Australia woos Indian students to pursue higher education

 Hyderabad: Australia continues to emerge as one of the favourite destinations for Indian students to pursue higher education there.

Also, that there are no entry barriers like the need for having a GRE or GMAT score puts Australia among the top choices for students. The country rules also allow the visiting students to take up part time jobs for 48 hours in a fortnight. When there are active sessions, they are allowed to work full time, according to Dr Monica Kennedy, senior trade and investment commissioner, Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) Mumbai.

Addressing a media conference here on Wednesday in connection with a roadshow planned on September 9 in Hyderabad, she said Australia has special laws to protect the rights of the international students. There is a framework in place which makes universities accountable to issues relating to students and they have to provide the required support.

Australia has 43 universities and many of them figure in the global rankings. Australia is investing aggressively in building the education platform to welcome more international students. Currently, many come here to pursue three-year under graduate courses or two-year masters programmes. IT, management, health, education, humanities and evolving technologies are the main domains that are preferred by the Indian students, she said.

The growth of the number of students opting Australia fell due to Covid. However, it is on the rebound and is in the touching distance of the 1,00,000-mark shortly, she said.

On the living expenses, she said Australia is not cheap. However, universities allow students to take up part time jobs for 48 hours in a fortnight. The minimum wage is Aus $ 21 per hour.

Roshen Paul, director, trade and investment, Austrade, said Telangana and Andhra Pradesh account for a high percentage of students in the IT sector. Students going to Australia, however, have to prove their proficiency in   English. The courses cost about Aus $ 20,000 to $ 30,000 per annum (or about Rs 12 lakh to Rs 16 lakh per annum). In some cases, some universities offer free accommodation for the first year. This will be a significant savings. There are varied student support (bursary-kind) programmes as well, he said.

The intake happens in July, September and February, he said.

The multi-city roadshow will bring Australian universities, government representatives, departments of education and home affairs to one platform. Parents and students can engage with the delegates to understand the emerging trends in the education sector of Australia. It will also cover fees, popular intakes, sought-after courses and life as a student in Australia.