Studying abroad can provide you with some fantastic experiences. You can study in just about any country that offers a course in your chosen field, however Australia is consistently one of the most popular destinations. If you want to broaden your horizons then moving to the other side of the earth is definitely the way to do it!
Studying abroad usually requires some dramatic life changes. This isn’t just a short vacation – you will likely spend a number of years there until you finish your academic studies. One of the main benefits of studying in Australia is the fact that they speak English – you won’t have a language barrier so it will be much easier to settle and make friends.
Australia has fantastic restaurants, museums, night life and best of all, beautiful beaches. If you are a person who enjoys good weather and outdoor activities there are so many things to do – hiking, swimming, surfing and much more.
The quality of the academic facilities in Australia is high. They have a program called Education Services For Overseas Students (ESOS) designed for the protection of international students. It is estimated that at any one time there is 400,000 students from other countries studying in Australia.
The main downside to studying abroad of course is the cost. It’s not cheap to study abroad, and if you take all the extras into account you may end up spending thousands of dollars more per year than you would at home. The following are just some of the basic costs you might have when studying abroad at any colleges in Sydney or any other part of Australia:
Costs
You will have some similar costs as you would if you were studying in the US or Canada – things such as living expenses, tuition, and books etc. There are a few extra costs though that are exclusive to study abroad programs so you need to be aware of these. A student visa for example will be needed to study legally in Australia and will cost approximately $500. You are allowed to work up to 20hrs per week throughout the academic year and full time during the holidays so this may help with your costs. Studies tell us that if studying in Australia you can expect to pay $11,322 each year in living expenses (a little less than in the US) however this does not factor in the cost of additional travel or entertainment. Books will cost about $500 USD per year. If you want to visit home, a roundtrip airfare will typically cost around $2000 USD.
Tuition costs vary from university to university – typically a bachelor’s degree in Australia will cost approximately $12000 to $23000 USD. Specialized degrees such as Veterinary Science or Law will cost more, and master’s degrees can range from $13000 to $28000 for the 2 year course. A medical degree in Australia can cost you up to $50000.
If you can afford it, the benefits do far outweigh the costs. If you get the opportunity to study abroad you should take advantage – it will be the experience of a lifetime.
Toni Meadows is a retired Business professor who now blogs about education and it’s importance in society. He is completing his Diploma of Graphic Design Melbourne and plans to design websites as a hobby.