Thinking of studying in Australia and wondering about how to get into an Australian University? You have come to the right place as this article provides all the information that you be need for assistance.
Study in Australia
The question, ‘how to get into an Australian University?’ could be partly answered by getting few facts about the country. Australia offers more than 22,000 courses spread across almost 1,100 institutions! Seven out of the top 100 Universities are Australian and Australian students are highly satisfied by the quality of education that they receive. The Australian University system itself ranks 8th in the world which puts Australia ahead of UK, Germany and Japan. All this means that students graduating with an Australian degree have a competitive edge over the others in the job market. That is why more and more students are eyeing Australia as their study destination. Moreover, all Australian courses have an associated CRICOS Code that is given by Australian Government implying that the education system is fully controlled by the Government authorities.
Australia University admission requirements
Aspiring students prefer Australia due to the country’s reputation for offering high quality education. The first and the foremost admission requirement is an appropriate score on an English language test such as the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). The test uses a 9 band scale to assess English proficiency. As Australia is an English-speaking country, Universities prefer students to have an average score of 6.5 for undergraduate admissions and an average score of 7 for master’s or PhD admissions. Securing admission is a competitive scenario and therefore it should be highlighted that besides having a good IELTS score, aspiring students should also have good grades on their school leaving exam and Bachelor’s examination (if the first degree is earned in India). Some Universities even ask for a Graduate Management Admission Exam (GMAT) score for the MBA program. In addition to these, the following documents are preferred, generally:
- A personal essay or a statement of purpose that describes career goals, interests, and the motivation behind applying for a particular course and a specific University. The statement should also highlight reasons for studying in Australia as opposed to any other country. This can also include a summary of employment experience (if applicable).
- An updated or current Curriculum Vitae (CV)/resume.
- Letters of recommendation (generally two of these) from people who have served as teachers or guides. The letters should highlight the specific strengths of candidates.
- Bank statements that show sufficient funds to cover the duration of Australian stay in case students do not have access to scholarships.
How to apply to Australian Universities? International Students
Although Universities and courses may have differing deadlines, generally international students should eye late October to mid-November or mid-April to mid-May as application periods for both admissions and scholarships. Students can also get in touch with education agents before these periods in order to prepare a thorough application. If you are thinking of applying directly then you will have to download application forms and submit those separately for different Universities. Almost all of the Australian Universities have free admission applications! In some cases, fee could be about AUD$50 to AUD$100 for applications that are not made online. In either case, it is best to get in touch with your chosen education provider in order to get detailed information. Universities generally take 4 to 6 weeks to process applications or before declaring results.
Students are also advised to check out the Universities Admissions Centre (UAC, established in 1995) that processes centralized applications for universities and colleges mainly within New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) for undergraduate courses. Students can get their qualifications assessed here as a part of the standard application assessment process, in case they are interested to get more information about their eligibility or if an institution has requested for qualifications assessment statement prior to beginning the real admission procedure. Time taken for processing is about 2 weeks and the associated costs work out to be approximately AUD$125. Besides the UAC, there are other Tertiary Admission Centres (TACs) that process admission applications on behalf of several tertiary institutions in different states and territories. The following centres process international applications for free:
- Universities Admissions Centre (UAC)
- Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC)
- Victoria Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC)
- South Australia Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC)
Universities in Australia
Here is a list of top Universities in Australia for international students:
- Australian National University (ANU)
- University of Melbourne
- University of New South Wales (UNSW)
- University of Queensland
- University of Sydney
- Monash University
- University of Western Australia (UWA)
- University of Adelaide
- University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
- University of Newcastle
- University of Wollongong
- Macquarie University
- Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
- RMIT University
- Curtin University
- University of South Australia
- Deakin University
- University of Tasmania
- Griffith University
- La Trobe University
Alternative Pathways
If you think that you may not fulfill the admission requirements as a regular student just because there is too much competition out there or your school leaving marks are low then don’t be disheartened as there are alternative pathways too. Options include taking English language preparation, studying a vocational course or taking up foundation studies. The latter are one year intensive preparatory courses that help prepare students to enter an undergraduate program. Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes are popular for offering foundation courses and helpfully guarantee entry into specific degree courses upon completion. To be eligible, students would have to complete school leaving examinations in their home countries. The exact requirements vary between courses, so it’s essential to contact the course provider for more details. Fees may range between AUD$15,000 and $37,000.
Towards the end, perhaps you may have refined your answers about studying down under, if someone asks you about how to get into an Australian University.
But are you convinced?
If you are satisfied and obtained answers for the most pressing question, ‘how to get into an Australian University?’ then don’t wait! Start searching for courses and universities now!