02/07/2009 | Newsletter, Australia

Australia: Go down under for your graduate studies

Australian universities are among the most successful at attracting international students. It’s not hard to see why: it’s an eclectic and magical country offering internationally-recognized courses.

In fact, they might be some of the reasons you make it your choice too, says ANN GRAHAM.

Australia is one of the most alluring countries in the world. Natural beauty, magnificent architecture, and an education environment that is among the most successful in attracting international students. What other country has 40 million kangaroos, over 10,000 beaches, and the global recognition of graduate qualifications? As an international student studying in Australia, you will not only enjoy the vibrant city life, but venture from the urban neighbourhoods and you will be met with a wonderfully eclectic mix of environments – from sun-drenched horizons to the rugged wilderness of the Outback; the majestic underwater world that is the Great Barrier Reef to the surfers paradise beaches of the Gold Coast.

Australia’s educational environment is just as varied. There are 39 universities spread across the country; 37 are government-funded and two are privately funded and 12 appeared in the top 200 of the Times Higher – QS World University Rankings 2007. The universities range in size from 3,000 students to 50,000 and offer a range of innovative courses with highly trained academic staff and world-class facilities. As a result, more Australians than ever are studying at graduate level and more than a third of the student population come from other countries, in particular those on the Pacific Rim.
Shiddhantha Mani Rajbhandari studied for his Masters of Professional Accounting in

Australia, but accounting wasn’t all the student from Nepal learnt. “The first time I was invited to a barbeque, I turned up with some beers. I then realised that you were meant to bring your own meat too. I never imagined that you would be invited to a barbeque and have to bring your own meat,” he recalls.

Once he had mastered the social etiquette required at Australian barbeques, he then had to become accustomed to the education system. “It was a big challenge. We were guided through the subject and you had to write research papers, do group assignments, sit multiple choice and long question exams. In the beginning it was really hard getting used to the system, but after one semester, I found that it was a much better way of learning.”

Australian universities have designed a whole range of graduate courses to meet the professional needs of students and business.

Australian universities have designed a whole range of graduate courses to meet the professional needs of students and business. Courses are offered across both traditional and non-traditional areas and as Australian universities respond to changing global demand, they have become innovators in many areas of education.

Australia is a leader in health studies, conducting ground-breaking research and pioneering solutions to a range of international health issues. Australian researchers have been behind breakthroughs in areas such as penicillin, HIV/AIDS, influenza vaccines and specialist eye care. Seven Australian researchers have won Nobel Prizes for physiology or medicine in the past 50 years and four researchers were recently recognized as Australians of the year for their contributions to health through research.

Australia is also at the forefront of environmental research due to the need for balancing its unique geography and wildlife with its climate, primary industries and population growth. Australian universities, industry and the government are all committed to innovations and practical applications which will benefit environmental developments across all areas. The University of Tasmania is a major world centre for Antarctic-related research, which has led to a greater understanding of the atmospheric circulations of the south-polar region and the continental ice sheet in relation to global environmental change and biological productivity. Researchers at the Victoria University of Technology have been investigating environmental safety and risk engineering, especially in relation to fire. By studying the behaviour of humans in fire, patterns of fire, and the behaviour of structures in fire, scientists have developed the most advanced risk-cost fire model in the world which will help create fire safety design methods in construction.