Dubai: If you have chosen Australia as your preferred destination for higher studies you will be anxious to know how much it is likely to cost you for the entire course.
Getting a good idea of the expenses involved — which include tuition, meals and board and travel — will help you draw up your budget well in advance. Here’s what you need to know.
Study costs and scholarships
The costs of studying in Australia depend on the institution and the level of study you choose. As an international student, your tuition fees are payable before you study. There may be additional costs for your course, including course materials and access to institution facilities.
The list below gives you an indication of the range of course costs for different types of qualifications:
• School — A$7,800 to A$30,000 (Dh27,158-Dh104,457)
• English language studies — Around A$300 per week depending on course length
• Vocational Education and Training (Certificates I to IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma) — A$4,000 to A$22,000 (Dh13,927-Dh76,601)
• Undergraduate Bachelor Degree — A$15,000 to A$33,000*
• Postgraduate Master’s Degree — A$20,000 to A$37,000*
• Doctoral Degree — A$14,000 to A$37,000*
* Note: This does not include high-value courses such as veterinary and medical. Please visit institution websites directly to see costs for these courses.
Scholarships to study in Australia
There are many scholarships, grants and bursaries that can help support you financially with your studies in Australia. They are offered by the Australian government, education institutions and a number of other public and private organisations. Here is information about some of the major scholarships programmes available for international students:
Australia Awards
The Australia Awards aim to promote knowledge, education links, and enduring ties between Australia and its neighbours through Australia’s extensive scholarship programmes. The programme brings together scholarships offered by the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID), the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIICCSRTE) and the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR). Read more at www.australiaawards.gov.au
International Postgraduate Research Scholarships
The International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) programme focuses on improving the quality of Australian research. If you already have a graduate qualification, an IPRS scholarship lets you study in Australia with some of the best researchers in your field. You can read more about these scholarships at the Department of Innovation website. Or to search for the scholarships, use the search tool on the website.
Jason (joint academic scholarships online network) is a postgraduate scholarship search engine.
Scholarships in the database apply to Australian students wishing to study at home or abroad, and to international students wishing to study in Australia. You can find out more on the Jason website.
Who can apply for a scholarship?
Many scholarships are available to students of all nationalities, however all scholarships conditions are set by the institution or organisation offering the scholarship and applications have to be done directly with the scholarship provider. To find out if you are eligible you must contact the organisation offering the scholarship.
So what do international students say about studying and living in Australia
In 2012, the Australian government conducted a survey of international students to obtain information about their experience in Australia. The key findings of the survey included:
• 87 per cent of international student respondents are ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their overall experience in Australia.
• 86 per cent of international student respondents are ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with their study experience in Australia.
• 88 per cent of international student respondents are ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with living in Australia.
