Australia is a popular destination for international students. With a strong economy, work benefits for many new graduates, relaxed culture and high-quality education system, it is easy to see why.
The Australian economy remains one of the most buoyant in the developed world, with low unemployment and inflation.
Four of the world’s top 10 most liveable cities are in Australia
According to the The Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2013 Global Liveability Ranking, four of the top 10 most liveable cities in the world are in Australia – in fact Melbourne is number one! The other three Australian cities are Adelaide, Sydney and Perth.
This is based on a range of factors including stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure.
Australia is home to some of the world’s leading universities. 19 Australian universities were ranked among the top 400 universities in the 2013/2014 Times Higher Education World University Rankings. Australian universities offer a high level of support to international students, including foundation years and pathways, academic support, English language support and consumer protection.
The opportunity to gain work experience with post-study work arrangements
Many international students now have the opportunity to spend more time in Australia following the completion of their studies.
The Australian Government recently made changes to the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) to introduce new work arrangements for certain graduates of an Australian bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degree. The new work arrangements for graduates, combined with Australia’s strong economy and low unemployment rates, make Australia an attractive destination for students.
Your IDP Education counsellor can advise you on these changes and how this could benefit you.
Quality standards
Australia has a national regulatory and quality agency for higher education – the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). It was established by the Australian Government to monitor quality, and regulate university and non-university higher education providers against a set of standards developed by the independent Higher Education Standards Panel.
In addition, the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) law protects:
- The wellbeing of all international students.
- The quality of students’ education experience.
- The provision of up-to-date and accurate information.
- Student Visa Application.
