Snapshot

Informações

• Why to study in Austrália

  When you are looking for a destination for your exchange program, in addition to initial matters such as budget and the language you want to learn or improve, two other points are very important to help you make your decision: lifestyle and relevance for the future. What kind of life do you wanna live during your exchange? What would you like to accomplish by the end of your experience? Australia has the sixth largest coastline in the world, where nine of the 10 most populous cities in the country are located. These cities, many of which are capital of their states, have a predominantly temperate climate, are modern, have first-world infrastructure and, at the same time, have been built valuing their natural beauties. Thus, the urban environments coexist in perfect harmony with the beaches, bays, lakes, rivers and parks, resulting in unique places, safe and great for outdoor activities. Not only that, Australia has a stable economy with full employment that enables the student to work 48 hours per fortnight (and full time during their vacations) and has dozens of institutions of excellency, from high school to universities, with internationally recognized qualifications, which only enriches the exchange program experience and the continuity of the student’s professional and academic career.

• 9 reasons to study in Australia

  1. International students can work 48 hours per fortnight (and full time during vacations)
  2. Third most popular international student destination in the world
  3. Options for every taste: 22 thousand courses and 1,000 educational institutions
  4. 7* of the top 100 universities in the world are Australian
  5. 5 of the 30 best cities for students in the world are in Australia
  6. Government annually invests $200 million in international scholarships
  7. The country has been awarded with 15 Nobel Prizes
  8. Australian laws guarantee quality education and protection for international students
  9. Climate similar to that of Brazil

  *QS World University Rankings® 2018

• Educational system in Australia

  With 22,000 courses and 1,000 institutions, Australia has educational options for all tastes and needs, from Elementary to Middle School, through English and Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses. For the international students, there are basically three types of education: English, VET and Higher Education.

  English Courses

  Regardless of your English level, there is always a suitable program. General English is the most sought-after course by Brazilian students who land in Australia. After the exam on the first day, the school itself refers the student to the most appropriate level. They are:

  1. Basic
  2. Pre-Intermediate
  3. Intermediate
  4. Pre-Advanced
  5. Advanced

    Schools also offer other options for English courses, such as:

  • English for Academic Purposes: ideal for those who want to improve academic English, aiming to join a university or technical institute.
  • Exam Preparation: ideal for those who want to prepare for English language proficiency tests, such as the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) and Cambridge.
  • English for Specific Purposes: ideal for those who want to learn English in specific areas of activity such as marketing, tourism and information technology, for example.

   

  Vocational Courses (VET)

  Vocational Education and Training are short or medium-term technical courses that prepare the student for the job market. TAFE (Technical and Further Education), the main reference, is a world-renowned institution ran by the government and is sought-after by both graduated international students and Australians who choose not to go to university. In addition to TAFE, hundreds of private schools and universities also offer VET courses with the same diplomas and certificates of attendance, many of which have partnerships with industry, promoting exchange and facilitating the student’s access to the job market.

   

  Higher education

  Seven of the top 100 universities in the world are Australian. And what's better: these institutions are used to receiving international students, providing highly diversified and culturally rich environments. Many universities recognize the certificates and diplomas of Australia's technical courses, making possible to skip disciplines the student has already seen. The three major university degrees are:

  1. Bachelor Degree (3 to 5 years)
  2. Masters Degree (1 to 2 years)
  3. Doctoral Degree “PhD” (3 to 6 years)

• About Australia

  Australia consists of 6 states (New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia) and 2 territories (Northern Territory and Australian Capital Territory), the latter, located in New South Wales, was chosen in 1908 to be the capital of the country and was given the name of Canberra, “meeting point” in aboriginal. With 7.69 million km2 - 3700 km from north to south and 4000 km from east to west -, the country is the sixth largest on Earth, just behind Brazil. The Australian continent is also one of the oldest and has been inhabited by men for at least 40,000 years (perhaps 60,000 years). These first inhabitants are the aborigines and the Natives of the Torres Strait island. Currently, more than 28% of the Australian resident population was born outside the country and more than 300 languages are spoken in Australian homes. Not surprisingly, Australia is known for its multiculturalism and for the diversity of their people.

• Working in Australia

  In Australia, as soon as classes begin, the student can work 48 hours per fortnight (and full time during vacations). In order to do that, it’s important to open a student account at a bank and make the Tax File Number, a record on the Australian Taxation Office that will allow you to get paid by the employer and have your income tax in order. The first jobs, in general, are part-time jobs in cafes, restaurants, pubs and hotels. Depending on the establishment, you will need to obtain specific licenses such as RSA (Responsible Service of Alcohol) or RSG (Responsible Gambling Services), the first to serve alcohol and the second to work in places where there are gambling. WEST 1 can guide you on how to get them. Another common area among students and that also requires certification, the Green Card, is construction. For students that want to provide services without employment relationships, ie intending to work for different clients, a business registration (legal person) with the Australian Taxation Office called ABN (Australian Business Number) is required. Electricians, plumbers, journalists and web designers are some examples of professionals who are self-employed.

• Australian Culture

  All major Australian cities have their own art scene, symphony orchestra, art galleries, museums, festivals and permanent cultural schedule. Due to the country’s continental dimensions and the distance from Europe and the United States, major international attractions, when they land in Australia, usually pass through major cities, extending the tour to New Zealand as well. The events happen all year round, but it's during summertime that things really start to get hot with hundreds of festivals scattered across the country. Great national and international names invade the stages of Australia, while the population and millions of tourists go to beaches and streets, making the season a great party. Nellie Melba (1861-1931), one of the greatest opera singers of all time, was Australia's first big name to make success overseas, but it’s also the least known by the non-specialized audience, unlike stars like Nick Cave, Midnight Oil, Men at Work, Hoodoo Gurus, INXS, Silverchair, Kyle Minogue, Jimmy Barnes, John Butler Trio, Keith Urban, The Cat Empire, Jet, Wolfmother, among others, in addition, of course, AC/DC, the best known and most successful Australian band in history with more than 200 million albums sold since it was founded in 1973. In the movies, many actors came from Australia, such as Mel Gibson, Geoffrey Rush, Toni Collette, Rose Byrne, Cate Blanchett, Hugh Jackman, Heath Ledger and Eric Bana. Russell Crowe, Nicole Kidman, Guy Pearce, Hugo Weaving and Naomi Watts are other stars who, like Mel Gibson, were not born in Australia but have their lives and careers attached to the country. Among the greatest worldwide successes in Australian cinema, Mad Max (1978), Crocodilo Dundee (1986), The Adventures of Priscilla,  Queen of the Desert (1994), Muriel’s Wedding (1994), Shine (1995) and Australia (2008) stand out.

• Australian Tourism

  Tourism is one of Australia's largest industries, generating a revenue of $37.9 billion for the economy in 2015-16 and employing almost one million people. For every dollar spent on tourism, 46 cents goes to regional areas, strengthening tourism uniformly across metropolitan regions and local communities. Not surprisingly, Australia's top destinations are scattered all over the country:

  1. Opera House and Harbour Bridge in Sydney
  2. Cafes, bars and cultural life of Melbourne
  3. Great Ocean Road and the Twelve Apostles in Victoria
  4. Sunny Beaches of Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast
  5. Great Barrier Reef in Cairns and Whitsundays
  6. Alice Springs, in the desert, which serves as access to Uluru
  7. Vineyards of Barossa Valley, Margaret River and Hunter Valley
  8. Rare vegetation of Fraser Island
  9. Sand Dunes of Kangaroo Island
  10. Paradisiacal Landscapes of Perth and Broome

  Australia is interconnected by 815,000 km of highway and 42,000 km of railroad. On short trips, train, bus or car are the most used options, since the highways, whether main or secondary, are very safe and of great quality; and the rail network is very efficient. For longer distances, domestic flights by plane are well taken into account, especially with the companies called "budget". Another very common option in Australia are the motorhome or campervan trips, which have bed, stove, mini-fridge and space, on average, for two to six people. There are many renting companies and parking lots everywhere. During the summer it’s important to book in advance as the campgrounds and parking lots fill up.

#offtoAUSTRALIA

• How far in advance should I start planning my study abroad program in Australia?

  The sooner you start planning your exchange, the better you are prepared. WEST 1 directs you to start planning your exchange at least three months before the date you want to start your course. This is the minimum time required to complete the entire process of the preparations with ease.

  It is important to note that, depending on your nationality, the deadline requested by the Australian Embassy for approval of the study visa is up to 45 days after the delivery of all required documentation.