Tag Archive for: visa

Studying in Australia for UK Students

/in ,

For many people, the prospect of being able to study abroad can be very exciting and just that little bit scary. After all, you’re going to be thrust into a world far from your family where the culture can vary slightly. Fortunately, if you’re a student from the UK looking to try to expand their education to Australia, you’re not going to be all that homesick. Here are a few things you need to know to help you on your journey.

Before You Go

The most important visa that you need to get to study full time is the student visa. You need to be at least six years of age and have health insurance. Equally critical is that you need to have already been accepted by an educational institution in Australia. This is easy enough to accomplish given the ease of applying for a reputable college or school online. Costing roughly GBP 315, this visa is viable for five years already.

Getting There

Because Australia is nearly on the opposite side of the globe from the UK, the travel time comes up to a whopping 21 hours and 40 minutes if you take the direct, one stop route via Thai Airways International from London Heathrow to Sydney Airport via Bangkok. If you prefer a more relaxed, scenic route, that time extends to over 55 hours—this is especially if you want a little bit of an adventure before you dive into your studies.

The Relative Cost of Living 

On the average, the cost of living in Australia is lower than that in the UK—London specifically. Rent prices, in particular, are a significantly lower by 13.61% in Sydney. Meals, in particular, are much cheaper. In an inexpensive restaurant in Sydney, you can get for GBP 8 what you’ll pay GBP 15 in the UK. Strangely, it’s grocery prices that are somewhat higher in Australia—but not by much. A 0.33-L bottle of soda is around GBP .50 cheaper in the UK, for example.

Potential Earnings

One bit of great news that is sure to please those intending to study in Australia is that Australia offers significantly more lucrative salaries. The national average is around GBP 6,000 more that that in the UK. For example, bar attendants earn around GBP 2 more than their UK counterparts. The gap is even more pronounced in professions like nursing. Nurses in the UK can get, on average GBP 25,000 while those in Australia earn over GBP 15,000 more.

Support Systems

There are upwards of 2,000 UK students currently studying across Australia at any given time. That, coupled with a very similar sense of culture, means that you will feel at home in the land down under. There are pubs to enjoy a night out, Australia has its own club football competition. If you plan to keep tabs on your favorite football club back home, be prepared to watch those very late at night.

Celebrate Good Times

Many of the most important holidays in the UK are celebrated in Australia as well. Christmas and Boxing day are just as jovial and fun. They even place importance to the Queen’s Birthday and Labour Day. Added holidays that can be just as enjoyable for UK students includes ANZAC day for war veterans, and Australia Day. Additionally, expect rounds of raucous celebration every time Australia’s national teams play and win on the international stage.

All in all, UK students in Australia can expect a relatively easy transition as well a lower cost of living. You’ll feel readily at home with the roughly similar culture. And the break from the wet weather of the UK for sun and fun is certainly welcome. That’s not even mentioning the high quality of educational institutions in Australia.

Studying in Australia for Vietnamese Students

/in , ,

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 MEI helped me in my School Application in Australia

/in ,

I came here to Australia to pursue my studies in Master of Accounting in Uni, and unfortunately, things turned bad for what I have expected. I’ve struggled with my academics and lost hope of continuing. Uni only gave me a month to stay in Australia and my visa will be canceled. I thought of giving up and going back to my country as I thought that there would be no chances for me to stay.  My previous employer recommends me to check the ICAE school and they are telling me good things about it. At first, I have hesitations but when I checked the school’s website, I thought that maybe I should give it a try. I applied online and I was impress that I immediately got a response. They emailed me everything that I needed to do and helped me accomplish it as soon as possible. Mr. Sean Mahoney also let me come to class even though my application is still on process cause he wants me to catch up and learn lots of things. He always keeps me updated on my visa processing and provides me useful information. He also addressed any of my concerns and assured me of my Visa.

During my studies, I thought that it would be hard for me cause I have no idea what is Hospitality here in Australia is all about. But I am impressed with all of the ICAE’s teachers as they help us become successful. They focused on our weaknesses so that they can help us improve it and see our strengths as our great asset. They keep on encouraging us to learn and boost our confidence. Also, they provide us with very useful materials that we could use for our future reference. The school facilities are also great for us to explore our talents and improve them.

I must say that my experience here in Australia is unforgettable and I am very thankful to the ICAE MEI for giving me the opportunity. I am now halfway through to finish my studies and I wouldn’t be able to achieve this without the help of the school and for everyone working there. I am honored and grateful.

 

How Can I Get a Student Visa

/in

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