Tag Archive for: Immigration

Top tips on how to balance your studies and work opportunities

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According to the Department of Home Affairs, when you’re a Subclass 500 (student visa) holder, you can: 1.) participate in an eligible course of study in Australia, 2.) travel in and out of Australia and 3.) work up to 40 hours every 2-week period once your course starts. Given this privilege, making the most out of your education journey is tough especially juggling your studies and your work opportunities. Hence, one important question to ask is, how do you manage to study and working at the same time?

An article from the Good Universities Guide suggests these following tips:


Let work know your school schedule

Most places that employ students understand the temporary nature of uni schedules. They change every semester and may render you unable to work on certain days of the week. Therefore, it’s best to tell your employer that you are a uni student and that you may have to change your roster around sometimes.

If possible, try and get a job near school

This is easier if your campus is in the city, but if not, it’s still possible. An easy way to work plenty of shifts and still attend your classes is finding a job either on campus or right near it. This means you can work on the same day you have classes.

You can go in early to work a few hours before or you can stay on and work after night. You’ll have your uni work on you if you get a chance to do some study on your break. You’ll have your uniform on you ready to change quickly if you are required to start slightly early. If you want to rake in the cash quick, working somewhere near uni allows you to work heaps of shifts.

Don’t always sleep in

Sleeping in until 10 every morning feels great but really, you lose plenty of time. Even waking up at 9, or 8.30, gives you an extra hour or so to begin some work on an assignment or prepare food for your break. If you are going to sleep at an hour that isn’t too late, then this slight shift in your sleep schedule won’t ruin you. If anything, you will be more productive and can get plenty of work done before heading off to wherever you need to go.

Find that balance

If you’re missing classes you should be attending just to work every day of the week, then maybe uni isn’t for you. Think about the amount of money you pay just to attend a semester of uni. If you find yourself feeling exhausted and unable to see friends, then work a little less.

Drop one shift a week, just to have some time to yourself or out seeing friends. Mental health is important. If you want your lifestyle of part-time employment and uni studies to be sustainable and successful, then work out your balance and enjoy it. It’s a pretty fun time. Make friends, have some laughs and do everything right to get that qualification and some money with it.

As a Migration Education International (MEI) client, we will assist you by accessing and interpreting the most current information from the Australian Government, assessing your eligibility to get a Student visa, and preparing your application to give you the best chance of success. Every applicant is different, so it is important you get advice that is relevant to your situation.

We will help you compile the right documents, complete all of the application requirements, write a comprehensive covering submission and lodge your student visa application on your behalf. We will then liaise with the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) on your behalf.

Overseas Students in Australia records another double-digit growth

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Australia is set for another record reaching double-digits with 720,150 students enrolled across various sectors as of September 2019.

Overseas student numbers in Australia set its record by 11.4% in 2018 and 12.6% in 2017.

The overseas student population was comprised of the growth from the higher education and vocational (VET) sectors, contributing 12% and 17% year-over-year increases, respectively. ELICOS increased with 3% growth while there was a small decrease recorded for schools and non-award programs having -4%.

Here are the top countries where overseas students are sourced out:

  • China (28% of the total)
  • India (15% of the total)
  • Nepal (7% of the total)
  • Brazil (4% of the total)
  • Vietnam (3.5% of the total)

While student visa holders in Australia are focused mainly on study options, they also are entitled to work rights. They are entitled to work up to 40 hours per fortnight or 20 hours per week while their course is on-going while they can also work full-time during term breaks or holidays.

Education agents are one of the major players of this growth in which they source out overseas students to study in Australia. With over 20 partner education institutions offering over 100 different courses in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, MEI can help you choose a course and a college that suits your career and life ambitions. Our qualified counselors will provide you with expert guidance, based on your goals and circumstances. We listen to you and provide personal advice that will help you navigate your way to success.

Why Australia’s Hospitality industry thrives over the years

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In the latest international visitors survey released by Tourism Research Australia (TRA), the recorded international visitors from January to June 2019 is 8.6 million arrivals – 3% more than the previous year.

This growth continues to be led by education in which education visitors were up 5% to record a total of 586,000.

Overseas students have been attracted to Australia as one of the best study destinations: hence, the rising number of international visitors aspiring to begin their overseas education journey in Australia is inevitable.

As there is a growing demand for graduates who are equipped with entrepreneurial and innovative thinkers globally, Australian education providers are committed to preparing them with practical skills and knowledge to help them succeed in your chosen industry.

The more the hospitality industry creates jobs on a global scale, the more it thrives all over the years because it attracts both onshore and offshore students to enroll in hospitality courses.

The hospitality sector in Australia is looking for graduates who will join the workforce; from the growing accommodation industry supported by an increasing number of international visitors to thriving wine tourism and any other jobs all over the country.

On the other hand, education agents like Migration Education International (MEI) can help you in applying to study hospitality courses. MEI’s partner schools provide modern facilities to hone their skills, design a conducive environment for them to learn and thrive in the industry.

Few hospitality courses such as Certificate III in Hospitality, Certificate III in Hospitality – Industry Streams, Certificate IV in Hospitality, Diploma of  Hospitality Management, Advanced Diploma of  Hospitality Management can offer hands-on and practical training from industry placements that is valuable to overseas students once they will join in the workforce.

Studying in Australia for Vietnamese Students

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Many Asian students have chosen Australia’s top-notch educational system to advance their studies. Of these, a respectable number comes from Vietnam. Part of this is due to the fact that the country is a top provider of government scholarships to Vietnam since 1970. The other part is the objective quality of the institutions that offer options for international students. If you’re looking to join the trend of your countrymen pursuing studies in the Land Down Under, here’s what you need to know.

Before You Get To Go

The first thing that you need to actually get out of the way is your acceptance into an Australian educational institution as this is a critical requirement. From there, all you need is health insurance and you can apply for a student visa. It costs VND 9,500,000 to acquire but it will last you for five solid years. Once you’re there, you can even apply for a permit to work if you prefer having a part time job to alleviate expenses.

The Flight There

From the capital of Vietnam, Hanoi, to Australia is a distance of about 6,000 km give or take. This translates to a travel time of over 8 to 9 hours roughly. That’s assuming that you take a direct flight via Korean Air and are headed to Sydney. To get to Canberra via direct flight is significantly longer at 12 hours and 10 minutes.

The Higher Cost of Living

It’s important to note that there is a significant gap in the costs of living between Vietnam and Australia. On average, prices in Australia are twice as they would be in Vietnam. That includes everything from rent to groceries and even affordable meals at a restaurant. For example, a one-bedroom apartment at a city center will cost you VND 28,000,000 in Australia what would cost only VND 9,000,000 in Vietnam. Most critical market books, in fact, are up to twice or thrice the price that you would pay in Vietnam.

A Higher Income Potential

The good news is that there is an equally noticeable disparity between the minimum wage paid out between the two countries. In Vietnam, that comes down to VND 1,390,000 whereas in Australia, that’s up to VND 45,700,000. Healthcare professions—a very popular career path in Vietnam—can earn as much as VND 1,700,000,000. That’s a hefty fifty times more than what can be earned in Vietnam.

Sixth in Size

There is a very strong and thriving community of Vietnamese in Australia. While they can be found in all corners of the country, they have historically been concentrated in Melbourne and its suburbs. A fun fact is that Nguyen is slowly overtaking Smith as Australia’s most common surname. These communities have housing and even stores owned and operated by Vietnamese immigrants. At over 300,000 Vietnamese all over the major city centers of Australia, it’s much easier to feel closer to home.

Ushering in a New Year

While not widely celebrated in Australia by Australians, Tet Nguyen Dan—the Vietnamese New Year—is celebrated raucously within the thriving Vietnamese community there. While work in Australian-owned companies doesn’t stop, you can expect those in Vietnamese quarters to close down. Many families open their doors to visitors—especially fellow Vietnamese—to allow them to join in the festivities even if they are far from home.

There are some challenges to studying in Australia. But with the potential to earn more and a large community for support, students dreaming of expanding their education to Australia will be well rewarded and, ultimately, not too far from home.

How Can I Get a Student Visa

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If you plan on studying in Australia, you will need to obtain a Student Visa (subclass 500) from the Australian government. Getting a student visa into Australia can be complicated and time-consuming, so you should get the correct and most up to date advice to assist you with your student visa application.

It takes time to get your application ready including having all of your documents in the appropriate format for lodging with the Australian Government.

In order to get a Subclass 500 visa, you must comply with all of the Australian Government requirements. Applicants from each country may have different criteria in order to get this visa, so it pays to get the right advice. How much information the government requires, and in what form that information must be submitted can depend on a range of factors including:

  • which country you are from
  • your personal circumstances
    • your financial situation
    • who is supporting you financially
    • your health
    • your ties to your home country
  • your academic history
  • what course/s you would like to study
  • your family situation (married, children, etc)
  • any criminal record you may have

One of the most important considerations of the Australian government is that any applicant for a Student Visa is a “Genuine Temporary Entrant” (GTE). This criterion must be addressed in detail or the applicant can have their application denied.

If you make a mistake on your visa application, it may be refused, preventing you from achieving your dreams of coming to Australia to get a quality education and changing your life.

As a Migration Education International (MEI) client, we will assist you by accessing and interpreting the most current information from the Australian Government, assessing your eligibility to get a Student visa, and preparing your application to give you the best chance of success. Every applicant is different, so it is important you get advice that is relevant to your situation.

We will help you compile the right documents, complete all of the application requirements, write a comprehensive covering submission and lodge your student visa application on your behalf. We will then liaise with the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) on your behalf.

Our nominal service fees cover all the above services, document preparation, advice and visa lodgement costs.

Sean Mahoney is a Registered Migration Agent approved by the Office of Migration Agent Authority (OMARA), registration number 1279210.

Contact the professional staff at MEI here