Australia: WhyIs Better for Study?

Some people think that deciding what type of program to or how much time to spend abroad are the most difficult choices for an international student. However, the truth is that finding the ideal study destination is often a decision to make.

Australia is a continental country, that is, it has dimensions similar to a continent. There are about 7,692,000 km² of territory, about 90% the size of Brazil – which has 8,516,000 km². No wonder Australia is the sixth largest country in the world.On the other hand, the population is not that big. According to a survey by the World Bank Group, there are about 25 million inhabitants, of which almost 1/3 (28.2%) are immigrants.

Major cities

According to a report by the Department of home Affairs, the intense search for people interested in exchange programs in Sydney and Melbourne made them both the main cities in the country, in addition to contributing to make them the two most populous cities.

Other than that, the ranking of Best Student Cities 2018, prepared by QS Top Universities (which analyzes indicators such as employment opportunity, accessibility and diversity), not only reinforces this, but also points out that two other Australian cities, Brisbane and Canberra (the capital ), are in the top 25 of the best in the world for those who dream of being an exchange student. See their placement:

• Melbourne (3rd);
• Sydney (9th);
• Brisbane (21st);
• Canberra (22nd).

Climate

As the country is also located in the southern hemisphere of the planet, the climate is not that different from Brazil – which, without a doubt, is good news for those who fear very cold summers and especially winters, as is common in the northern hemisphere.

Generally speaking, we can say that the climate is subtropical in much of Australia, with more pleasant and relatively higher temperatures (in the range of 25º in summer and 11º in winter) than in New Zealand.

However, this varies, of course, with the season of the year and the location of the states, as those above the Tropic of Capricorn (and therefore closer to the Equator) tend to be warmer regions than the rest of the territory. and even similar to the Brazilian Northeast.

Study opportunities

Australia, without a doubt, offers a series of opportunities for those who wish to have the experience of studying abroad and investing in their own future in order to have an international education and a more promising career.

This is because, according to the same report that we have already mentioned, there are more than a thousand educational institutions (including colleges, colleges, language schools and technical institutes) throughout the territory.

In addition, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2018, the country comes out ahead in terms of recognition of the quality of education. The reason for this is that there are six Australian universities in the top 100 in the world. Are they:

• University of Melbourne (32nd);
• Australian National University (48th);
• University of Sydney (61st);
• University of Queensland (65th);
• Monash University (80th);
• University of New South Wales (85th).

No wonder that, according to the Australian government agency, the country is the third most sought-after destination for exchange and has nothing less than 440,949,000 international students in the country!

Lifestyle

“Which lifestyle fits best with mine? The one from Australia or New Zealand?”- here is a question that the answer is far from being, as the saying goes, “lack and white”. The reason for this is that Australians have a more beachy and sports-oriented profile.

There are dozens of local and regional centers and organizations that encourage and prepare children, teenagers and adults to play/practice football, rugby and surfing. In fact, there is no lack of surfing championships in the country, especially in the Gold Coast, such as the World Surfing Circuit (ASP) and the Men’s Championship Tour.

For lovers of a good (and exciting) nightlife there is nothing to complain about! In the country’s main cities there is no lack of bars, nightclubs, rooftops and even entire harbor areas dedicated to entertainment, such as Darling Harbor in Sydney.

Culture

Australia is a multicultural country not only due to the influence of the United Kingdom during colonization, but mainly due to the large number of immigrants (more than 6.7 million) who brought to the region a variety of languages, ethnicities, religions, cuisines. , customs and traditions – a significant number that alone surpasses the entire population of New Zealand.

And, according to the report, the country adopts a policy that is very tolerant and, above all, receptive to those who want to live on Australian soil. In fact, the agency makes it clear that the quality of life in Australia is not only linked to economic development, but also linked to the appreciation of social and human rights.

Cost of living

The cost of living is usually one of the most recurrent doubts among those thinking of doing an exchange. This is mainly due to the fact that the Australian salary is the highest in the world (AU$2,780).

Just to answer this question and present the amount needed for financial proof to obtain the visa, which is one of the requirements for exchange in Australia, the Department of Home Affairs brings an annual updated estimate of how much you will need to live for 12 months in Australia. parents.

In 2018, the figure is AU$20,290 — that is, about AU$1,690.83 per month (only 60.82% of a native’s monthly income). This figure is based on estimates by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Commerce, which indicate average weekly spending of at least AU$165.00 for housing (rental of property), AU$80.00 for food, AU$15 .00 for public transport and AU$ 80.00 for leisure.

Job market

Those who want not only to study, but also to work, are often in doubt about which country offers more opportunities: Australia or New Zealand?

For that question, without a doubt, the land of kangaroos comes out ahead. The explanation is simple: in addition to allowing the student to work legally while taking a course of at least 14 weeks – the same as the neighboring country, New Zealand -, the local job market is heated.

This is the result of several factors, such as investments in the private sector, the strong expansion of the economy and international trade agreements, the growth of tourism and the constant search for specialized labor. So be aware that it’s not difficult to find a job in the Gold Coast, Sydney, Melbourne or any other Australian city.

Curiosities

Among the main curiosities about Australia, we can highlight the fact that it was one of the former colonies of the United Kingdom during the years 1788 to 1901.

However, after more than a century under English rule, the new country began a process of continuous development that led it to be the holder of the second highest HDI on the planet (0.935 on a scale of 0 to 1), according to a calculation by the United Nations Program for Development (UNDP).

And it’s not just kangaroos (over 50 million in the territory!) that catch people’s attention when they research Australia. This is because the country is known for its flora and, above all, its vast fauna. So much so that only in this region of the world there are the Tasmanian devils, platypus, echidnas, emus, koalas, collared lizards, etc.

Oh, and there’s more: the majority of the population lives in the coastal area ofthe country, as the most populous cities (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide, etc.) were founded close to the sea – which makes life easier beach and the various activities on the beaches, such as festivals, concerts and cultural events.

How to study in Australia

Studying abroad in Australia is no mystery. The country has numerous options for institutions and receives a huge number of international students annually. Therefore, if you chose this nation as your destination, it is essential to analyze what your objective with the program is and, based on that, decide what type of program you want to do. For example:

• for those who want to go to high school, it is possible to opt for high school;
• for those who want to gain fluency in the English language, there are PTE English courses in Parramatta
• for those looking to prepare for proficiency tests, there are IELTS and Cambridge preparatory courses;
• for those who aspire to start or continue their academic education, there are bachelor, postgraduate and doctoral degree options.