With effect from 1st September, 2007 all students who have completed 2 years of study in Australia can get a Skilled Graduate Visa, whereby they can work for upto 18 months.
Yes, applicants need to meet the entry requirements specified by their respective university. These requirements vary, based on the programme selected. Undergraduate programmes usually require applicants to have a minimum IELTS score of 6.0. Postgraduate programmes usually require applicants to have an IELTS score ranging from 6.5 to 7.0. Those aspiring to study a postgraduate degree should have a good academic score in a relevant undergraduate programme. Some universities require applicants to MBA programmes to have at least two years of work experience.
Currently a student needs to cover up to 120 points to become eligible for the PR, The points can be obtained by a combination of the following course, age, English language proficiency, duration of the study in Australia, studying in a regional area, working part time. For further details and to test your points, visit the following website: www.immi.gov.au
One cannot rate universities in Australia as there are numerous universities and all are regulated under the Vice Chancellors Committee, which follow the code of ethics. Students generally follow the market trends like MBAs or BBA, MIT etc., but it would be unfair to judge universities as one can only compare the course structure and faculty.
The average time taken by the Australian High Commission for the visa procedure is anywhere between 8 to 12 weeks depending on the individuals background, so the students need to apply for their visas atleast 3 months prior to their course commencement.
The cost of completing a degree varies on the university and course selected. An undergraduate degree could cost anywhere from ,000 to ,000; courses in medicine and veterinary science will cost more. Postgraduate programmes could cost anywhere from ,000 to ,000. Students are advised to earmark at least ,000 every year for food and living costs.
IELTS is a mandatory visa requirement.
Spouse / dependent of a Student - Visa holder in Australia gets a Dependent Visa and a valid work permit for the same duration as the primary applicant . This is applicable for Master's degree application.
There are five different tests accepted for Australian student visa applications:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE)
- Occupational English Test (OET)
- Pearson Test of English (PTE).
The average starting salary that you can earn is between a$ 2500 to a$ 4000 per month.