Australia is located in the southern hemisphere, comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands, causing it to be the largest country in Oceania and the world’s sixth-largest country by total area. Australia is also the smallest of the seven traditional continents. Australia’s capital is Canberra, and its largest city is Sydney. The country’s other major metropolitan areas are Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. Australia is a highly developed and urbanized country, with the world’s 14th-largest economy, and also boasts a high-income economy, with the world’s tenth-highest per capita income. It is extremely geographically diverse, ranging from the snow-capped mountains of the Australian Alps and Tasmania to large deserts, tropical and temperate forests, grasslands, heathlands, and woodlands, you can find it all in Australia. It also has the world’s 9th largest immigrant population. Due to Australia’s large geographical size, it also has a wide variety of climates- with the largest part of Australia being desert or semi-arid, the south-east and south-west parts of it enjoy a temperate climate, and the northern part of the country has a tropical climate, between the grasslands and desert.
The country also boasts of wonderful landscapes that burst with color, culture, and natural beauty to abundance allowing for students aspiring to study in Australia to have unique experiences and keep the wanderlust alive while pursuing their higher studies.
Current status of entry for international students due to COVID-19
From 15 December 2021, fully vaccinated international students can travel to Australia, without needing to apply for a travel exemption. All travelers need to comply with requirements in the state or territory of arrival, and any other states or territories they plan to travel to. This includes quarantine and post-arrival testing requirements. Students who are not eligible to travel without an exemption may be able to travel to Australia under an International Student Arrival Plan. There are also limited travel exemptions available for international students who can meet specific criteria including some health/medical students and Ph.D. research students. Australia’s state and territory governments, in consultation with the Australian government and education providers, are developing International Student Arrival Plan to enable students to travel to Australia while some travel restrictions are still in place.
The Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs recently announced, “From 21 February 2022, all fully vaccinated visa holders can travel to Australia without a travel exemption. Unvaccinated visa holders will still need a valid travel exemption to enter Australia.”
What is the average cost of living in Australia?
For those aspiring to pursue higher education in Australia, the cost of living in the country is also lower as compared to the United States of America, added to that is the advantage of globally recognized degrees and high-quality research facilities, with the ease of working while studying and more opportunities of international employment. The approximate Tuition fees or Cost to Study in Australia and the average cost of living in Australia are as follows:
Tuition Fees-
- Average Undergraduate Fees – 20,000 – 45,000 AUD per annum.
- Average Postgraduate Fees – 20,000 – 50,000 AUD per annum.
- Doctoral Degree – 18,000 – 42,000 AUD per annum.
Approximate Living Expenses- Accommodation – 360-860 AUD.
- Food & Dining – 140-280 AUD per week.
- Phone and Wi-Fi – 15-30 AUD.
- Gas and Electricity – 10-20 AUD.
- Additional Expenses – 80-150 AUD.