Online Counselling For Your Studies In Australia

Australia is becoming a favorite study destination for overseas students due to its unmatched range of postgraduate, undergraduate, vocational, technical and school programs. Australia is internationally recognized as a safe and comfortable place to live with low cost of living. Cities like Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney all rated in the top 10 of the most livable cities in the world. Nearly a third of Australia is in the tropics and the rest is in the temperate zone. Although English is the official language, a host of other languages are spoken in Australia. Rich in the arts. There are eight professional orchestras and a national opera company. Within Australia there are more than 1000 museums preserving and displaying Australia's diverse cultural heritage. Australians are very keen on sport and outdoor activities. Australia has more than 120 national sporting organizations and thousands of state, regional and club bodies. Australia has a world wide reputation for sports and outdoor activities. This is endorsed by the Olympic Committee's selection of Sydney to host the Olympic Games in the year 2000.

Education System
Type of Certifications
Admission Process
Undergraduate
Postgraduate

Expenses:- Tuition Fees & Living Cost



Education System
Australia has a national qualification system in which you move easily from one level of study to the next. The standard of education in Australia is carefully supervised by the government therefore student can be confident that he'll receive the same high quality education no matter which institution he can choose. Both government-run and private institutions are monitored for quality by the Australian Government. The Australian education system is flexible so people can continue education throughout their lives. That means students can enter and exit the system at almost any point, and they can re-enter vocational or university courses later in their careers.

Types of Institutes :

Primary and Secondary Schools : This is equivalent to 10+2 education in India. To enter university, students must sit exams and assessments in years 11 and 12 to receive a senior secondary certificate of education.

English Language Schools (ELICOS) : There are hundreds of English language schools across Australia which offer a range of course to improve language skills. Many Australian universities and vocational institutes also offers The Australian system of English language training is known as English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS).

Foundation Studies(Bridging courses) : When school qualifications are not equivalent to an Australian senior secondary school, then students have to do foundation studies(also known as bridging courses) in Australia before being accepted Diploma or Bachelor degree. Foundation studies are offered at universities and vocational institutes.

Vocational Education and Training[VET] Institutes : VET provides practical skills and industry experience. Students can begin vocational education and training after secondary school(Year 10) or senior secondary school ( Year 12). The VET sector is divided into two sections: a nationally recognized government system of Technical and Further Education (TAFE); and private providers. TAFE is the largest provider of tertiary education courses in Australia with about 250 institutes and over a million students including about 41,000 international students. Qualifications offered through VET institutes are certificate I, II, III, and IV, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma. Many institutes have links with universities, which means student may be able to move into bachelor degree with up to one year of advanced standing, after achieving the required grades in vocational course.

University : There are 41 universities in Australia. 38 of these are public funded(Govt. funded) and three are privately funded. Studying at an Australian university gives students access to a quality education, technologically advanced facilities and expert lecturers. According to John Fisher, first secretary, Australian High Commission, "The most favored courses amongst Indian students are MBA, management, Computer science, IT and engineering. University study can lead to the following awards: Undergraduate - Bachelor Degrees, Bachelor Degrees (with Honors), Undergraduate Diplomas, Associate Diplomas; Postgraduate - Doctoral Degrees, Masters Degrees, Graduate Diplomas, Graduate Certificates.


Type of Certifications

Undergraduate
Bachelor Degree
Bachelor Degree (with Honors)
Undergraduate Diplomas
Associate Diplomas
Postgraduate
Masters Degrees
Doctoral Degrees
Graduate Diplomas
Graduate Certificates


Admission process
The following documents required for applying to the Australian Universities

Undergraduate
Application form
Academic records
Class Xth mark sheet & certificate
Class XIIth mark sheet & certificate
Class XIth mark sheet: For those students, either applying for fast track foundation program immediately after completion of std XIth or those who have just completed the standard XII exam and do not have the marks, which will be available in May/June.
English Proficency
IELTS : For International students IELTS is compulsory for most courses and universities .which is regularly administered by the British council.
TOEFL is also accepted by some Australian Universities
Note: IELTS is mandatory for Australian visa for many countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Postgraduate
Application form
Application fees
Academic records
Bachelor Degree/Provisional certificate with mark sheets
Class XIIth mark sheet & Certificate
Class Xth mark sheet & Certificate
Standardized Test
IELTS : For International students IELTS is compulsory for most courses and universities .which is regularly administered by the British council.
TOEFL is also accepted by some Australian Universities
GMAT: For most management program international students are required to take GMAT test.
Note: IELTS is mandatory for Australian visa for many countries like India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
Letter of recommendation
Work exp. Letter : Number of professional and vocational courses require relevant work exp. Letter. e.g. MBA
Research Proposal : Only for research students.


Expenses :-Tuition Fees & Living Cost

Courses Fees
Bachelors degree-Non lab based courses AUD$10000 - AUD $14000(Approx.)
Bachelors degree - Lab based programme AUD$12000 - AUD$ 16000(Approx.)
Graduates certificates & Diplomas AUD$9000 - AUD $ 16000(Approx.)
Masters degree courses AUD$12000-18500(Approx.)
Doctoral degree courses AUD$12000-18500(Approx.)
MBA AUD$15000 - AUD$ 30000

Living Expense : Annual living expense in Australia is approximately AUD$ 12,000 pa

Online Counselling For Your Studies In US

Education System
Admission Process
INTAKE
Type of Certification
Admission Criteria
Duration of the Programmes
Expenses:- Tuition Fees & Living Cost
Advantages of US Study



Education System
The U.S. educational system is very different from its Indian counterpart. U.S.A. has more than 3,300 accredited colleges and universities, which offer a wide range of graduate and undergraduate programs

There is no central ministry of education in the U.S. and each institution can determine its own programs and admission standards. There are private as well as state funded colleges.

Universities are academic institutions that include one or more undergraduate colleges, as well as any number of graduate and professional schools, i.e. schools offering study for a single profession such as law.

Four year colleges are undergraduate institutions offering academic programs leading to a bachelor's degree. Community colleges or junior colleges are undergraduate institutions offering upto two years of academic instruction beyond secondary school at a relatively low cost. These offer certificate programs that last for a few months to a year as well as associate degrees.

Institutes of technology or polytechnic institutes offer specialized programs in sciences and engineering, in addition to basic sciences, humanities and the social sciences, at both the graduate and undergraduate levels.

Any one who has a consistently good academic record, firm financial support and proficiency in English can apply to Universities in USA.


Admission process
At least 18 months in advance of your intended date of enrollment at a U.S. university. For example, if you wish to enroll in August/September 2006, you should start the process around April 2006.

Cost of Admission Process
Approximately, Rs.50,000 for applying to an average of 7 universities. This includes test fees, application fees, communication, and mailing expenses


INTAKE
US universities offer two main semester intakes:

Fall Semester (September/October):
This is the main intake and almost all programs are offered at this times. More financial aid is also available for this semester and as funds are allocated for the entire year during this time.

Spring Semester (January/February):
This is the mid-year intake. There is limited financial assistance available for this semester as most universities allocate funds to projects in the Fall semester.

Some universities also have a Summer intake around July


Type of Certification
Undergraduate programs (Bachelor degree) :
This is the first level of post-secondary education that begins after 12 years of primary and secondary schooling. It includes at least 4 years of education and earns a bachelor's degree (Most Indian graduation courses are of 3 years duration). There are also two-year programs which earn an Associate degree. A student who has an associate degree has to study further for a minimum of 2 years to earn a bachelor's degree

Graduate Programs (Master's & Doctorate degree) :
This is the same as post-graduate education in India. It usually involves one year or more of education depending on the subject or course, and earns a master's or doctoral degree like MBA, MS or PhD. Admission to a graduate program usually requires a minimum of 16 years of formal education. That is, 12 years of primary and secondary schooling and further 4 years of college education.


Admission Criteria
Each University in USA has different percentage requirement. Admission in both UG and PG programmes depend on the scores the student gets in SAT, GMAT & GRE tests.

Equally important is the quality of the supporting documents attached with the application like the letter of recommendation letters and the essays.


Duration of the Programmes
Associate Programmes:
Generally two years

Bachelors:
Four Years

Masters:
Two Years

Ph.D.:
Three to Six Years


Expenses :-Tuition Fees & Living Cost
The US Universities fall under two major categories: public (state supported), and private (independent) institutions. International students' tuition expenses at state schools are based on nonresident costs, which are still usually less expensive than those of private universities. It's important to note that the cost of a program in a US school does not necessarily affect its quality. A brief idea can be got from the following table:

Cost(tution + living expenses) could range from $15,000 to $40,000. The average cost for a year of study is $20,000.

University Type Average Tuition Fees
(annual in U.S. Dollars)
Private Institutions (High Cost) $ 25,000
Private Institutions (Low Cost) $ 15,000
State Institutions (High Cost) $ 20,000
State Institutions (Low Cost) $ 10,000

The tuition fee is different for different universities and varies widely with courses. It can vary from as low as $ 5000 a year for state universities to as much as $ 30000 per annum for some private universities

Living Expenses
The approximate annual living expenses are about $10,000, which includes accommodation as well as other daily expenses. However, the expenses are different for different people depending on the lifestyles and this is just a rough idea. The main expenses can be split up as:

Rent $ 400 per month
(you can live alone with that amount in a place like Auburn or share an apartment with 6 people in NY)
Groceries $ 100 per month
Utilities $ 100 per month
Phone $ 100 per month
Sundry $ 200 per month

So, about $1000 per month is a good estimation. Most people can survive with $700-$1000 a month. The key here is to share apartments/houses so that you save on the utilities, fixed charge portion of phone and to some extent on groceries.


Advantages of US Study
Academic excellence:
World's finest post-secondary educational system with excellent programs in traditional disciplines as well as professional fields.

Quality assurance:
A systematic approach to ensuring quality standards in educational institutions and academic programs.

Variety of options:
There are over 3,600 institutions to choose from. Some colleges provide broad based education like liberal arts education, while others provide speciality programs. There are also vocational or technical schools.

Cutting edge technology:
U.S. universities are leaders in high quality education and are at the forefront of technology.

Flexibility:
The academic programs provide students with a variety of courses and options. Students have the freedom to design their majors and programs of study, switch fields and petition specific courses. Independent study is also available to suit individual needs.

Hands on training:
Cooperative educational programs, internship and practical training opportunities provide valuable practical experience to students. These programs offer financial assistance and enhance

Global acceptability:
American degrees are recognized and sought after by employers worldwide. The long-term career prospects of a student are enhanced as the studying in U.S. boosts and develops one's self-confidence, independent thinking and cross-cultural communication skills.enhance career prospects.

Financial assistance:
Scholarships, fellowships and assistantships are available for eligible international students. They are also eligible to work for 10 to 20 hours a week to partially meet their expenses.

While the advantages of studying in the U.S. are enormous, it is important that you chart your course with careful planning. You need to seek objective information from reliable sources, and weigh the options to make a well-informed and academically sound decision.

Consider the following criteria:

Academic eligibility: Once you choose an academic major or field of study, consider the eligibility requirements and proceed only if you meet those requirements.
Cost: The estimated average of tuition and living expenses is around $20,000 per academic year.
Time: Start the search for a suitable academic program about 12 to 18 months before the date of enrollment. Though it is sometimes possible to complete the process more quickly, planning ahead gives a student a wider choice and sufficient time to prepare a winning application.
Employability:
Considering the amount of time, energy and money that one invests in the process, check on your employment prospects after you graduate.