consistently ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world. It’s a university that has 25,000 students with international student population from over 99 countries.  It has produced numerous Nobel Prize winners and more than 100 Rhodes Scholars and is a member of the Group of Eight and is among Australia's top research-intensive universities with an annual research income of $155 million. The University makes it to the top 1% of the universities from around the globe. 8. University of Western Australia  The University of Western Australia (UWA) has been shaping the careers of more than 100,000 graduates since the year 1913. It is internationally well renowned for being research intensive and is a member of the Group of Eight and the Worldwide Universities Network, which has only two Australian universities inclusive of UWA. As per the ‘Good Universities Guide 2012’, University of Western Australia has been rated first in Australia for employment prospects, student demand, research intensity, and also graduating starting salaries. It happens to be the best in producing university graduates that gain employment full-time, in Western Australia. 9. Macquarie University  The New York Times survey 2011 stated that “CEO's around the world rank Macquarie University in the top 5 Australian universities for their graduate recruitment.”  For over ten years, graduates’ starting salaries have been ranked to be among the best in the country. Macquarie is one of the best Australian universities and has facilities for its students that are considered to be the best among the Asia Pacific region inclusive of a hospital with associated research facilities, an exceptional swimming and sports complex, an on-campus railway station, and such. It offers the most scholarship programs and most international student exchange programs within Australia for international students.  10. Queensland University of Technology    Queensland University of Technology or QUT is a university also known as 'a university for the real world' for its industry connections and its relevancy in teaching and applied research. This is a leading Australian university with an international outlook with around 42,000 students, out of which 6000 are international students. Its annual budget exceeds Aus $750 million.   This should give you the overall picture of what universities you should keep your eyes on at the time of application! Have a quick look at the Australian university rankings! Make your pick and hop into the land of kangaroos!  You can also check out the recent article about the Top Ten Universities in USA for 2013 .