As reported in Notes last week, Griffith University, Australia, has set up an off shore processing centre in Dubai in association with Inner Universe. This is the first of the university's three off-shore admission facilities being set up abroad — the other two being in India and Europe.
Students can apply for most of GU's undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in Dubai through the agency, which is authorised to make admission offers on behalf of Griffith. PhD and higher degrees with research applications, however, need to be sent to Australia. Notes spoke to Rahul Mankad, regional director, South Asia and Middle East, Griffith International, Griffith University
Why did GU start an admission centre in Dubai?
We wish to serve students in a more efficient manner by providing extra support to our agent network.
What were your statistics for the last three years pertaining to the region?
Interest and enrolments have grown steadily in the region for GU. We process over 2,000 applications each year from the Middle East.
What are the favourite majors for students from this region?
Business, education, pharmacy, law and English programmes.
What should students do if they want to apply to Griffith?
Contact our agent network in the region.
Should they go to Inner Universe or to Griffith directly?
Students can apply directly. However, working through an agent has advantages as they provide support and service for visa processing.
Agents are also familiar with finer details about financial documents required, language testing, visa requirements.
What are your deadlines?
It takes six to eight weeks to process a visa to Australia from the Middle East. Students are encouraged to apply three-four months in advance.
About Griffith University
Griffith is now Australia's 10th largest higher education institution in terms of student load. Of the 34,000 students enrolled, more than 7,000 are international from 117 countries.
It has five campuses in three cities in Australia and has international exchange and academic agreements with more than 170 universities and other institutions around the world. It is a member of Innovative Research Universities Australia, a group of six universities who share common aims, standards and values. Work-integrated Learning and Griffith's online career development programme — Career Smarter — are some of the highlights of its academic structure.
— Further information on GU can be found at www.griffith.edu.au
— The writer is the director of Counselling Point Educational and Social Services
