General Requirements for Australian Student Visa

There are certain general requirements to get approved for the Australian student visa. Following are those requirements, which you have to fulfil in any case to get official entry permit to Australia.

To get your student visa approved, you need to provide following important documents.

• You have to provide an evidence of demonstrating your ability to fulfil the financial expenses as a full time student in Australia.
• You need to show a proof of satisfactory level of English language proficiency such as EILTS, TOEFL etc. Make sure you know your requirements for EILTS like the band requirements for different courses are different.
• You have to show a proof of satisfactory health conditions and good character.
• You have to pay for the health insurance cover that is for international students.
• You have to show the proof of your enrolment in a course at any of the authorized and registered institutes of Australia.
• If your financial expenses are being sponsored by someone else, then you need to provide the proof of cash assets that should be sufficient to cover the cost of your studies in Australia.
• If you have qualified for a scholarship from the Australian institute or any institute in your hometown, then you should provide the evidence for scholarship.
• You have to provide the proof of your previous education record.
• You have to proof that you don’t have any outstanding debts to the Commonwealth of Australia and if you have then you have arranged the repayments of such types of debts.

When You Should Apply?

The procedures and requirements for student visa vary according to the type of the study program you have selected and according to the country from where you are applying. Visa approval may take as long as three months, so it is highly recommended to you to apply for Australian student visa at least before six or eight weeks of the starting of your study program in the relevant university.

Note: Individuals who are applying for education in Australia must satisfy the appropriate health requirements that are specified in the migration rules. If you are applying as an AusAID student, then you won’t have to pay the Overseas Student health Cover.

If you are migrating from Norway and Sweden, then you don’t have to pay for the Overseas Student Health Cover only in the case when you already carry acceptable health insurance coverage from your country.

References:
http://www.immi.gov.au/students/
http://www.immigration-2-australia.com/before-you-migrate/eilts-test
http://www.ausaid.gov.au/

Whatever the reason may be, you will have to find the answer of many questions that would be raised before you when you decide to restart your education. You will have to think what will be the right course for you, how will you keep balance between work and study etc.

Where to Start?

This is the first thing which you should take into consideration while thinking to restart your education. If you are an international student and want to attend any university in Australia as a mature age student, then you should be aware of the possible risks and difference between learning in your hometown and in a foreign land. You may be looking for updating your computer skills and looking for an appropriate computer course for it, as almost all learning suppliers require you to be able to understand and operate computers. In Australia, all universities located across the country are offering wide options for mature age students. Whether you are a local or a foreigner, you should consult the counsellors of these universities to get the information about from where you should start your education again.

Bridging Courses in Australian Universities

Many universities in Australia are offering a bridging course if there are any prerequisites to your education. It is with academic skills, math, returning to study and computer courses. All these are available for mature age students who are returning to their education.

Know Your Options as a Mature Age Students

If you are a mature age student, then you can avail education with different leaning styles. For these different learning styles, requirements for study are also different. Most universities in Australia are offering the option of part-time study for both the undergraduate or postgraduate courses. This facility is for those who are working full time as a professional.

Online Learning is being offered by many courses to ensure the maximum ease of contact for mature age students. If you are seeking formal education then adult education centres like community centres are good options for you. You can also get enrolled in diploma or certificate courses that are offered by TAFE. These courses are helpful in enhancing your professional skills.

Entry Requirements

Entry requirements for getting enrolled in any of the mature age courses vary from course to course and from institute to institute. You should contact the adult education supplier to understand what you need to have to get restart your education as a mature age student in Australia.

In the long and short, you will have to think about many things before you start your education again as a mature age student. You will have to check whether you can qualify for your choice of course or not.

References: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/otd/publishing.nsf/Content/Bridging+courses http://www.statesideinternational.com/australia__bridging_program.html http://tafe-australia.org/

Accommodation Options

Australia offers a wide range of accommodation options to international students and other immigrants. Some of the best options for students are listed below:

Homestay

Homestay is one of the best student accommodation options for students. This is because it is obviously difficult to adjust in new environment without the support of family. So when you decide to live in homestay, you can adjust yourself in new environment easier. You can get a fully furnished room with privacy and prepared meals on table during your homestay. You can also get help from the family about your job and other matters. You can improve your language with a full time interaction with a native Australian family and you can get useful tips about the city where you are living. The cost for homestay ranges from 150AUD to 300AUD per week. 

Hostels

Hostels are also a good option to live in Australia as well. However, living in hostels can be problematic. The reason behind this is that there will be no prepared food included in the cost of hostels. You will have to cook for yourself or eat out at any restaurant that will definitely be costlier for you. If you compare hostel accommodation with homestay in terms of food then hostels are approximately 20% more expensive than homestay. However, hostels are still offering various advantages over homestays as you don’t have to follow any particular home schedules. The cost of living in hostel ranges from 50AUD to 150 AUD per week. 

Rent an Apartment

You can rent an apartment or share it. Living in an apartment could save you a remarkable amount of money, as you can share the pay for all utility bills and maintenance. You can find people to share you apartment by consulting local newspapers or by searching on universities’ notice boards. If you decide to live in an apartment, you have to bring your own furniture, other household objects and you have to prepare food by yourself. However, you can find furnished apartments by paying little more. The cost of renting an apartment in Australia ranges from 100AUD to 350 AUD per week.

University Housing

You can live in university housing, but for this accommodation you have to apply as early as you can. This is because university housing is the preferred choice of a large number of international students and there is a huge traffic of applications for this type of accommodation. The cost of this accommodation depends on the university where you are applying. This accommodation includes facilities like meals, laundry services, and support services etc. The cost of university housing in Australia ranges from 50AUD to 300AUD.

On the whole, choice is yours and what type of accommodation you select to live in Australia largely depends on your budget and preferences. If you are staying for a longer period of time, then you should consider renting and sharing an apartment. Homestay is an ideal accommodation to take a good start in Australia. Hostel is also good option if you can prepare food by yourself and don’t like following particular home schedules.

The people Down Under pride themselves on their amazing wildlife, and much of the animal diversity comes from the oceans. Whales, dolphins, great white sharks, tuna, marlin, Australia is a sports fisherman’s paradise. Holiday towns like Bateman’s Bay,( batemansbay )four hours South of Sydney are renowned for the blue and yellow tuna fish.  The Great Barrier Reef is one of the wonders of the world with exceptional scuba diving opportunities and Tasmanian Salmon is sought after around the world. Besides the abundance of fish life, the seafood options are quite amazing with fish markets throughout the country offering mussels, lobster, crayfish, yabbies, calamari, scallops and oysters. If you plan to go fishing you must make sure that you obtain the correct licenses from the local waterways council.

Every type of sea or water facility is provided around the land. From holiday resorts, to boat homes, ocean cruises, fishing and diving expeditions, skiing, or even just riverside camping.

So it stands to reason that one of the first things you’ll do when immigrating to Australia is explore the beaches and large waterways. To maintain their pristine waterways, Ozzies have some very strict litter and pollution laws in place and it would be good for you to read up on these before you head out. There are restrictions on wood fires, animals, ablutions, general litter and overnight camping. Always take fresh water and sun block with you when out on the waterways as well as plastic bags to remove your waste and dispose of it properly. Even cigarette butts must be taken away and thrown in a dustbin. Australians respect their beautiful land and rightfully expect everyone else to do so too.

Newcomers that have immigrated to Australia enjoy the waterways and spend many hours camping, swimming, and adventuring. It is important to read the waterways rules in your state before you head out; each state has a slightly different set of rules. Every major waterway has a rescue team and a police team. Don’t get caught breaking the rules or you will be fined; you do need a license to drive a boat over 10 knots so make sure that you get yours.

Once you’ve received your visa, a whole world of exceptional water life is yours for the taking. There is nothing more rewarding than a sunset barbeque on a deserted beach with nothing but wildlife and beautiful views to accompany you.

http://www.bugbog.com/beaches/australia_beaches/australia_beaches.html
http://www.australia.com/australian_beaches.aspx
http://www.travelaustralia360.com/australian-beaches.html
http://www.yachtandboat.com.au/page/boat_licence_nsw.html
http://www.maritime.nsw.gov.au/
http://www.legallawyers.com.au/legal-topics/admiralty-and-shipping-law/boating-law/

Two blokes saving a stranded a Great White. What a story!

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/australiaandthepacific/australia/7928313/Great-white-shark-rescued-in-daring-beach-drama.html

“The alcohol industry spends $109 million on advertising per year while fast food companies are among the top 50 advertisers in Australia, spending around $165 million on advertising per year.”

Public health specialist Dr Richard di Natale, who will stand for the Greens in the Senate, said the levy could raise about $4 million that would be used for health information programs.

Their core principle is: “Tolerance of sexual free speech and sexual expression is one of the main hallmarks of free and democratic nations. Intolerance of these qualities is one of the hallmarks of autocracies, dictatorships and theocracies.”

Seriously… You got to be kidding me!

But, just for you, my dear reader, I read on:

One of their policies is: “The listing of Viagra, Cialis and other drugs used to treat sexual dysfunction, on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. ”

They want to put Viagra on the benefit scheme !!!

Unbelievable…

Anyway the election day is: Saturday, 21 August 2010

http://www.immigration-2-australia.com

In the 16 of June, the state of Victoria held a massive citizenship ceremony which entitled 2500 people to call themselves “Aussies”.

Read more on the article here

So, what do I have to do to become Australian Citizen?

You’ll first have to check if your eligable. You can find more info here, but part of that is doing the “Australian Citizenship Test”. A test of 20 (only in English) questions of which you need to answer 15 out of 20 correctly. After that you need to send in an application form, ans with all form with the immigration service, you’ll need to include heaps of evidence to go with that.

Hopefully everything goes well and you’ll get invited to the ceremony. During the ceremony you’ll need to make a pledge, but you can choose one of two. Well actually, you would have picked one during the application form.

Pledge 1:

From this time forward, under God,
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
whose democratic beliefs I share,
whose rights and liberties I respect, and
whose laws I will uphold and obey.

Pledge 2:

From this time forward
I pledge my loyalty to Australia and its people,
whose democratic beliefs I share,
whose rights and liberties I respect, and
whose laws I will uphold and obey.

When you have made the pledge you will be an Australian citizen and you are able (In fact, it’s compulsory) to vote and to apply for a Australian passport!

http://www.immigration-2-australia.com

What this will do to the migration or the visa policies is yet to be seen.

More on this here:

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-national/gillard-rejects-rudds-big-australia-20100627-zbov.html

http://www.immigration-2-australia.com