Australia is no doubt one of the most popular destinations for studying abroad among international students. In fact, Australia has some of the world’s top universities according to world QS Rankings. In addition to this, Australia provides numerous attractive benefits for international students that are not offered in most countries. This would include working opportunities as a student, and graduate work visa option for graduated students.
However, many students are now discouraged from pursuing their studies abroad, due to the worldwide pandemic, that has led many countries, such as Australia, to close its borders for international students. At the same time, there are also many students pursuing their studies in Australian institutions online until the borders of the country are open.
We are here to tell you that there is still hope for your future as a student in Australia. However, a decision as such comes with a lot of consideration and research, especially during a time like this.
Hence, here’s everything you need to know about pursuing your studies in Australia during this pandemic.
Are Universities Accepting Applications?
Yes! Australian universities are accepting and processing applications from international students. The classes will however be conducted online until borders open. If you have a course to pursue in mind, the application process will not be hard. The application process is quite similar to the pre-pandemic process. Let’s take a walk through the process step by step.
1. Check Eligibility
First, you need to make sure you meet all the entry requirements of the course you are interested in. This would include the English Language requirements and Academic requirements. These requirements vary among different universities and different courses. So it is super important for you to check with the institution if you are eligible for the course.
Furthermore, if you have any questions on entry requirements for your preferred course, you can also contact Excel Education.
2. Submit Application
After you have made sure you are eligible for the course, you can proceed to submitting the application to the university. This would typically require your personal details, proof of your English Language scores, details of your academic qualifications and your course preferences. If your academic transcripts are not in English you will need to send the English translated transcripts.
For further information on the required documents for application into your preferred course and university or for assistance in submitting your application, you can contact Excel Education.
3. Accept Offer Letter
Once your application has gone through successfully with all the required documents, you will typically receive an offer letter from your institution along with an acceptance form. Make sure all the conditions stated in the offer letter is met before accepting. After accepting the offer letter you will need to provide all the required documents and fees to the university. Once all of this is done successfully, the institution will provide you with a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE).
Even though new students are to study online until they can enter Australia, existing students who are already in Australia continue to study both online and offline to make the learning experience safer for students. This is however subject to change depending on the covid-19 situation.
If you would like to know more about the intakes offered in different universities and the fees, you can contact Excel Education.
4. Visa Application
The next step of the application process would be applying for a visa, which is explained in detail down below.
Will You Be Able To Get a Student Visa?
Yes. But only if you meet all of the visa requirements. While Australia has continued to process student visa applications throughout the pandemic, now they have resumed granting student visa to students outside of Australia as well, if they meet all the requirements. Students studying online in Australian institutions are granted student visas, so that they will be able to enter Australia as soon as the borders open. The borders are expected to be open late 2021, or in 2022. So there is still hope that you will be able to study on campus.
If you would like assistance in applying for a student visa, you can contact Excel Education.
Listed below are the documents that you will need to submit for visa approval:
- Passport/ Birth Certificate
This is a basic requirement to travel to any country. You need to have a valid passport and submit a copy for visa processing.
- CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment)/ Offer Letter
You can only apply for a visa, after your university provides you with a confirmation of enrolment, which is the last step of the application process.
- OSHC (Overseas Health Cover)
In order to study in Australia, every student needs to have a mandatory health cover. OSHC is of utmost importance to get a visa approval. This policy will cover any medical expenses while you are in Australia. You are also required to meet certain health requirements and you may be required to submit a health examination report. You will be responsible for the cost of this examination.
- Evidence of Financial Capacity for 12 months stay
The requirement set for yearly expenses by the Australian government is AUD$20,290. You are required to provide evidence that you have the financial capacity to live in Australia.
- English Language Test Scores
You will need to meet a certain English Language Requirement in order to get a visa approval. You will need to provide a certificate from an English Language test. For more information on the English Language Requirements, you can contact Excel Education.
The length of your student visa can be upto 5 years, depending on the duration of your course. It usually takes upto 4 months to process and approve a student visa, so you should apply for it a few months earlier, so that you will be able to enter as soon as the borders open.
One of the many benefits that you should know about Australian student visa is that you are allowed to work 40 hours a week while studying in Australia. In fact, in light of the pandemic, Australian government has now provided more flexibility with the working hours as well.
If you have more questions on the visa application process, you can contact Excel Education.
Will You Be able to Get a Temporary Graduate Visa?
Temporary Graduate Visa is a great perk of studying in Australia. It allows students to remain in Australia after their studies with full work rights for a period of 18 months to 2 years after graduation. The basic requirements for a graduate visa is holding a bachelor’s degree or above and your course must be no less than 16 months in duration.
For more information, you can contact Excel Education.
Now you might be wondering whether studying online will affect your eligibility for a temporary graduate visa. The answer is no. The Australian government has changed the requirements for Temporary Graduate visa for those who have been impacted by the Covid-19. Students studying online outside Australia because of covid-19 travel restrictions will count towards the Australian Study Requirement for existing and new student visa holders. In addition to this, graduates outside of Australia, unable to enter due to travel restrictions can apply for and be granted the graduate visa outside Australia.
Please keep in mind that online study is counted from the time your student visa is granted to you.
Hence, there are still perks to applying to study in Australia, even though you cannot enter the country and start your studies on campus right away.
Should You Start Your Course Online?
While it is not a bad idea to start your course online, since you will be able to get all the perks of studying in Australia as soon as the borders open, the answer to this question can be very subjective.
You have to make sure you are someone who can participate well in online classes and effectively indulge in the learning experience before deciding to go forward with starting your course online. Australian universities are strict with your academic performance and participation even though the teaching is online. Some students find it hard to focus during online classes, while some find it an effective method. Hence, finding out your preferred method of learning is crucial.
If you think it will not work for you, you can always wait until things go back to normal and students are allowed back into campus.
Furthermore, there is an option for you to save the time you lost by choosing to fast track your course. In simple words, a fast tracking course is accelerating the course by taking on more subjects and material each year. For example a three years bachelor’s degree can be completed in two years if you opt for a fast track program.
Universities in Australia offering Fast Track Courses
If you are up for the challenge of fast-tracking your studies, down below we have a list of universities that offer accelerated programs.
University of Tasmania (UTAS)
With University of Tasmania’’s accelerated study mode, you will be able to fast-track your course and complete a 3 year degree in just 2 years. This mode allows students to focus on their studies throughout the year, and get ahead in joining the workforce. UTAS offers its students with three semesters, where students can opt to study part-time all of the three semesters, or study in only two semesters to enjoy an extended break. For students who want to fast-track their course however, they would need to study full time in all of the three semesters.
For more information, contact Excel Education.
Charles Sturt University
Charles Sturt University offers you three intakes per year, which includes a November intake apart from the typical February and July intake offered traditionally in most Australian universities. Joining the November intake will allow you to fast track your course by providing you with a more flexible workload throughout the degree. This will allow you to get ahead of the crowd or catch up with other students if you have delayed your studies.
For more information, contact Excel Education.
Bond University
Bond University’s fast track programs are accelerated degrees which allows students to enter the workforce earlier and test their own potential. Bond’s fast track programs allow students to have semester breaks as well. The semesters begin in January, May and September with around 2 weeks of break in between each semester. It also does not burden students with a lot of workload since they do not cramp many modules into one semester, rather have more semesters per year than the normal paced programs so that you will be able to finish the course faster. You will typically be graduating one year ahead of other students.
For more information, contact Excel Education.
Hence, fast-tracking your degree is not as hard as you might have imagined. Nevertheless, it is important for you to check with your university if fast-tracking your course might affect your graduate visa or not.
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