Study in Australia: A Guide with all you need to know

Are you looking for an outstanding life experience? In Australia you can meet people from literally everywhere while discovering landscapes you have never imagined before! The land of Down Under, as it is known, is just a paradise on Earth, an incredible place to learn English and full of great opportunities!
If you are considering to study in Australia, we have prepared this Complete Guide to clarify all the most important points you should know before going to study in Australia, check it out!

1. The best reasons to study in Australia

The reasons to go studying in Australia are endless, most of our students fall in love with the people, beauty and lifestyle of this amazing country:

• A variety of careers to choose from: in Australia you can become a barista, a yoga teacher, a childcare worker or a marketing professional, with lots of other options available. All these career alternatives are valued at the same level of more traditional careers, definitely an opportunity to study something that you always dreamed of!
• High-quality schooling to master your English: Understanding English and the unique Australian Slang will help you to get the most out of your stay in Australia. There are many English schools available with a high level of teaching and quality that’s recognized internationally.
• Study and work legally in Australia: most countries have serious restrictions for foreigners when it comes to studying and working at the same time. In Australia, under a Student Visa, you are legally allowed to work as well, pretty good hey!
• High Quality of Life: Australia is consistently ranked within the top 10 countries with the best quality of life in the world based on stable economy, politics, a job market with many opportunities, high safety and security, high-quality education and public health systems.
• Free culture and lifestyle: the Australian way of life is relaxed, casual, humorous and friendly. There is a lot of love for life, creative expression and freedom, impossible to not love it!
• Rich and exuberant nature: with an exotic and diverse nature, Australia is made to be explored. Idyllic beaches with world-class waves span along the East and West coasts, national parks, wine regions and snowy mountains. A complete natural package!
• Meet (lots of) people from all over the world: Australia is very multicultural with people from all continents, where you will make friends with people from countries you’ve never imagined.

We reunited more info here.

2. What are the requirements to study in Australia?

Before planning your trip, it’s important to check all the main requirements to study in Australia:

Must

• Age: 16+ years old. However, you are only allowed to work if you’re 18 years old or more.
• Passport: your passport should have at least 6 months of validity when traveling internationally.
• Course enrollment: to start studying in Australia, you will need a student visa that will only be approved and provided when you enroll in a course of a school of your preference.
• Visa: after enrolling with your chosen school, it’s time to apply for a student visa with the Australian immigration department.
• Health insurance: among with the student visa, it’s required an OSHC – Overseas Student Health Cover – that will last during your staying period.
• Vaccines: depending on your nationality or the countries you visited over the last 3 months prior to your trip, you’ll need to provide the yellow fever vaccine.
• Letter of intention: you will need to write a letter for the Australian immigration explaining the reasons why you want to study in Australia. They only accept genuine students.

Might

• English proficiency: it will depend on the course type you have chosen. The school may request a proficiency level test before accepting your application.
• Prior education certificates: again it will depend on the course type you have chosen. The school may request a certificate of previous studies before accepting your application.
• Financial proof: depending on your nationality and course type, you will be requested to prove that you have sufficient financial funds for the course fees during your stay.

3. Types of Visa you can choose from

A visa is a conditional authorization granted by a country to a foreigner, allowing you to enter, remain within, or to leave that country. In the case of Australia, the most common Visa types are Student Visa, Tourist Visa and Work & Holiday Visa.

• Student Visa: If you plan to come to Australia with a student visa, you will be required to study a full-time course with a minimum of 12 weeks of study for 3 months at a university/college certified by the Australian Government. Your visa will cover the study period plus additional vacation time, which will vary depending on the duration of the course you choose. This Visa allows you to work 20 hours per week while taking the course and 40 hours per week during vacation days. The application cost is $ $ 628.18 AUD
• Tourist Visa: This type of visa lets you visit Australia as a tourist, to see family and friends or for purposes other than business or medical treatment. You might be granted for a stay of up to 12 months. You are not allowed to work with this visa. If you would also like to study English or a Short Vocational course, there is a range of part-time or full-time courses available to you with this visa type.
• Working Holiday Visa: If you are between 18 to 30 years old (inclusive) and you are looking to work and travel in Australia, this might be the best option for you. This visa allows you to work full time at any kind of job, for 12 months. If you would also like to study English or a Short Vocational course, there is a range of part-time or full-time courses available for this visa type. If you are in Australia under a Working Holiday Visa and would like to extend your stay, applying for a student visa could be a good option for you as you can continue to improve your English, or advance in your educational experience.

4. Health Insurance for Students

You must have compulsory medical insurance called OSHC (Overseas Student Health Care). This insurance is mainly for international students to meet hospital and medical costs while in Australia. An overseas student must obtain OSHC if they are undertaking formal studies in Australia, as well as their dependents, during the whole stay in the country.
Find out more information about this topic in our blog post here.

5. Which courses can you study in Australia?

Deciding on what to study and where doesn’t have to be difficult. It will depend on your goals, objectives, timeline, budget, English proficiency and preferred city.

Australia offers globally recognized English Courses and qualifications for all levels. Enrol in a General English course to establish strong English foundations, improve your English proficiency for academic or business purposes with an Advanced English course, or prepare for an English Exam with and IELTS, PTE or Cambridge preparation course.

If you are planning to come to Australia in search of new experiences and study opportunities or you are looking to advance in your professional field, there are a broad range of Vocational courses available to suit your budget and needs. Head to our website to find a course that interests you, and make a quote here.

6. How is the process to become a student in Australia? Step by step

The following section outlines the steps and documents you will need to submit to ensure that your course application is successful.
Once you have decided on the course you would like to enrol, we will need you to provide a number of formal documents to attach with your course enrollment.

Step 01: GATHER AND SUBMIT THE FOLLOW DOCUMENTS ALONG WITH YOUR APPLICATION FORM

• Completed Personal details form supplied by Puravida, outlining your name, address, phone number, email, marital status etc
• Scanned copy of your Passport, If you own more than one passport, please submit a scanned copy of each one.
• Scanned copy of your Birth Certificate.
• Proof of qualification (high school and higher education certificates or qualifications)
• Completed Course application form.

Step 02: RECEIVE OFFER LETTER

Once the school obtains your enrollment form, they will send you a letter that is known as an ‘Offer Letter’, and an invoice with the appropriate amount to be paid via bank deposit or money transfer.

Step 03: COURSE ACCEPTANCE AND PAYMENT

After confirming your payment, the school will send us your COE via email. The COE is your “Confirmation of Enrollment” document, which is specifically important for obtaining your student visa.

7. Initial costs to become a student in Australia

There are some general costs involved when you decide to study in Australia.

Costs to consider before arriving in Australia

• Student Visa: $628.18 AUD. If you come with your partner, his/her visa will cost $430 AUD.
  Health Insurance: around $45 AUD per month. If you come with your partner the cost is $220 AUD approximately per month. You need to pay for the full amount in advance, so the total cost will depend on how long are you staying in Australia.
• Plane ticket: this will depend on where you are taking the plane from, and in which season. In general, it can vary from $900 to $1,400 AUD approximately.
• Course: This will absolutely depend on which kind of course are you taking and for how long. For example, a General English course can cost you from $2,500 AUD per trimester or a VET course can cost from around $1,600  AUD per trimester.

Costs of living in Australia

• Rent: there are different kinds of accommodations you can choose in Australia, and all of them have different prices. In general, weekly rent can cost per person between $150 to $350 AUD. This will vary if you live in a Hostel, Sharehouse, Share room, Flat, and also every city will manage different average prices as well.
• Groceries: it is calculated that in general, you can spend between $50 to $80 AUD per week in your groceries, depending on your diet and preferences.
• Mobile phone and Internet: in general, you can spend between $20 AUD to $55 AUD per month. This will vary depending on the contract or the company you choose.
• Transport: The cost of public transport is different in every city, but it is estimated that a student can spend between $15 to $55 per week.
• Entertainment: This is will depend on what kind of lifestyle do you want to have. In general, eating out can be expensive in Australia, but there are some special places with amazing discounts during the week. Also, depending on the city you decide to live, you will find different kinds of activities, festivals, or sports to enjoy. You can calculate spending between $80 to $150 AUD per week.

Remember that all these prices and information are a rough overview of the general costs a student can have and usually all the prices differ between cities. Find out more information here.

We hope we’ve got you covered with this guide!
If you have more questions about anything related to studying in Australia, don’t hesitate to get in contact with us at info@puravidastudy.com.au.

Our team of student advisors can help you to understand the differences between colleges and advise you on the best schools, courses, visa types, accommodation and much more about Australia!

Find out more at our web here!

We see you in Australia, mate!