Life in Australia

Australia's biggest attraction is its natural beauty. The landscape varies from endless sunbaked horizons to dense tropical rainforest to chilly southern beaches. Scattered along the coasts, its cities blend a European enthusiasm for art and food with a laid-back love of sport and the outdoors. Economically, Australia is thriving, with good business relations with its Asian neighbours and strong diplomatic ties to the US

Area

7,682,300 sq km

Population

21 million

Local currency

Australia's currency is the Australian dollar (AUD), made up of 100 cents. There are 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2 coins, and $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes. Although the smallest coin in circulation is 5c, prices are often still marked in single cents and then rounded to the nearest 5c when you come to pay. Cash amounts equal to or in excess of the equivalent of AUD$10,000 (in any currency) must be declared on arrival or departure.

Climate

Australia is temperate, most of the country receiving more than 3,000 hours of sunshine a year. In summer (December to March) the average temperature is 84°F (29°C). The hottest region is the northern two-thirds of the continent, which experiences humid and wet conditions in summer. Further south summer is warm with occasional hot spells and mild nights. Winter (June to August) averages 56°F (13°C) for the country as a whole, with warm days and mild nights in the northern areas, becoming cool and showery in the south (although there are still plenty of sunny days).

Language

Although English is the official language, a host of other languages are spoken in Australia

Religion

Australia is predominantly a Christian country, however, all religions are represented in the community. Devotees will find churches, mosques, temples and synagogues located in most majorcities.

Map of Australia

Australian Universities located by main campus

Education In Australia

Australian education has a strong international reputation for excellence. Whether you study at a university, school, vocational or English language institute, you will receive a quality education that will form a strong foundation for your future success.

List of Australia Based Universities and Colleges

AUSTRALIA QUALIFICATION FRAMEWORK

Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework provides the hierarchy of educational qualifications in Australia. It is administered nationally by the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training (Australia). Few qualifications outside the system are accepted by employers or for entry to tertiary study. The main exceptions are IT vendor certifications and the International Baccalaureate.

The framework divides all qualifications into three sectors, roughly correlating with the type of institution offer the courses. However, this correlation is becoming looser over time.

Schools Sector

The Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (SSCE) is the graduation certificate earned by most students in Australian High Schools (known in Victoria as Secondary Colleges or Colleges). The title "SSCE" will likely soon to be changed to Australian Certificate of Education (ACE)

Students completing the SSCE are usually aged 16-18 and study full-time for two years. In some states adults may gain the certificate at an adult re-entry campus or through TAFE.

The SSCE is equivalent to the High School Diploma of North America, and the A Levels of the UK.

The curriculum, assessment and name of the SSCE is different in each state and territory. The government of each determines these themselves, although the curriculum must address mutually agreed national competencies.

The state and territory SSCEs are:

NSW - Higher School Certificate (HSC)

Vic - Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL)

• Qld - Senior Certificate
• SA - South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE)
• WA - Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE)
• Tas - Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE)
• ACT - Australian Capital Territory Year 12 Certificate
• NT - Northern Territory Certificate of Education (NTCE)

Students completing these are given a nationally standardised final score (except in Queensland). Australian Higher Education providers typically use this mark as the main criterion in selecting domestic students. The Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee generates the score, officially known as the Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank. It is known by this name in Victoria, but is commonly known as the University Admissions Index (UAI) in NSW and the ACT, and the Tertiary Entrance Rank (TER) elsewhere.

Some students include courses from other sectors towards their SSCE, for example, a Victorian student may include the results of a "Certificate III in Multimedia" as the equivalent of Units 3 and 4 of a VCE subject. Such courses can be taught in High Schools as part of their standard curriculum. It is possible for a student to leave a High School with only a VET qualification.

Competing qualifications outside the ACF system are the International Baccalaureate (IB) and School of Tomorrow Year 12 Academic Certificate (previously Accelerated Christian Education (ACE)). The IB is well accepted by universities. ACE has lesser support, and students may also have to additionally pass a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT)).

Vocational Education and Training (VET) & Higher Education Sectors There has been growing overlap between these sectors. Courses are primarily taken by those aged over 18, however in some vocational and general academic courses a minority of students entered at the compulsory school-leaving age in Australia (15 or 16) and are supported in Youth Units. This tends to happen particularly at TAFE, and is less likely to happen at a university or private institution.

The two sectors form a continuum, from VET to Higher Education at the other. Courses at the VET end being short, practical and delivered by TAFE at a certificate to diploma level. Courses at the Higher Education end being three years or longer, academic and delivered by universities. There is significant overlap, however; a TAFE may offer degrees and universities certificates and diplomas. A number of private institutions and Adult and Community Education centres cover the full range of qualifications.

There has been a strong push towards mutual recognition of qualifications, with VET or Higher Ed courses recognised towards other courses (and for those under 21 towards a SSCE). A process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) has been implemented to allow competencies gained through work and other experience to be assessed and recognised. A Diploma of Agriculture might be recognised as the equivalent of the first year of the degree, a Bachelor of Agricultural Science. A unit of "Letter Writing" in a "Certificate IV of Writing" might be recognised as a unit towards a "Bachelor of Business". Experience in aged care might be recognised towards a Certificate in Community Services.

Certificates: Certificate I - Certificate IV

The basic post-secondary qualifications - There is no firm duration for these qualifications.

Certificates I - IV prepare candidates for both employment and further education and training. Certificates I and II provide basic vocational skills and knowledge. Certificates III and IV largely replace the previous system of "trade certificates".

A Certificate IV is generally accepted by universities to be the equivalent of 6-12 months of a Bachelor's Degree.

These courses are usually delivered by TAFEs, Adult and Community Education centres (such as WEA centres), and registered private training providers.

Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree

These courses take between 2-3 years to complete, and are worth roughly 1-2 years of a Bachelor Degree. "Diploma" and "Advanced Diploma" are titles given more practical courses, while "Associate Degree" is given to more academic courses. These courses are usually delivered by TAFEs, Adult and Community Education centres and private providers.

Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Vocational Graduate Certificate, Vocational Graduate Diploma

These qualifications are much like Certificates and Diplomas without a "Graduate" or "Vocational Graduate" title, but must be completed by someone with a Bachelor Degree or higher. "Certificates" typically take 6 months to complete, while "Diplomas" take 12 months.

The newly devised "Vocational" title is intended to separate more practically-oriented courses from academic ones. These courses are usually delivered by universities and private providers.

Bachelor Degree and Honours

The Bachelor's degree is the standard university qualification, and is recognised worldwide. Having one of these is the minimum requirement to have been seen to have "gone to university". Most take 3-4 years to complete.

Honours degrees are usually the same as the Bachelor Degree of the same name (ie "Bachelor of Divinity" and "Bachelor of Divinity (Honours)"), but require extra work. For 3 year degrees this is usually a fourth year of study or research, for 4 year and longer degrees, it usually requires performance at credit or distinction level and/or completion of a research project. These courses are almost exclusively delivered by universities

Master's Degree

These are the next step up, and usually require two years of full time study, on top of a Bachelor's degree. They generally take one of three standard forms, "coursework", "research" and "professional". The first is much like Bachelor Degree studies. The second requires the student to do a major thesis. The third involves projects completed in the workplace. These courses are delivered by universities and a limited number of registered providers.

Doctoral Degree

The final step - Doctorates are either by "research" or are "professional". The "professional" option requires less research and some coursework.

These courses are delivered by universities and a limited number of registered providers.

IELTS REQUIREMENT

To be accepted to study on a student visa in Australia you will need to demonstrate a sufficient level of English language proficiency, and meet minimum academic requirements.

English language skills are a requirement for receiving an Australian student visa. IELTS is the only test accepted by the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) for visa purposes.

Minimum IELTS requirement:

Diploma programmes - 5.5 band

Bachelor Courses – 6.0 band

Post graduate Courses – 6.0 band

FUNDS REQUIREMENT

Living Expenses:

AUD $12000-18000 per annum includes accommodation, food, travel & other miscellaneous expenses.

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Tuition Fees

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Travel Expenses

AUD $2000 per person

Document Checklist

• Visa Application fee payable by Bank Draft favouring "Australian High Commission, New Delhi"
• Completed application form - 157A
• Nomination form 956 to be completed only if you are lodging through an agent
• Letter of offer from the institution
• Passport
• Four recent passport size photos
• Student declaration
• "Details of Relatives" form
• Guardianship form, if the student is under 18 years of age
• IELTS Score
• All Mark sheets, Certificates, Degrees and Diplomas
• Reference letter from current employer and previous employer, if employed
• Affidavit of support from sponsor
• Bank statement / Bank Passbook for the last 6 months and current balance certificate
• Income tax returns of the sponsor for the last 3 years
• Property Documents along with Valuation Report
• Details of acceptable funds in the form of a table / matrix
• Chartered Accountant's statement
• Evidence of relationship with the sponsor
• Bank loan Sanction Letter (if applicable)
• Other Liquid Assets like Fixed Deposits, etc

Note: All the documents should be notarized.