Getting admission into an Australian University is a dream of many students willing to study abroad. Australian institutions have great infrastructure and the standard of education is attracting students from across the world for many years. The Australian government has also taken steps for providing work permits and employment to these foreign students. However, students are often confused about how to avail the visa and what are the other formalities related to getting admitted. A lot of students have asked us about the ins and outs of getting admission into a top Australian university.
We consulted an expert panel of visa consultants, immigration consultants, foreign education consultants, assignment help experts in Australia and a few students who successfully completed their education and are currently working in Australia. We have compiled all the basic and detailed information regarding educational requirements and documentation formalities. Read this guide to know more on the subject before heading to an immigration consultant.
There are hundreds of courses to study in Australia. It isn’t easy to choose the right course for your higher education, we understand that your career will depend upon this decision, so here we have brought a guide for you. It will definitely assist you in finding the right career option for you.
What Qualifications I Already Have
It is advisable to pursue higher education with the subject you have already studied at school/university. Most of the students enroll in the same study area pursued in school or an undergraduate degree, but you are free to change if you feel unfit. If you are thinking of changing the area of study, you need to thoroughly research the subject and find the courses suitable for you.
What Fascinates Me
Think about the subject that ignites your curiosity. You could choose from past qualifications if you decided to opt for the same field of study. It’s fine if you have chosen from the other field. You can choose your passion as the subject e.g., photography, music, painting, graphics designing, and digital marketing.
What Skills I Possess
It would be best if you were bestowed with talent that stands out. Ponder, observe, or ask your parents/friends they will tell you what skill set you to possess. Most of the students know their talents, strong subjects, and aptitude. So, choose a curriculum where your talent is employed.
Selection of College/University
Australia is home to the world’s top university and has the third-largest international student’s community after the U.K. and the U.S.A. Before researching for universities, you need your favorite subjects because they will ask you to apply in a specific course; however, you can apply in multiple courses on time. While selecting a university, you need to look at the certain parameters such as the number of students placed in industry, faculty to student ratio, the number of students enrolled every year, campus culture, placement assistance, student union, sports/recreational activities, internship assistance and funding i.e., government or private.
- Calculation of cost of living in Australia
The total cost of living varies from $1800 to $2000 per month for a student. It includes rent, food, local transportation, telephone bill, and laundry expenses. However, it depends upon the lifestyle of an individual.
- Scholarship
There are some criteria to get a scholarship that is grades of your schooling/undergraduate degree, score in English language proficiency test, and certificates/awards in extracurricular activities. If you have awards in extracurricular activities at the national level, your application will stand out. In addition to this, you will be required a recent CV/Resume with a cover letter in the scholarship application process.
If you belong to a country where English is not the first language, then you need to submit a language proficiency certificate to get admission. At Australian universities, the medium of instruction will be English; hence you need to cope with the same. The language proficiency certificate endorses your English language skills. Most of the universities in Australia accepts the following language proficiency test:
- IELTS Academic
- TOEFL iBT
- Pearson P.T.E. Academic
- Cambridge English: Advanced (C.A.E.)
- Occupational English Test (O.E.T.)
Minimum Scores of Each English Language Test
IELTS (Academic) – To get admission to the Australian minimum IELTS score needed is 5.5 bands in each module and six bands overall.
TOEFL (internet-based test) – You must get a minimum of 50 points out of 120 points to get admission in Australia.
Pearson P.T.E. Academic – Australian university prefers a student with a minimum score of 50 and not less than 36 in each module.
Cambridge English: Advanced (C.A.E.) – They ask for a minimum score of 162 and not less than 154 in each module.
Occupational English Test (O.E.T.) – Minimum B score is required to apply in Australia for higher education.
Please take note of the exception. The students falling under the below-listed category are exempted from the language proficiency requirement/test/certificate.
- Students who have completed their studies in Ireland, the U.S.A., U.K., New Zealand, Australia, or Canada.
- Permanent residents of the U.S.A., U.K., Republic of Ireland, or Canada.
- Students who are sponsored by the defense or foreign affairs.
- Candidates who have pursued an education in Australia till certificate IV or completed a senior secondary level certificate in Australia not more than two years ago. (when applying for student visa)
After choosing your desired course and university, you need to drop an online application. Visit the official website of the university and sign up there. Once you send the application, it will take 7 to 10 working days to get processed. University asks for an application fee of 50 AUD to 100 AUD, and some universities waive it. Most of the universities have two intakes i.e., February and July.
The University of Australia asks students to produce documents to ensure that they fulfill their criteria. You need to submit all the documents to apply to universities. They will assess these documents, and the university’s committee will decide whether to give you an offer letter or not. Below is the list of documents needed to apply for higher education in Australia:
- Language Proficiency Certificate
- Results Of Previous Education
- Transcript Of Previous Education
- Letter Of Intent
- Medium Of Instruction
- Letter Of Recommendation
- Resume/CV
- Summary Of Employment (if any)
- Certificate Of Achievements In Extracurricular Activities (if any)
- Passport
- Health Insurance (for visa)
- Proof Of Finance i.e., Bank statement/Loan documents (for visa)
- Criminal Record Verification Result (for visa)
- Admission offer letter from university (for visa)
When you select the university, ensure you satisfy all the criteria laid out by them and then proceed to application. You will be asked to create a login id with an email and password. Fill the application form, upload the required documents, and submit it. You receive an email when the application is reviewed.
Once you receive a final offer letter from the university, then pay the fees. After paying the fees, you need to apply for a visa as soon as possible because stamping on a passport takes 2-3 weeks. Book an appointment with the nearest visa application office. Produce the original documents that we have already listed and submitted photocopies of the same. Appear for visa documentation verification, and they will record your thumbprint also. Answer to the question asked by the verifier politely maintain Australian accent (if you can) appreciate Australia’s culture but don’t exaggerate. Handover your passport; once it gets stamped, it will be couriered to your home.
Arrange Accommodation and Book Flight Tickets
Before booking an accommodation, you need to decide whether you want to stay in university-managed premises or with a third party landlord. We recommend students to opt for university lodging for first-year students because it is safe, well maintained, and generally located near university. The majority of the university provides the option to choose between self-catering and catered lodging; now, it’s up to you if you wish to select self-catering and learn basic cooking skills before leaving your home country.
If you have booked accommodation for you now, look for the perfect date to fly! As orientation is compulsory to attend for all the students, so plan your journey accordingly. You can land 90 days before the orientation to get acclimatized with the weather and get familiar with the city. Book your cabs/trains/buses after flight tickets.
Summing Up
We have covered the entire list of prerequisites that you must follow before you ask a visa consultant about the top university in Australia. Even if you are a pre-final year student looking forward to studying in a foreign university, you can start your preparations with these points in mind. We would like to stress out on the fact that getting admission in an Australian university or any other foreign education institution requires proper planning and you should start working at least 6 months in advance to fulfill all document related formalities. We also recommend getting IELTS preparation and university related information well in advance to avoid last minute hassles. Apply only to the universities you are are considering seriously and follow this checklist to start your journey of getting admission in an Australian university.
