The Land Down South

By Bhawani Timalsina

 

With UK and US tightening noose over the VISA regulations, Australia has emerged as one of the most desirable place to study in recent years due to its friendly educational policies. In Australia, education comes third in the priority list and taking advantage of the system, Nepali students are now willing to persue their higher or specialised studies in this Emerald city. There are several consultancies in Nepal, which are providing a complete counseling for those who want to study in Australia.

According to Mahesh Babu Timalsina, General Secretary of ECAN, the introduction of Streamline Visa Processing (SVP) system has encouraged Nepali students to apply for VISAs in Australia. “The VISA success rate has increased after the Australian High Commission in Delhi has introduced the SVP system,” says Timalsina. The SAV means these applicants are treated as though they are lower migration risk regardless of their country of origin.

On the context of whether it is easy to get VISA for deserving students, he says, this is not a difficult job as the High Commission looks for students who can easily clear the Genuine Temporary Entrance (GTE) process, which is a short interview required by the Australian Department of Immigration to ascertain students’ admission into the universities and their general plan of action in the country.

Australia provides a variety of courses ranging from technical subjects such as engineering to the subjects in liberal arts and management. Students can apply in 42 universities in the country, of which two are private. Besides, students can also apply to hundreds of colleges affiliated to the universities. The Australian National University, University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, University of Queensland, University of New South Wales, Monash University, University of Western Australia and University of Adelaide are some of renowned ones, also listed as Group 8 universities.

Most Australian education institutions are considered as the best in the world, given their record of graduates with successful careers. The Australian education system promotes creative and practical education – a combination, which every student look for. They can get related information directly from the university representatives who frequently participates in the education seminars in various parts of the country.

The fee structure and the entry requirement depends on the courses and on the universities. “We suggest students to search for suitable courses and be self aware of their eligibility to apply. It is necessary for students to know whether their qualifications enable them to apply for the education course or not,” Timalsina claims.

On average, the cost of education in Australia is Rs 800,000 to Rs 1.3 million per semester, including tuition fee and room and board. Despite the huge fee, part-time job facilities for students and full-time work permits for dependents continue to be key features that attract students toward Australia. “However, we would not encourage students to focus merely on their job; they should also give priority to their education rather than work to achieve their goals,” Timalsina says.

Students can apply for Post Study Work (PSW) VISA to gain work experience in their field as soon as they graduate. Students who complete their bachelor’s or master’s degrees get two years of work permit while PhD graduates are granted four-year permits. “Students urge to know more about the Permanent Residency (PR) system which I think is a vague term. However, students can get their PR permit after completing postgraduate studies. We advise students to get training in housekeeping, cooking or other hospitality skills so they can acquire part-time jobs easily,” says Timalsina.

It is usually advisable that students have a proper plan of study and work to overcome difficulties. Applying for an educational degree in Australia requires huge investment and negligence towards study can easily ruin one’s future.

“They should be careful about visa processing responsibilities even after getting a student visa,” Timalsina warns. The application at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship is conducted online and should be done at least three months prior to the expiry of the student’s visa.

(More about studying in Australia can be learned from the websites www.studyinaustralia.gov. au and www.immi.gov.au)

 

 

 

 

Study in Australia Seminars

University of Western Sydney (UWS), an Australian university, organised an education fair in Kathmandu last week for Nepali students interested in pursuing higher education in Australia. The programme provided an opportunity to Nepali students to interact with the representatives of the university. Students with genuine qualification and documents were encouraged to check for their eligibility for Streamlined Visa Processing (SVP). Students wanting to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate degrees were encouraged to lodge applications for the SVP after receiving a Confirmation of Enrollment letter from the Australian university.

Global Reach, an education consultancy, organized the Australian Education Exhibition at Hotel de l ’Annapurna in Durbar Marg, Kathmandu last week. Around 20 reputed universities from Australia participated in the event to inform students about courses and the enrollment process. Swinburne University, Murdoch University, University of Western Sydney and The University of Adelaide were some of the participating institutions.

Students are attracted towards an Australian education as the country has introduced the Post Study Work Permit (PSWP) scheme for international students, allowing them to work full time in Australia after the completion of their degree. “Students got an opportunity to know about the enrollment process and courses thoroughly from the exhibition,’’ said Julia Shelley, Senior Regional Manager of UWS.