Studying in Australia - General Information.

 Australia provides a unique kind of education and a learning style that encourages you to be innovative, creative and think independently. Australia attracts the third largest number of international students in the English-speaking world after the USA and UK. In some countries Australia is the students' first choice study destination.

Australia offers an education experience that makes a real difference. Graduates from Australia are very successful in finding jobs and hold prominent positions worldwide. Additionally, they are readily accepted for postgraduate study at leading international universities.

Australia is a dynamic, vibrant country and its people are energetic, friendly and confident. Multicultural Australia is a safe, friendly, sophisticated and harmonious society in which students can learn and travel in an English speaking country.

Australia also offers excellent value for money and a standard of living which is among the highest in the world. Living expenses and tuition costs in Australia are considerably less expensive than the UK and USA.



LIVING COSTS IN AUSTRALIA

Australia is a sophisticated, friendly and affordable country which enjoys one of the highest standards of living in the world. The average international student in Australia spends about $335 per week on:
  • accommodation
  • food
  • clothing
  • entertainment
  • transport
  • international and domestic travel
  • telephone
  • incidental costs

You may spend more or less, depending on the course you choose to study, where you choose to live and your lifestyle.

Accommodation

Accomodation available to International students includes Homestay, Hostels, Guest Houses, Share Accommodation and Rental Accommodation. Prices for accommodation vary in Melbourne fro $70 to $350.

Food

Markets and supermarkets sell a variety of fresh meat, fruit and vegetables as well as rice, breads, spices and other ingredients. Halal and kosher foods are available.

Melbourne's restaurants and cafes offer a wide variety of foods from around the world, including Chinese, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Ethiopian, Brazilian, Malaysian, Greek, Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Lebanese, French and Indonesian.

Shopping

Central Melbourne and its suburbs have many large shopping centres, department stores, discount stores, markets and supermarkets which can be reached easily by public transport.

Transport

Melbourne has an extensive public transport of buses, trains and trams. Most training providers have easy access to major bus, rail and tram routes. As Melbourne is a well-planned city it is easy to travel in by car. Cars travel on the left side of the road. Drivers can use their home country licences for three months from the date of entry to Australia. An international licence can be used providing the licence from the country of origin is also valid.

The following links will help you to get around in Melbourne -

Street directories:
Whereis
Street Directory

Public Transport

The Public Transpoert Victoria website provides information on the public transport system in Melbourne, including costs and timetables. To find out more about living and studying in Australia, the Study in Australia website includes useful information on applications, visa requirements, accommodation options, cost of study, background information about Australia, and lots more.

Typical living costs for a single student

The living costs below are based on 2 people sharing an unfurnished two bedroom apartment, flat or house. The amounts are in Australian dollars (A$). Remember to add your program fees and airfares to get a realistic total.

Establishment costs for first year of study

  • Bond (refundable security deposit) $400
  • General (furniture, connection fees, etc.) $1000
  • Overseas Student Health Cover $312
Recurrent costs
  • Rent per person (weekly $100; annually $5,200)
  • Food and drink (weekly $50; annually $2,600)
  • Travel (up to 10km from city) (weekly $22; annually $1,144)
  • Telephone (weekly $10; annually $520)
  • Gas, electricity, water (weekly $15; annually $780)
  • Books, stationery, photocopying (annually $500)
  • Personal expenses (clothes, entertainment) (weekly $40; annually $2,080)
School-aged dependents

There are requirements for compulsory school attendance for children or dependents of international students. In Victoria it is compulsory for children to attend school until the age of 16. The choice of schools includes public schools, private schools and religious schools. People over the age of 16 can continue to attend school until they have completed year 12. Dependents of persons holding a student visa may be required to pay full fees in any school, college or university that they enrol in whilst in Australia. School fees vary depending on the school. Details about the Victorian public school system are available at Victorian Public Schools. Intending students with dependents should budget for school fees, living costs and health insurance in their calculations. If you are intending that your dependents will attend a private school in Victoria you will have to contact the specific school to obtain information of fees. Information on private school in Australia is available at Independent Schools.

If you would like to bring your children to Australia with you, you must be aware of the following schooling issues:
  • It is an immigration policy that school-age dependants of international students undertake formal schooling while they are in Australia.
  • Children who have their fifth birthday before 1st April of that calendar year are eligible to start school
  • You will need to provisionally enrol your child in a school before you leave your home country and you will normally have to pay the school fees one semester in advance. The school will issue an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment Form (eCoE) stating the program and its duration, so that you can obtain the appropriate visa for your child.
  • The Australian Diplomatic Mission in your country can tell you which State schools are registered to take international students. Fees are payable by international students at all State schools unless you:
    • Are in receipt of sponsorship or scholarships from the Australian Government (e.g. the Australian Development Scholarship, IPRS);
    • Hold a higher institution or approved non-government scholarship. These scholarships must be approved by the State government for the dependants to be exempt from school fees.
  • You will be responsible for school fees and other costs including school uniforms, books, excursions and stationery.
  • When choosing the most appropriate school for your child, it is best to ask questions about the school's curriculum, size, extra-curricular activities and the size of individual classes.
  • You should also take into consideration the distance from the school to your education institution, the suburb in which you intend to live and the method of transport you plan to use.
Full time study and attendance

Australian law requires International students to study at a full time study load. A full-time study load is normally a minimum of 20 hours per week for 40 weeks each calendar year or continuous 12-month period. Students must also be studying at least one unit that is not by distance or online learning in each study period. A study period is 6 months of study at the Institute.

Please be aware that if your attendance drops below 80% over any 2-week period the College is required to review your involvement, counsel you, implement an intervention strategy and, if poor attendance persists, report you to DIAC. The report to DIAC may lead to the cancellation of your Visa. If your attendance falls below the 80% attendance requirement and you have unsatisfactory academic progress you will be reported to DIAC which will lead to the cancellation of your visa. This process is applied to 31 December, 2010. AISI implementation of the DEEWR-DIAC course progress policy and procedure commences 1 January, 2011.

Satisfactory progress

If you do not have satisfactory academic progress you will be reported to DIAC which will lead to cancellation of your visa. Unsatisfactory academic progress is defined in the ESOS legislation as failing more than 50% of units in any two consecutive study periods. If this occurs the Institute will report you to DIAC. A study period is 6 months of study.

The Institute will monitor your academic progress, identify students who are "at risk" of breaching this requirement and act to assist students who are "at risk" through meetings, counselling sessions and other strategies.

Student code of behaviour



The Student Code of Behaviour requires the following rights and expectation to be respected and adhered to at all times.
  • The right to be treated with respect from others, to be treated fairly and without discrimination, regardless of religious, cultural, racial and sexual differences, age, disability or socio-economic status
  • The right to be free from all forms of intimidation
  • The right to work in a safe, clean, orderly and cooperative environment
  • The right to have personal property (including computer files and student work) and the Registered Training Organisation property protected from damage or other misuse
  • The right to have any disputes settled in a fair and rational manner (this is accomplished by the complaints and Appeals Procedure)
  • The right to work and learn in a supportive environment without interference from others
  • The right to express and share ideas and to ask questions
  • The right to be treated with politeness and courteously at all times
  • The expectation that students will not engage in cheating or plagiarism
  • The expectation that students will submit work when required.
  • The expectation that students will maintain consistent participation by attending all required classes and assessments.
  • The expectation that students will at all times meet the requirements, terms and conditions in the student agreement including payment of fees.
  • The expectation that students will attend all required classes and assessment to as part of the requirement to progress through the course satisfactorily and complete the course in within the time frame notified on the Confirmation of Offer.
  • The expectation that students "at risk" of not meeting course progress requirements will participate in all aspects of the intervention strategy developed by the college in consultation with the student.

For non-compliance with the Code of Conduct the following procedure for discipline will be followed:
  • A member of AISI will contact student in the first instance and arrange a counselling meeting to discuss the issue or behaviour and to determine how the issue might be rectified. This meeting and its outcomes will be documented, signed by all parties and included on the student's administrative file. (Step 1)
  • Where there is a second breach of the Student Code of Behaviour, students will be invited for a personal interview with a Training Manager to discuss the breaches further. This meeting and its outcomes will be documented, signed by all parties and included on the student's personal file. (Step 2)
  • Should a third breach of the Student Code of Behaviour occur after the stage 2 meeting, the student will be provided with a final warning in writing and a time frame in which to rectify the issue. A copy of this letter will be included on the student's administrative file. (Step 3)
  • After the three steps in the discipline procedure have been followed, and breaches of the Code of Behaviour still continue, training services will be withdrawn and the student will be sent a student deferral, suspension or cancellation warning letter.
  • Failure to attend scheduled meetings may result in the Institute deciding to defer, suspend or cancel a student's enrolment
  • If the Institute intends suspending or cancelling the student's enrolment where it is not at the student's request, the student must be informed they have 20 working days to appeal to the Institute. If the appeal is not upheld or the student withdraws from the appeal process then AISI must report the student to DEERW and DIAC via PRISMS. The suspension or cancelling of the student's enrolment cannot take effect until the appeal process is completed unless there are extenuating circumstances relating the student's welfare.
  • Suspension or cancellation of your enrolment has to be reported to DIAC and may affect the status of your VISA.
  • At any stage of this procedure students are able to access the College complaints and appeals procedure to settle any disputes that may arise.

Prospective students and students should familiarise themselves with the ESOS Framework , See also the ESOS Easy Guide.