This is essential information about your student visa obligations and the ESOS Act & You. Download free and read it carefully.
Your student visa obligations
If you are granted a visa, you must obey all the conditions of your visa. Failure to comply with these conditions could result in the cancellation of your visa.
The ESOS Act & You
Australia has a strong reputation as a study location for international students. To maintain this reputation and to protect the rights of international students, the Australian Government has a legal framework in place that governs the responsibility of education institutions towards overseas students.
The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act is the main piece of legislation that governs the responsibility of education institutions towards overseas students. In addition to the ESOS Act (2000), there are a number of other pieces of legislation that work together to protect the interests of international students.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
