Top 6 Best Cities in Australia for Studying & Living

Studying abroad in Australia is the dream of multitude of students around the world. Aside from the cost of studying in Australia, choosing the city for study is just as important. Below is an overview of the 6 best student cities in Australia. We hope this helps you to find the right setting for you.

According to the Department of Education and Training, the number of international students studying in Australia broke the record in 2016 with 554,179 international students enrolled in courses in Australia, an increase of over 10% from 2015. Also, the 2016 International Student Survey revealed that nine out of ten students were pleased with their study experience in Australia.

Aside from the cost of studying in Australia, choosing the city for study is just as important. Getting the location right can make all the difference to your study experience, the memories you create and the career path you follow.

Below is an overview of the 6 best student cities in Australia.

1. Perth - Capital of Western Australia

Cr: Pixabay

Perth was ranked as the world’s 9th most livable cities by The Economist Intelligence Unit 2012. In 2006, it was voted as one of the world’s top ten future cities by Lonely Planet.

The city has become one of best study destinations in Australia thanks to its top-notch education system, life quality and the living cost not as expensive as in other countries like the U.K and the U.S. Everyone can travel on buses within Perth, Fremantle and Joondalup for free. As an international student, you will receive a 40% discount on all public transport throughout Western Australia. Also, Perth is one of most multicultural cities in Australia. There are over 200 different nationalities and more than 170 languages in use here.

If you want to pursue the science and creative field, Perth is one of best choices. Here you have chance to work with talented scientists in projects related to pure water production and vaccine development. Perth is also a promised land with high employment opportunities and attractive pays after graduation.

Take a 4-minute quick tour of Perth:

2. Darwin - Northern Territory

Cr: TripAdvisor

As the tropical capital city of Australia’s Northern Territory, Darwin is known for many exciting outdoor activities. For example, wander in the gardens and along the beach after school. Exploring the outdoor cinema (Deckchair Cinema) is another incredibly awesome experience here. You can also visit restaurants and nightclubs on Mitchell street. Discover natural wonders at Litchfield National Park, a truly beautiful destination just South of Darwin. The South of city is also the favourite location for those who are interested in seeing outback deserts.

In Darwin, there are many educational programs for your choice – for example, Pedagogy, Commerce, Law, Nursing, Desert Science and Indigenous Studies.

As with accommodation, the average rent for a three-bedroom house in Darwin is AUD$650/week, while you would pay about AUD$550/week for a one-bedroom house.

There are special or free offers for all students travelling on buses in the Northern Territory. Please note that the bus traffic is reduced at night or on weekends.

If you are interested, try the following link:

Finding Accommodation in Australia for International Students

3. Brisbane – Queensland

Cr: Pixabay

As Australia’s most vibrant capital city over a decade, Queensland is known for its warm weather, sun-kissed beaches and friendly people. There are many entertainment, dining and shopping options in Brisbane. If you are an art lover, do not miss regular theatres and festivals, particularly Brisbane Festival and Ekka Festival. Must-sees for island lovers are Moreton, North Stradbroke, South Stradbroke, Bribie and St Helena. People often head to Gold Coast for the love of surfing.

Queensland has a multitude of educational institutions located in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Cairns and Townsville. There are also campuses sited in towns such as Bundaberg, Hervey Bay, Mackay, Rockhampton and Toowoomba. The most popular among hundreds of fields of study here are Travel & Tourism, Maritime Science and Tropical Agriculture.

Regarding accommodation, the weekly rent for a three-bedroom house in Brisbane is AUD$390, while you would pay AUD$375/week for a one-bedroom house. In the small towns in the state, the weekly rents may be cheaper.

Admire Brisbane here:

4. Adelaide - South Australia

Cr: Adelaide Park Lands

Adelaide, the capital of South Australia, is a vibrant, exciting city. It is often praised as a place to enjoy life instead of to live. With the Mediterranean climate, lush parklands and some of the country’s best beaches, Adelaide is a gateway to outdoor activities.

Its education quality is on a par with other megacities in Australia. The University of Adelaide is listed in the group of Eight (go8) markets (others are the Australian National University, the University of Melbourne, Monash University, the University of New South Wales, the University of Queensland, the University of Sydney, and the University of Western Australia). The living cost here is affordable for international students. According to statistics, international students in Adelaide can save up to AUD$700/year on public transport fees.

It is said that Adelaide is one of Australia’s cities with the most people awarded Nobel prize. Three Nobel laureates have studied here and many people in the city have become the world’s famous scholars.

5. Melbourne – Victoria

Cr: Pixabay

Melbourne has proved popular when attracting over 200,000 students in 2016 (making up a substantial 5% of the total population). The city is famous for Australia’s top educational institutions, a wide range of academic disciplines and degrees and recognised as the world’s great creative hubs. The must-see Melbourne Museum provides various educational material and programs for teachers and students.

There are over 200 different nationalities and more than 230 languages in use here, making it one of most multicultural cities in Australia.

6. Sydney - New South Wales

Students and teacher at Scots English: Picnic and studying with the breathtaking view of Sydney at Observatory Hill

Sydney is one of the world’s best cities for international students, beating 87 cities to the coveted 13th spot, QS Best Student Cities 2017 reveals. According to the Wellbeing of International Students in the City of Sydney 2016 survey, the majority of students (88%) responded that they would recommend Sydney as a place to study. Overseas students love Sydney because of its great weather, breathtaking landscapes, world-class educational institutions, multiculturalism, work opportunities, life quality, etc. Please read more here for reasons why Sydney is one of Australia’s top destinations for international students.

Great video about stunning Sydney:

Cr: Study in Australia: Top 6 Best Cities | Scots English College

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Guide to Health and Well-being for Overseas Students in Australia

Here are some guidelines to your health and well-being while in Australia.

When travelling to study in Australia or any other country, you have to get familiar with a new climate and a foreign environment. Illness is unavoidable for all of us including international students. So here are some guidelines to help you take care of your health while in Australia.

8 health principles to remember when studying in Australia

1. Stock essential medicines

Pack essential medicines such as cold, cough, stomach medicines, antipyretics, nose drops and a thermometre. Your latest medical records (translated to English) are also important as they will help general practitioners (GP) to diagnose your current health situation. 

2. Learn about Australian medicine regulations

Bring your the medical records and prescriptions with you from your home country. If you run out of medicine when in Australia, you will need to see the doctor here for a new prescription. Make sure plant extracts that you use for medical or health reasons are allowed in Australia as some plants and seeds are prohibited in the country.

3. Get a basic idea of Australia’s health system

You should familiarise yourself with the Australian healthcare system and how it works. It is very beneficial to get a basic idea of it, particularly, the best local hospitals, insurance coverage in case you get sick, and health checkup packages that are most beneficial to international students in Australia.

4. Understand about the treatment cost in Australia

Most of the time, costs of treatment for citizens and permanent residents is Australia is paid by the government. Specifically, the government pays 100% of the hospital based treatment costs. For the remaining treatments, it will subsidise about 75%-80%.

Some health problems will not be covered by the government, for example, teeth, eye related problems and ambulance transport costs. For those with a Lower Income Earner Care Card (i.e. those with earning less than AUD486/week), there will be no charge for these issues.

5. Know how to express symptoms in English when talking to your doctor

If you study abroad in Australia or any other English-speaking country, there will not be too much language interference. Still, many overseas students are not good at medical English words. You should learn some essential words to express symptoms and exchange information with the doctor.

6. Rely on your close friends and teachers

Scots students: We come from different countries, but we are the same.

Studying abroad means being away from your family. That’s when friends and teachers are big sources of motivation for your overseas student life. If you get sick or injured, don’t hesitate to ask them for help or advice, for example, where to go for treatment.

7. Don’t call your parents right away

Unless your parent is a medical professional or you are seriously ill, perhaps it is better not x`call your parents right if you get sick. Your family may become worried about you. This is also when you learn to be mentally strong during difficult times.

8. Be flexible in emergency situations

Many international students live in small city suburbs or live far from city centre. If you have any serious, urgent health problems when being far from a hospital, you should consider calling a taxi instead of the ambulance that may take some time to arrive. Also, let your friends know your health status. They could help you ask your school’s staff for support.

What to do when you get sick?

Continue reading: Study in Australia: A to Z Tips for Good Health

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All That You Need to Know about Australia Student Visa

If you wish to study in Australia, make sure you do some research about student visas.

Australia is always a favourite destination for many students worldwide. According to the Department of Education and Training, the number of international students studying in Australia broke the record in 2016 with 554,179 international students enrolled in courses in Australia, an increase of over 10% from 2015. Also, the 2016 International Student Survey revealed that nine out of ten students were pleased with their study experience in Australia.

There are multiple reasons why international students are attracted to Australia. If you desire to study in the country, make sure you research about your student visa for Australia.

Australia study visa

On the 1st July 2016, the Australian Government put in place a new simplified student visa framework (SSVF) for international students.

The changes have made the process of applying for a student visa simpler for international students. The changes mean:

• A reduction in the number of student visa subclasses from eight to two, and
• The introduction of a simplified single immigration risk framework for all international students

The two new student visa subclasses are:

1. Subclass 500 (Student)

2. Subclass 590 (Student Guardian)

Subclass 500 allows you to stay in Australia to study full-time in a recognised education institution. To apply for this visa, you must have:

• applied for and been accepted to study in a registered full-time course at an educational institution in Australia
• organised appropriate welfare arrangements for the duration of your intended stay in Australia if you are under 18 years of age.

A subclass 500 visa allows you to stay in Australia for the duration of your course.

​You can apply to undertake two or more courses on your Student visa (subclass 500) where there is clear progression from one course to another. This is known as course packaging.The final course that you will undertake as part of your package of courses is your main (or principal) course of study. Your main course of study will be used to determine your financial and English language evidentiary requirements.

Now that you have known about the student visa subclass, you may proceed to the next step.

When and how can I apply for the Australia student visa?

The best time to apply for your student visa for Australia is right after you receive the Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) issued by an education provider located in Australia as a confirmation of acceptance to students. 

Start gathering and scanning all the documents you need for your visa application. The document checklist tool can be found at Student visa (subclass 500).You will apply for the visa online. 

Know more about the student visa for Australia

• You must fulfill some conditions during your studies, for example, to attend classes, to have satisfactory results, and to have adequate health insurance while in Australia.
• If you are a student visa holder, you and your dependent family members have permission to work based on the hours stipulated in your visa. You and your family members must not breach the work conditions that apply to your visas. You cannot work until you have commenced your course in Australia. Once your course has commenced, you are permitted to work in Australia a maximum of 40 hours per fortnight when your course is in session, and unlimited hours when your course is not in session.

English language requirement

You must meet the English language requirement to be granted a student visa.

If you are looking for an English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) before commencing higher level studies in Australia or to improve your English language skills for work or life back in their home countries, don’t hesitate to contact Scots English College (Scots). We are committed to the highest quality of educational outcomes and the provision of quality student services evident through the delivery of a range of ELICOS courses to international students.

Students at Scots’ Intermediate class

What happens after graduation

If you wish to remain in Australia after your graduation, you have some options:

• Working Holiday Visa (subclass 417): This visa allows students from certain countries, with ages from 18 to 35 to last for a maximum of one year.
• Skilled Graduate Temporary Visa (subclass 485): With this visa, you are allowed to stay in Australia for up to 18 months to work full-time only if you have completed at least two years of study in Australia.
• Training Visa (subclass 407): This visa is for students to enhance their work skills for up to two years while being sponsored by an organisation.
• Skilled Regional Residence Visa (subclass 887): This visa allows you to live and work in Australia permanently. To be eligible for the visa, you must live in Australia for two years, have a year of work experience and have sufficient points.

Cr: http://scotsenglish.edu.au/student-visa-for-australia

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Download Free Safety Guide for International Students in Australia

This booklet provides you with some basic information about your safety and security during your studies in Australia. Please read it carefully.

Australia is a multicultural country. This multicultural mix means that, in general, Australia is a diverse and tolerant nation. Sydney is ranked among the 'most livable cities in the world' by the Mercer's Quality of Living Survey. However, because Australia is mostly an urban society, crime does occur. Scots English College endeavours to create a safe environment at its campus in Sydney for all its students and staff. We also try to provide students with relevant and useful information about personal safety. This booklet provides you with some basic information about your safety and security. Please read it carefully.

Download here.

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The Cost of Studying in Australia: What You Need to Know

If you are planning to study in Australia, one of your main concerns will be how much it’s going to cost you. In this article, Scots will list some important points about the cost of studying in Australia for your consideration.

Australia is rated as the best place to live by 6,000 people under 35 in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the Americas. This is because of its irresistible attractions such as great climate, breath-taking destinations, its multicultural nature and great opportunities to study.

According to the Department of Education and Training, the number of international students studying in Australia broke the record in 2016 with 554,179 international students enrolled in courses in Australia, an increase of over 10% from 2015. If you are planning to study in Australia, one of your main concerns will be how much it’s going to cost you.

Study expenses

The Australian Dollar (AUD) is the currency used in Australia. If you are planning to studying in Australia, you must be aware of charges related to studying and living in the country. Like almost all other countries, the tuition fees in Australia is reliant on the type and duration of your studies.

• An Undergraduate Bachelor Degree costs from $10,000 to $33,000 per year. In private universities, the study costs are higher. The lower costs are attributed to public institutions.
• You can spend as much as $20,000 to $37,000 for Graduate Master’s Degrees per year.
• The cost for a Doctoral Degree averagely ranges from $14,000 to $37,000.

Living expenses

Continue reading: Important Notes about the Cost of Studying in Australia

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4 Common Health Issues Facing International Students - and Conquer!

Below are some of the common health issues facing international students and some great health tips and advice so that you can take care of yourself and stay healthy.

1. Anxiety & Stress

When studying abroad, students may have many other concerns not just study pressure, for example, financial matters and social relationships. Anyone can face stress. Continuing anxiety and stress can cause or worsen many medical conditions – for example, diabetes, asthma, obesity and mental health issues. To reduce and deal with stress, you can follow these tips:

• Identifying the stressor: Make sure you understand why you get stressed so that you can try to avoid these situations.
• Getting enough sleep: Many students go to sleep late, resulting in sleep deprivation. If you are not getting enough sleep, your body will use stress to keep you alert. Your immune system will be weakened, making you more susceptible to health issues. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same time each night and morning to ensure you receive enough sleep.
• Exercise & healthy eating: This is proven to reduce stress levels. Exercise regularly (walking, swimming, hiking or biking) and adopt healthy eating habits.
• Planning: Students can experience exam stress. Create a study plan to ensure you are adequately prepared for the upcoming exams.

2. Skin issues

Continue reading: 4 Health Issues (and Solutions!) with Overseas Students

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Download Free Cultural Guide for International Students in Australia

This easy-to-read guide covers all that you need about cultural adaptation in Australia.

As a visitor here, you will have noticed that Australia is a multicultural country. Immigration from many countries and cultures around the world have increased the cultural and language diversity of Australia's population. This guide provides international students with relevant and useful information about Australia's cultural diversity, some different cultural experiences that new students will experience and how they can deal with these experiences in an appropriate manner.

Download here.

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Overseas Students Ombudsman Provider E-News Edition Nine: Important Updates

Updates about the Overseas Students Ombudsman quarterly statistical report, its presentations at a number of events, the soon to be established Vet Student Loans Ombudsman, and the national code.

Quarterly statistical report (January – March 2017)

The Overseas Students Ombudsman quarterly statistical report is now available on our website. Check out our infographic below for a brief overview of the report findings.

Continue reading: Overseas Students Ombudsman Provider E-News - Edition Nine

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English for Academic Purposes: What You Should Know About

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) is an example of a group of English courses called English for Specific Purposes (ESP). ESP courses are designed because students are studying them for a ‘specific’ reason – that means they the course is designed to meet the requirements of the English learners. Students are not learning English just to be good at it; instead they study the ESP course because of some need.

CRICOS Course Code: 092779J

Levels: Pre-Intermediate to Advanced entry levels

Duration: Full time – 20 hours per week

What is English for Academic Purposes?

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) is an example of a group of English courses called English for Specific Purposes (ESP). ESP courses are designed because students are studying them for a ‘specific’ reason – that means they the course is designed to meet the requirements of the English learners. Students are not learning English just to be good at it; instead they study the ESP course because of some need.

What are their needs?

So what are the needs of students who decide to study an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) course? As the name suggests, the EAP course is to help overseas students to gain the English language skills and knowledge that will be required for further academic courses usually here in Australia. So most students studying EAP hope to go on to vocational or higher education courses when they successfully complete their EAP course. EAP, therefore, meets the needs of students who need to learn a specific range of English skills in order to succeed in their future academic educational pathways or careers.

Premium-quality EAP course at Scots

EAP course at Scots English College (Scots) is designed to prepare international students, from a range of backgrounds and nationalities, to undertake tertiary study in Australia.

Students enrolled for this course will have a specific study objective - to complete a tertiary-level course in a mainstream Australian tertiary institution. This may include courses available in universities, both private and public, private colleges and TAFE colleges.

Scots’ EAP course runs at three levels. This offers students a specialist study preparation option with a progression from an Pre-Intermediate (CEFR = A2) to Upper Intermediate (CEFR = B2) entry levels. Each of these three levels run for 12 weeks. 

The focus of an EAP course is developing the skills areas in English which the student will require to study alongside native speakers in mainstream course areas. However, students entering the EAP course at the lower Pre-Intermediate level may not have sufficient language skills to manage EAP materials immediately. For this reason, the balance of the EAP course will move from a language focus to a skills focus as the student progresses through the levels from EAP 1 to EAP 2 to EAP 3 and EAP 4. This means that, when you study the EAP1 and 2 courses, there is a greater emphasis on learning language – grammar and structure, vocabulary, syntax – while the EAP 3 and EAP 4 courses has a greater focus on language skills – reading, writing, speaking & listening. 

Guided Individual Learning (optional)

In addition to the compulsory 20 hours of the program, Scots offers students the valuable opportunity to attend a guided individual learning session at the end of each formal teaching day. Students will have access to computers, resources, books and audio-visual materials to work on essays, research assignment material, etc. A teacher will be present for students to assist with any areas which require further development. As the EAP course is strongly focused on providing the necessary language and study skills for tertiary study, independent learning helps you to develop further strong learning habits and personal time management.

Join Scots and achieve your potential

Scots is committed to the highest quality of educational outcomes and the provision of quality student services evident through the delivery of its range of ELICOS courses to international students. EAP course is one of them. For more information about this course at Scots, please click here.

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7 Things You Need to Know about Winter in Sydney, Australia

Find information about winter in Sydney to help plan a memorable day in this stunning city.

Winter is coming, so prepare yourself with some useful information about this cool season in Sydney so that you can enjoy it to the fullest.

Here’s 7 things about winter in Sydney that you need to know:

Weather

Winter sunrise on Manly beach, Sydney (via Pixabay)

1. Winter in Sydney is not cold but cool. Its three coolest months are June, July and August when average temperatures drop between 8.8 - 17°C (47.8 - 62.6°F). While Sydney generally has its highest rainfall in June, with an average of 132 mm (5.2”), its coolest month is July, with the average daytime temperature of just 13°C (55°F). 

2. It seldom snows during winter in Sydney, however, snow can fall in the Snowy Mountains and other regional parts of North South Wales, including the Blue Mountains, Orange and the Upper Hunter regions.

Fashion

Continue reading: Winter in Sydney: 7 Things You Need to Know

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General English Course at Scots: Committed to Highest Quality of Outcomes

Scots English College is committed to the highest quality of educational outcomes and the provision of quality student services evident through the delivery of its range of ELICOS courses to international students. Among them is General English course.

Located right in the heart of Sydney CBD, Scots English College is committed to the highest quality of educational outcomes and the provision of quality student services evident through the delivery of its range of ELICOS courses to international students. Among them is General English course.

CRICOS Course Code: 093611C

Levels: Starter to Advanced 

Duration: 10 weeks per level; Full time: 20 hours per week 

The General English (GE) course consists of 6 levels.

Level 1 :	Starter
Level 2:	Elementary (10 weeks)
Level 3:	Pre-intermediate (10 weeks)
Level 4:	Intermediate (10 weeks)
Level 5:	Upper-Intermediate (10 weeks)
Level 6:	Advanced (10 weeks)

All levels require 20 hours face-to-face study per week. It is recommended that students should also complete homework and self-study activities of at least 10-15 hours per week in addition to the scheduled 20 hours course hours. 

The purpose of this course is to assist students with a wide range of language learning needs to improve their English language proficiency level across all four macro-skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing). This General English course is particularly useful for two main categories of learners: 

• Learners with non-specific aims, such as “to improve my English”, “because English is useful”, “to help me meet people from other countries”, “because English might be useful in a job” or due to an interest in the language and culture of Australia. 

• Learners with more specific aims, such as to study English for Academic Purposes (EAP) before going to university, or to prepare for external exams, but these students have not yet reached the English language proficiency level necessary for the more specialised English course. For these students, the GE course aims to help them reach a general, non-specialist level of English sufficient to begin a course in academic English. 

Students at lower levels also take part in weekly skills development electives to improve their areas of weakness in either reading and writing or speaking and listening, while students at higher levels may choose special interest focus electives in areas such as Test Preparation, Grammar and Writing, Business English, Australian Studies in Culture and Sport, English for Health Fitness and Wellbeing.

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Australia Opens First Free Supermarket for Anyone in Need

Image via Digital Majority

Australia’s first free supermarket was opened by OzHarvest in Sydney last 27 April. This is great for whoever needs it!

The OzHarvest Market offers a range of products from fresh fruit and vegetable, fresh bread and pastries, health snacks, ready-made meals, dried and packaged goods such as rice and pasta to toiletries and home products. It indeed operates like a normal supermarket; however, there’s a donation box in exchange for a cash register. Anyone can come and take what they need, and give back if they can.

All of the supermarket goods have been donated by other major supermarkets, cafés, airlines and businesses in Sydney.

Located at 147 Anzac Parade in Kensington, the OzHarvest supermarket is open weekdays from 10 am to 2 pm.

Like this great idea? Check out those too:

21 Awesome and Free Things to Do in Sydney during Winter

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Six Parks in Australia Honoured among the World's Best

Do you know six parks in Australia have been placed among the world’s best? Two of Sydney’s favourite parks have been named in the list.

We know that many Australian parks are top notch, but it seems that world’s park lovers have noticed how great they are too. Six parks in the country have been recognised among the world’s best parks, receiving the international Green Flag Award this year.

Green Flag Award and its criteria

Launched in 1966, the Green Flag Award scheme is managed from the United Kingdom by Keep Britain Tidy, an independent environmental charity. The award is given out by green space experts who assess parks around the world across eight criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability, community involvement and providing a warm welcome.

Six Australian parks awarded

Centennial Park  (via Pixabay)

Six parks in Australia have been recognised by the Green Flag Award scheme. They are Centennial Park and Sydney Park (Sydney), Roma Street Parkland and South Bank Parklands (Brisbane) and Royal Park and Fitzroy Gardens (Melbourne).

Located in the inner-Sydney suburb of St Peter’s, Sydney Park has been upgraded in the past few years, including a playground, a kiosk and amenities buildings, and the city’s largest piece of stormwater harvesting infrastructure. 

Centennial Park is located in the eastern suburbs of Sydney. It is one of Australia’s most famous park and is listed on the New South Wales Heritage Register. The park features gardens, ponds, grand avenues, statues, historic buildings and sporting fields.

Feel like exploring Sydney? Check out our favourite things to do in this city.

As the largest in Melbourne, Royal Park features a diverse landscape with wetlands and grasslands. Green Flag judges described its Nature Play playground as “a well thought out and maintained facility”. 

Fitzroy Gardens has been praised by the Green Flag judges for the way it has been well maintained while experiencing a high number of visitors. The gardens got a $13.9 million makeover in 2015, including a new visitor center, a cafe, a garden area and a underground stormwater tank.

Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane was designed by PARC (a consortium including Gillespies Australia, AECOM, DEM Design and Citvitas Urban Design). The park was praised by landscape architecture academic Catherin Bull for the way the “design challenged and extended, for the first time, the local tradition of exotic display planting, incorporating plants not only from the world’s subtropics but from many of Queensland’s forgotten or ignored ecosystems.”

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Enjoy Top 20 Australian Songs (with Huge Impact on the World)

Australian music has had an enormous impact on the world. Their top-notch musicians, composers, bands and songwriters have made the world's many greatest hits. Enjoy these top Australian songs, and many of them may become your all-time favourite songs.

You may also like:

Karaoke: A Fun and Easy Way to Learn English for ELICOS Learners

Sounds Australia (Australia's music export platform) has supported over 700 Australian music artists at more than 50 different international events in 50+ cities across 20 countries, resulting in over 1200 unique international performance opportunities for artists in this country since 2009.

Australian music artists have hit great heights internationally include Sia (with '1000 Forms of Fear', 'Cheap Thrills', etc.; writing or co-writing global hits for Beyonce, Christina Aguilera, Rihanna, David Guetta and Flo-Rida); James Gabriel Keogh (better known as Vance Joy) (with song 'Riptide', etc.); Courtney Barnett (nominated for International Female Solo Artist at the 2016 Brit Awards and for Best New Artist at the 2016 Grammy Awards); Flume (producer and DJ who has released two internationally successful albums); Tame Impala (won a Brit Award and have been nominated for Grammy Awards for both of their albums. Their latest album 'Currents' has got big success, too); Sheppard (with 'Geronimo', etc.). 

Let's enjoy top 20 Australian songs. Many of them may become your all-time favourite songs.

1. Chandelier - Sia

2. Sound of Silence - Dami Im

3. Riptide - Vance Joy

4. Pedestrian at Best - Courtney Barnett

5. Holdin On - Flume

6. Feels Like We Only Go Backwards - Tame Impala

7. Geronimo - Sheppard

8. Girls Talk Boys (from the "Ghostbusters" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) - 5 Seconds of Summer

9. Never Tear Us Apart - INXS

10. Down under - Men At Work

11. Flame Trees - Cold Chisel

12. You're the Voice - John Farnham

13. Can't Get You Out Of My Head - Kylie Minogue 

14. Into My Arms - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds

15. Better Be Home Soon - Crowded House

16. Thunderstruck - AC/DC

17. Treaty - Yothu Yindi 

18. Friday On My Mind - The Easybeats

19. (I'm) Stranded - The Saints

20. Under The Milky Way - The Church

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10 Ways that Can Remarkably Improve Your Ability to Remember Words

These memorization techniques can remarkably improve your ability to remember words, making learning vocabulary much easier.

As an ESL learner, you have to learn lots of new words, or vocabulary as teachers call it. These are Scots’ suggestions on how to maximum your effectiveness, minimize your time and make English word learning easier.

1. You can improve your ability to remember words by connecting to what you already know. Our minds carry a large amount of information. By relating new information to familiar material, you can remember new information better.

2. After learning something new, it’s better to review within the first 15 minutes. According to studies, students have much greater retention of learned information if they review briefly right after.

3. Read the words, phrases and sentences out loud, rather than silently in your head. This way, you can get the feel for the vocabulary on your tongue and find them more familiar in later uses. And what better way to do this than to communicate with your friends, classmates and teachers? At Scots, we encourage ‘English Only on Campus’ that reinforces English learning in a safe and proactive manner so that students can learn to speak English and think in English. 

4. Aside from reading words out loud, writing them down is another great tool. Writing allows you to use motor memory (hand-eye memory) for recall; otherwise, you can quickly forget the words. Also, rather than writing one word many times before moving on to the next one, write each word once or twice and then go through the whole list again. Continue until you have got the required number of repetitions. This way will help you memorise words and make them stick in your long-term memory.

5. Narrow reading/ narrow listening is also an effective way for students to improve English vocabulary by enabling them to see new vocabulary repeatedly in various contexts. For example, choose a topic, and then listen to a podcast on that topic, watch English lessons about it, watch a film on it, watch a documentary, read in a book about it, read about it on Wikipedia. By so doing, you are getting the repetition of the words, phrases and also the sentence structure in different ways, in natural ways and in ways that are going to help you use the vocabulary flexibly and it’s going to stay firmly in your memory, too.

Continue reading: How to Memorise Vocabulary Easily, Quickly & Effectively | Scots English College

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[Infographic] - Why Choose Scots for Your English Language Course?

While there are many ELICOS course providers for international students in Australia, what make Scots English College (Scots) one of your best choices?

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21 Best Free Things to Do This Winter in Sydney 2017

There’s heaps to see and do in Sydney in winter.

Discover awesome and free activities in Sydney this winter. You’ll love every second of it!

1. Hike to waterfalls

Hiking is evidently good for our health and mind. And close to Sydney, mountains, caves, waterfalls and coastline are just a train or bus ride from the CBD.

Some spectacular waterfalls near Sydney are Fitzroy Falls, Belmore Falls (Morton National Park), Carrington Falls, Minnamurra Falls (Budderoo National Park), Wentworth Falls, Katoomba Falls, Govetts Leap Falls, Minnehaha Falls (Blue Mountains National Park), Kanangra Falls, Kanangra Falls (Kanangra-Boyd National Park).

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2. Mountain walks

Some of the best mountain walks near Sydney are Mount Banks, Mount Solitary (Blue Mountains), Careys Peak, Pieries Peak (Barrington Tops National Park), The Castle, Pigeon House Mountain (The Budawangs), Burning Mountain (Scone), Donkey Mountain (Wolgan Valley).

3. Explore caves near Sydney

Some caves near Sydney include Pindar Cave (Brisbane Waters) (for open space or a party), Gooches Crater (Wollangambe) (for wilderness), Dadder Cave (Lower Blue Mountains) (for river views), Psyn Cave (near Katoomba) (for car camping), 100 Man Cave (Kanangra Boyd National Park) (for something very old) and Little Cave (Nielsen Park) (for city views).

4. Coastal walks 

Students at Scots English took a nice walk on Manly.

Some of the best coastal walks in Sydney are Taronga Zoo to Chowder Bay walk for Harbour views, Chinamans Beach to Balmoral Beach for yacht watching, North Head for a coastal bushwalk, Manly to Spit Bridge scenic walk, Middle Head for panoramic views, Cockatoo Island for historic sights and Bondi to Coogee for a true sense of Sydney’s coastal beauty.

5. Walk across the Sydney Habour Bridge

Walk across the Bridge for free and have a bird’s eye view. Start from The Rocks at the Southern end and gently stroll across the Bridge to Milsons Point at the Northern end. You can choose to either walk back or take a train from Milsons Point Station to Circular Quay Station.

6. Travel back in time at Sydney’s Lighthouses

Vist lighthouses to travel back in time, have dazzling views, visit beautiful beaches and perhaps even spend the night in an original light keeper’s cottage. Some lighthouses to choose from are Norah Head Lighthouse (Central Coast), Barrenjoey Lighthouse (Palm Beach), Fort Denison (Sydney Harbour), Grotto Point Lighthouse (Middle Harbour), Hornby Lighthouse (South Head), Point Perpendicular Lighthouse (Jervis Bay), Cape Bailey Light (Botany Bay) and Flagstaff Hill Lighthouse (Wollongong).

7. Whale watching

Image via Fishing Charters Base

The New South Wales (NSW) coast is one of the world’s best spots to catch these majestic sea creatures in action. Put on hiking shoes, bring your binoculars, some snacks and picnic blankets, and head to these places for whale watching: Caves Beach Coastal Walk (Lake Macquarie), Pat Morton Lookout (Lennox Head), Sawtell Headlands (Coffs Harbour), Muttonbird Island (Coffs Harbour), Nambucca Heads, Gerrin Point Lookout (Bouddi National Park), Broken Head Nature Reserve (North Coast), Cape Byron Lighthouse (Byron Bay), Nobbys Headland (Newcastle) and Barrenjoey Lighthouse Headland (Palm Beach).

8. Borrow a dog

Australian Dogshare service helps connect dog owners with dog loving people (dog borowers). The borrowers will act as a pup sitter.

9. Take a long bike ride

One of best ways to warm yourself up in this winter is taking bike rides through expansive parks, around calming lagoons and alongside staggering beaches. Some dedicated and serene bike routes in Sydney are Centennial Park (for trees), Olympic Park (for art and shipwrecks), the Bay Run (Iron Cove) (for waterfront), Parramatta Heritage Trail (for history), Narrabeen Lagoon (for black swan and owls), Cooks River (for tranquility), Prospect Reservoir and Orphan School Creek (for views), Lady Carrington Drive (Royal National Park) (for lyrebirds and echidnas), Ettalong To Umina (for beaches)and Narrow Neck (Katoomba) (for wilderness).

10. Visit Government House

Located in the Domain and overlooking the Royal Botanic Gardens, Government House is the most sophisticated example of Gothic Revival architecture in NSW. It is open Friday – Sunday from 10:30 am to 3:00 pm and on NSW public holidays.

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21 Awesome and Free Things to Do in Sydney during Winter | Scots English College

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