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| INTERNATIONAL
STUDENT ISSUES |
This
section discusses the various issues faced by international
students applying to the Australia for education. We
discuss here eligibility criteria for Australian institutes,
accommodation, health insurance and rules for taking
up employment while studying. .
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Eligibility |
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Undergraduate (Bachelor Level)
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The two main points
(besides English Language requirements) to be considered
before applying to any course in a university: |
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Australian
Year 12 Qualification and Equivalents |
(12 years of schooling) |
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The Australian education
system is based upon 13 years of school level education
(i.e. primary plus secondary). Each state in Australia
has its own secondary school certificate. While these
certificates have different names, they all require an
equivalent standard of education and can be referred to
generally as Australian Year 12 qualifications. All Australian
universities recognize the various Year 12 qualifications
from different states. The universities also recognize
a wide range of secondary school certificates from other
countries as being equivalent to the Australian Year 12
qualifications. Specifically, successful completion
of class 10+2 from India. |
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Pre-requisite Subjects |
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Some
courses specify 'pre-requisite subjects'. This means that
students must have passed this subject as part of their
entry qualification; this is because the first year subjects
of the course assume that students have a good basic knowledge
of this subject at Australian Year 12 level. Pre-requisite
subjects vary from course to course. For instance, a Bachelor
of Arts degree might have no pre-requisite; a Bachelor
of Commerce might require general Mathematics and Bachelor
of Engineering may require advanced Mathematics/Calculus.
Some courses, especially in art and design, also require
students to submit folios of their work with their applications.
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Post Graduate (Master's & Doctorate level) |
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Masters degree and Graduate
diploma: |
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Most Australian universities
accept the Indian graduation system of three years for
entry into postgraduate courses. However, entry to postgraduate
programs is competitive and often complex. For most Universities,
a good first degree from a leading university in India
or its equivalent is essential. |
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PhD and Postgraduate
diploma: |
For Postgraduate diploma,
the student should have a recognized master degree in
an appropriate field. For PhD, though each application
is assessed on individual basis, a good master degree
is essential. |
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Working in Australia |
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International students
at the higher education level (After 12th class, in Indian
terms) can work on a casual basis (upto 20 hours a week)
during course time and full time during vacation periods,
provided this does not interfere with their study program.
Universities and TAFE institutions have a Careers Office,
which regularly posts employment vacancies. Before you
can take up any type of paid work you must apply for a
work visa and register for a Tax File Number with the
Australian Government. |
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Accommodation |
There
is a wide range of student accommodation available in
Australia. These include university halls of residence,
university apartments for post graduate students and privately
rented independent housing. Students can also arrange
a 'Homestay' with a local family or board at many of the
private secondary schools. Once you get an admission,
the university's international office would help you find
a suitable accommodation. Various options: |
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Homestay or farmstay |
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Institutions maintain
a register of families prepared to board international
students during the academic year. Meals are usually
included in the cost. Single or shared rooms may be
offered. , and the cost will vary accordingly. Homestay
is popular with younger students and those studying
short term English courses. Farmstay offers the same
services in a rural setup.
Educational institutions ensure that homestay families
are reputable, and that they offer accommodation of
a reasonable standard. This type of accommodation gives
international students access to the Australian lifestyle
in a natural and friendly way. Students are often treated
like members of the family.
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Private Board |
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Private board is similar
to homestay. Students negotiate personally with the landlord
about the standard of accommodation and meals they require. |
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Hostels and Guest Houses |
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Hostels are usually
run by organisations such as youth Hostels Australia,
the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) and Young
Women's Christian Association (YWCA). Students share kitchen
and bathroom facilities. |
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Share and Rental Accommodation
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Students often share
accommodation with fellow students. They advertise on
student notice boards and in the classified section of
newspapers. All members of the household are responsible
for cooking and cleaning. Students may have to provide
their own furniture. |
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University Apartments |
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Postgraduate and married
students have access to this type of self contained, fully
furnished accommodation within the university system. |
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| University Residential
Colleges |
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Residential
Colleges provide accommodation with meal. They are slightly
more expensive than university Halls of Residence The
college undertakes cleaning and household tasks. Sporting
and social facilities, tutoring, libraries and generally
computer access are also provided. |
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Halls of Residence: |
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Halls of residence
are located on or near university campuses and are generally
cheaper than residential colleges. International students
find them an attractive option. Students usually have
meals and some cleaning services provided. Only full time
students are accepted. Students need to apply early because
of the high demand for places. |
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Health Care |
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It is a requirement
of the Australian Government that international students
register for the Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
before coming to Australia. OSHC
helps pay for medical and hospital care you may need
while in Australia. The OSHC rates for a 12-month stay
are $ 274 for a single premium and $ 548 for a family
premium.
OSHC is available from Medibank
Private, Australia's largest private health insurer,
Medibank Private has many business service centres around
Australia, which provide fast and convenient service.(Information compiled from infozee.com) |
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