With more than over 200,000 international students choosing Australia for overseas studies each year, Australia ranks third behind the United States and Britain to be one of the most preferred destinations for further education. To date, many of all ages with different education backgrounds have headed ‘down under’ to pursue a wide range of disciplines ranging from short-term English courses through to post-doctoral research. It is also a common scenario for many polytechnic holders to head down to Australia after obtaining their diploma to further their education.

By Dawn Hu

I DP Education Australia, an organisation that advises international students on Australian education and assists in their enrolment into Australian institutions, asserts that “the total number of international students in Australia at April 2004 was 237,235, an increase of 7.7 per cent over the previous year”1. These international students come from over 140 countries around the world like the USA, England, Europe, Asia, India, and China to complete and further their studies for better career opportunities.

In Australia, 85% of the people live on the East Coast or in the major coastal cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth, with Canberra, the national capital, and Toowoomba as the largest inland cities. The universities in Australia can thus mainly be found in these major cities although there are also universities throughout the country.

WHY AUSTRALIA?
But why Australia? What is the attraction? Well, the nation is not only known for its kangaroos and koalas. According to the 2004 Times Higher Education Supplement Australian Rankings, top Australian Universities include Australian National University, University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of New South Wales, University of Sydney and the University of Queensland. Apart from the reason that these top Australian universities are also recognised worldwide, a few other favourable factors are listed below:

NO WORRIES!
Australia is considered to be one of the safest places to live and study. With great security and a strong defense team, the nation’s political climate has always been seen as stable and secure. As a genuinely cosmopolitan nation, international students are also readily accepted and welcomed.

BE RECOGNISED.
Most education, training programs and Australian universities are recognised in Singapore and most parts of the world. This positions you at a vantage point where you can be readily employed by companies. Furthermore, Australia’s universities have made important breakthroughs in modern technology and science. Facilities for teaching, training and research are also world-class.
COST-EFFECTIVE.
The cost of studying in Australia is invariably cheaper than studying in the UK and the US due to the exchange rate. With flight tickets also costing considerably less because of the distance, this makes it easy for your parents to visit or for you to return home during holidays. The standard of living is also reasonable even if you are in Australia’s largest cities.

EASY ASSIMILATION.
You do not have to worry about being the only Singaporean or Asian when your plane takes off. As Australia is a thriving multicultural society (with more than 100 ethnic groups represented!), it makes Australia one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. You will be surprised to find that Down Under has been influenced by cultures from all corners of the globe from the architecture to the range of cuisine available. With familiar Asian delicacies and even Singapore- owned eateries at certain parts of Australia, it will definitely help to cure those homesick blues. You may also form your own diasporic community with the strong number of Singaporeans living, working and studying in different parts of Australia like Perth and Melbourne.

The multicultural nature also means international students are readily accepted by other students, and teachers are experienced in teaching classes from different cultural backgrounds. In addition, by studying in Australia, international students not only have the opportunity to mix with fellow international students, but also get the chance to open their eyes to a whole new Australian culture. You will definitely learn in no time to embrace different cultures and how to communicate effectively in a multicultural setting.

AUSTRALIA’S STUDY STYLE.
Unlike ‘spoon-feeding’ from lecturers and the standard tenyear series assessment books that Singaporeans are familiar with, you will be expected to conduct independent research much more than those required in Singapore schools And that is what makes it so much more exciting! For those not confident in independent research, many universities also offer counselling services and assistance to help develop one’s study skills.

Students are also often graded on class discussions and presentations so you can be sure that most lessons constitute lively exchange of ideas. Australian universities develop their students’ creative, analytical and lateral thinking skills, and encourage individuality.

One need not be a typical top straight-A student (with perfect memory) to perform well. As hands-on approach and analytical thinking replaces rote learning, one is encouraged to question the teachers and develop logical arguments. Students are also expected to address their professors and lecturers by their first names, hence creating an easy rapport between student and teacher.

SO WHAT NEXT?
INTAKES:
There is both an early March and July intake that you can consider. The academic year is usually organised into two semesters, although some do offer Summer Classes from December to February. This is the same for most Universities in Australia. Most universities advise that you start your application 3 months before the official intake periods.

HOW:
You have 2 options - place your applications directly through to the Universities of your choice or utilise private companies that represent Australian universities in student recruitment.

NEED HELP:
Private companies like IDP Education Australia Limited (IDP) and Overseas Academic Link (OAL) are often a popular onestop shop service for overseas students or those thinking of an overseas education in Australia. The counsellors there offer counselling from course advice, entry requirements to study costs. They also help you to process your application, and handle everything from your student visa to accommodation woes.

You can also look out for University fairs on newspapers and Open Day events organised by the centers to determine your next step. Open days are beneficial because over 34 Australian Universities and colleges would be there with their representatives, thus giving you the fantastic opportunity to do your research all at one location!

However, you should bear in mind that these are profitmotivated companies. They make their money through arrangements with the universities they represent. This usually works in the form of a commission. The “free” services they provide to potential students are therefore not exactly “free”. When you go to these companies, be aware that there is a possibility you may be more aggressively recommended to one school versus another because of higher commissions.

LISTEN TO HIS EXPERIENCE! FROM POLY PATH TO UNI GRAD.

Mark Chan, Ngee Ann Poly alumni. Currently running his own business.

Why did you decide to further your studies?

I did not exactly further my studies as my degree was in Economics and Finance. 3 years of Accountancy (in Polytechnic) had convinced me it was not what I wanted to do. Going for a degree allowed me to switch to a new field so that I wouldn’t be confined to looking for a job related to accounting. I felt I did poorly for my Diploma and studying for a degree gave me the opportunity to finally get good grades.

Why Australia?

Simply put, Australia was a comfortable choice. It’s more affordable and closer to home.

What was the first step you took?

I went to a couple of University fairs and applied just a couple of months before the dateline. I then went to IDP at RELC building who helped me from start to finish. They helped me find the exact course I wanted, which universities to apply to, and helped me to submit my university application and student visa. The staff was friendly and helpful. I think most, if not all their staff previously studied in Australia so that made it even better.

There was no spoon-feeding and the kid gloves were off. We were treated as adults. This was a huge part of the education I received while overseas – being given the responsibilities as an adult. The material covered at university was also of a global nature instead of merely from an Asian standpoint.

Because Australia is neither Asian nor Western, lessons and analysis was made from a very interesting objective standpoint.

Did you feel handicapped because you were an International Student?

No! Raising questions at lectures and tutorials was encouraged and fellow students - especially fellow overseas students - were very willing to help me in schoolwork. There is also a great focus at university on being able to express yourself well vocally. Presentations are treated seriously where it highlights that possessing a whole lot of facts and figures and theories in your mind isn’t worth much if you can’t apply or explain them to someone orally. It was from this that I understood how important good speaking skills are.

Why would you encourage others to go?

You get to be in a vastly different culture and learn to be open to different mindsets. I think a stint overseas helps individuals find themselves. In my opinion, those who have had a successful overseas education will return much more independent and mature.

What would you tell someone thinking of studying overseas?

It is important that you are committed to doing well in your studies and are willing to be self-reliant.

CONCLUSION

In short, if you are looking to widen your opportunities in the most economical manner, look no further. Drop by the nearest educational advisor or start surfing the web to look at the various degrees and universities that may catch your interest. But be sure to go through the checklist and always double check to the tee to avoid any disappointments! And then you’re all set for an experience of a lifetime!