It will soon be crunch time for many secondary students and their families. It will be time to go to college, earn a degree and eventually join the work force. The primary issue many people face is that the price of higher education is increasing. Average tuition fees towards a bachelor’s degree in a publicly-funded American university would be in the range of US $35-40,000 per year. If one were to opt for a British university, the cost range would be around $28,000 per annum. This does not include additional expenses such as room and board (if you were to study overseas), school fees and uniforms, books, transport, communication, and the like.
You will have to maintain a grade average to avail of the program. At the same time, whilst a scholarship will cover tuition fees and possibly the cost of books, it will seldom cover living expenses like lodging and food. Student loans are another possibility, but these have to be paid back a few months after you stop training or studying. If you want high-calibre education from a premiere educational institution in a country that has a standard of living comparable to yours but has none of its exceedingly high tuition fees, studying in Australia may be for you.
What most people overlook is that Australia’s education system is among the oldest and the best in the world. The Australian educational system was originally patterned after the British system, with well-known universities as Oxford and Cambridge establishing satellite facilities in the country. It has also benefited from emulating American methods of teaching and course structures. The Australian educational system also learnt the value of innovation. Studies done by international organisations such as the UNESCO and the Association of Commonwealth Universities have consistently classified Australian education as being among the best in the world.
The Price is Right! Whilst there is no disputing the fact that the standard of education in Australia is one of the highest in the world, many are surprised to learn that the cost of education in Australia is much, much lower than comparable schools in the United States or Europe. Average tuition comes to around A$18,000 a year. This is equivalent to only US $15,100, €10,200 or £8,100. The reason for this is simple: the Australian dollar has a somewhat lower face value than the US dollar (even in spite of recent currency fluctuations). In other words, your dollars (or pounds or Euros) can be exchanged for a considerably greater amount of Australian dollars. Your tuition money can go ‘further and farther’ if you go to an Australian university. Another advantage to Australia is that many institutions offer three-year courses. In fact, three years is the minimum for a bachelor degree while four years is the minimum for an honours degree.Studying in Australia gives you the option of qualifying for a bachelor degree in the shortest time possible and paying lower tuition fees overall. You will be gainfully employed whilst your contemporaries in other countries are still grappling with their final year.
There are different options for living and studying in Australia. Among the options available to international students is “homestaying” where you can stay with an Australian family whilst you are studying. In this case, estimated cost is around A$180-250 per week. You can also live in residential facilities on campus, in which case expenses will be down to approximately A$100-160 per week. You can also stay in private or church-owned boarding hostels that cost around A$90-130 per week. In other words, the estimated A$11,000 to A$12,000 per annum cost of living may be considerably reduced, depending on the choices you make.
So if you’re wondering where to study, Australia should be on top of the list. Money-wise, studying in Australia can be a very wise decision indeed.
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