Giant strides

Studying in Australia is an attractive prospect, with exciting opportunities both academically and socially. Receiving a higher education down under is an idea the country is keen to promote, with its Study in Australia campaign. Run by the Australian government, it aims to increase the number of international students enrolling at universities in the country. The benefits for Australia include contributing to the country's diplomatic efforts, raising Australia's profile and ensuring the education system provides a global benchmark, learning from international developments.

The programme is equally beneficial to prospective students. Ibrahim Y. Mustafa, UAE Manager of the Australian Agency for Education and Training, says that for students contemplating higher education, Australia has a lot to offer. "Australian institutions provide students with a world-class education," he says.

Wide range of opportunities

An impressive eight universities across the country are recognised globally as research institutions. They are the Australia National University, University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, University of Queensland, University of Western Australia, University of New South Wales, Monash University and University of Adelaide.

"This group of eight institutions, as well as other universities around the country, offer a diverse range of high-quality programmes," says Mustafa. "Australia is a friendly and welcoming society and has a strong history in supporting and caring for students from the UAE and the Gulf."

Studying in Australia is an appealing prospect for students from all over the world, with a total of 250,794 international students enrolling in higher education institutions in Australia and offshore in 2006, according to government figures. As an industry, international education is now Australia's biggest services export.

The figure for those based in the UAE who study in Australia is also increasing rapidly. Although the Australian Agency for Education and Training doesn't have exact figures, it says the rate is growing phenomenally, reflecting the overall increase in the number of international students choosing Australia for their higher education. International enrolment numbers increased by 78 per cent over the five years before 2007.

Reem Ali Ahmad Mohammad, an Emirati student from Abu Dhabi, attended the University of Western Australia, earning a Bachelor degree in molecular biology and biotechnology. She is also about to embark on a Masters in forensic science in Australia.

Reem decided to study in Australia for social and academic reasons. "I chose to study in Australia because of the choice of courses and because the people are very friendly. I'd been on holidays there before, so I decided to study there," she says. "Socially, it is a chance to gain knowledge about another society; >meeting other nationalities in pleasant surroundings. Academically, the university I went to is internationally recognised and its courses are appealing too. The Australian education system has a strong mix of theoretical and practical learning, which really appealed to me."

Mustafa adds, "Degree programmes are designed to equip the individuals with the skills to take on careers straight from graduation. The diversity of programmes in Australia is another key feature of the system, with courses available on everything from physics to horticulture."

Multicultural society

Management and commerce, food, hospitality and service and society and culture are the three most popular vocational courses internationally, while the most popular degree subjects are management and commerce, information technology and society and culture.

Aside from the university courses, the country itself must appeal to prospective students too. "Australia is a welcoming environment, especially for those with an Arabic heritage," says Reem.

Mustafa agrees that this diversity increases Australia's popularity among prospective students. "Australia is a multicultural and open society which brings people together from throughout the international community," he says. "In addition to Australia's own diversity, the international student community, which numbers in excess of 500,000, is an important element of the national community. Australian universities are a mixture of local and international students, and this provides an amazing opportunity to learn about different cultures while obtaining a great education."

For students looking for education opportunities abroad that offer a vibrant social life in a multicultural society, and a world-class education, then the Study in Australia 2010 campaign may be just the ticket. n

Getting a visa

"The first step to get a visa is to gain a place at an Australian institution. The Australian Agency only represents accredited institutions and can help you select the right course for your area of interest and your budget," says Ibrahim Y. Mustafa, Manager, Australian Agency for Education and Training, UAE.

"As the UAE is a Level 1 Assessment country, UAE passport holders can usually gain a student visa to Australia in a short period of time. The Australian Agency's office can assist you with this process to ensure you have all the required documentation. Providing everything is in order, a visa is usually granted within a week."