Why Study in Australia?

10 REASONS TO STUDY IN AUSTRALIA

Did you know Australia has the third highest number of international students in the world behind only the United Kingdom and the United States despite having a population of only 23 million? This isn’t surprising when you consider Australia has seven of the top 100 universities in the world! In fact, with over 22,000 courses across 1,100 institutions, Australia sits above the likes of Germany, the Netherlands and Japan, ranking eighth in the Universitas 2012 U21 Ranking of National Higher Education Systems.

These are strong academic credentials, but our institutions are just as highly rated as the cities that house them around the country. Australia has five of the 30 best cities in the world for students based on student mix, affordability, quality of life, and employer activity – all important elements for students when choosing the best study destination. And with more than A$200 million provided by the Australian Government each year in international scholarships, we’re making it easier for you to come and experience the difference an Australian education can make to your future career opportunities.

Do you have a specific study area of interest? There is every chance Australia has you covered, with at least one Australian university in the top 50 worldwide across the study areas of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Life & Agricultural Sciences, Clinical Medicine & Pharmacy, and Physics.

Given this impressive education pedigree, it’s not surprising there are now more than 2.5 million former international students who have gone on to make a difference after studying in Australia. Some of these students are among the world’s finest minds. In fact, Australia has produced 15 Nobel prize laureates and every day over 1 billion people around the world rely on Australian discoveries and innovations – including penicillin, IVF, ultrasound, Wi-Fi, the Bionic Ear, cervical cancer vaccine and Black Box Flight Recorders – to make their lives, and the lives of others, better.

Why wouldn’t you want to study with some of the best minds in the world?

WORLD CLASS EDUCATION

Australia is recognized as a great place to live – but did you know Australia also offers a world class education? The Australian education system has produced scientists, designers, educators, entrepreneurs, artists and humanitarians who have changed the world, winning awards from Oscars to Nobel prizes. Their global achievements include the “black box” now on every airplane, the Earth hour initiative, and the invention of Wi-Fi. Australia is proud of the individuals who have studied and worked in Australia (whether they were born here or another country) and gone on to achieve great things and contribute to making the world a better place.

GLOBAL RECOGNITION

By studying in Australia, you will receive a qualification that’s recognised and sought after around the world. The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) allows students to easily move through the education system here and provides an easy way for countries around the world to recognise your qualification, and issue the comparable qualifications for local use. Visit the AQF(opens in a new window) website for more information.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

For over 20 years Australia has led the world in putting in place systems and processes to ensure that international students receive the high quality education they expect. These measures include:

• The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000(opens in a new window), which sets out the legal framework governing delivery of education to overseas students studying in Australia on a student visa.
• The Tuition Protection Service(opens in a new window), which helps you find an alternative course or refund your unspent tuition fees in the rare case that your institution (education provider) can’t continue to offer your course.
• The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA(opens in a new window)) is the national regulator for Australia’s vocational education and training sector. ASQA regulates courses and training providers to ensure nationally approved quality standards are met.
• The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)(opens in a new window) regulates and assures the quality of Australia’s higher education sector. It undertakes both compliance assessments and quality assessments.
• Ombudsman organisations that can investigate complaints about problems that international students have with their institutions. You can find out more about these organisations on the Support Services page in the Australian Education section of this website.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS RATE AUSTRALIA HIGHLY

In 2012, the Australian Government, in collaboration with peak education bodies and state/territory government education departments, conducted a survey of current international students to obtain information about their living and learning experience in Australia. The key findings of the survey included:

• 87% of international student respondents are ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their overall experience in Australia.
• 86% of international student respondents are ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their study experience in Australia.
• 88% of international student respondents are ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with living in Australia.

YOUR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT

By choosing to study in Australia, you will join hundreds of thousands of students from Australian and all over the world – including many from your home country – who are discovering new friends and opportunities in this beautiful country. You will work closely with classmates, researchers, instructors, and other faculty – collaboration is a key part of our students’ successes. And in many cases you can gain practical and hands-on training in the industry in which you are studying. This combination of teamwork, shared learning, and industry focus will provide you with a leading edge for your further studies and career.

AUSTRALIA – A RESEARCH INTENSIVE COUNTRY

Australia has a long and proud tradition of world class research and development that has benefited millions around the world. From the discovery of penicillin in 1945 and the discovery of acquired immunological tolerance in 1960, through to observations which led to the discovery of the accelerating Universe in 2011. Australia has a proud record of contributing to the benefits of the world:

• Through the Backing Australia’s Ability initiative, A$2.9 billion will be invested over the next five years to fund research that will stimulate economic and scientific innovation.
• Australia is investing over A$140 million will be spent over the next five years to establish Federation Fellowships. The fellowships aim to find world-class researchers to Australia, with up to five of the fellowships each year awarded to high-profile non-Australian researchers from overseas.
• There are 35 special Research Centres and Key Centres of Teaching and Research based at Australian universities undertaking high-level research, and providing a diverse range of undergraduate, postgraduate and specialised professional education courses in a variety of fields.
• Australia has established an additional 63 Cooperative Research Centres which foster joint research between universities and private industry.

With about 50,000 people in higher education organisations involved in R&D, Australia has a strong research and development (R&D) capabilities. The world famous Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), the biggest government R&D agency in Australia, is one of the world’s largest and most diverse research institutions. It’s is involved in more than 740 research activities with scientific organisations and agencies in more than 80 countries and undertakes research in fields such as health, agribusiness, information technology, manufacturing, sustainable energy, mining and minerals, space, the environment and natural resources.