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Generally acknowledged as the world's largest island, Australia is spread just over seven million square kilometers bounded by the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Of its total population of about 18 million, about 85 per cent lives within 80 kms of the fertile and milder coastal fringes.

The Commonwealth of Australia consists of six States: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and Northern Territory.
The Commonwealth of Australia consists of six States: New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia nd Tasmania, and two territories-the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory
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Climatic conditions
conditions vary through every conceivable pattern. In general, the North is hotter and the south is cooler. It varies from tropical heat, with heavy rain in summer in the North, dry and arid desert in the West and lush rainforest on her coastal fringes, to fertile, cool farm lands, temperate forest and snow capped mountains in the South
Arriving in Australia
Perth and Adelaide

Airport Distance from Airport to City
Sydney 10 km
Melbourne 22 km
Brisbane 15 km
Perth 10 km
Adelaide 7 km
Canberra 10 km
Darwin 8 km
Hobart 16 km

It is important to remember that no train services run to and from any Australian airports. Therefore, in the absence of a per-arranged pick-up, you will need to catch a bus, taxi or hire a car
All international terminals have shuttle bus services between the airport and city centre.
This is the cheapest form of transport but fares very depending on the airport and the distance involved

Modes of transport
Australia has an extensive public transport system that includes trains, buses, trams and ferries.
Taxis are expensive and costs include and initial flag fall followed by a per kilometer charge. There is also a booking charge. Cars can also be hired on either a daily or longer term basis
Driving is on the left side of the road and you must possess either an Australian Driver's License or have obtained and International Driving permit ( IDP) prior to your departure. IDPs have only limited validity in certain States

Banking
There are four major banks with branches across Australia.
Credit cards are widely accepted. Banking in Australia is closely regulated by the Government.

Currency
Australia uses a dollars and cents system of decimal currency with 100 cents in a dollar
The bank notes in use are $5(pink/grey, and plastic),$10(blue paper of plastic),$20(orange or plastic),$50(yellow)and $100(steel blue), and the gold -colored $1 and $ 2 coins
Times difference-Allowing for various local time variations
are 2,5-5.5 hours ahead of India

Telecommunication-Australia has a modern telephone system with two main telecommunication companies-Telstra and Optus.

Telephone credit cards and international phone cards are fast becoming popular and enabe phone calls overseas

Medical services/hospitals Arriving in Australia
it is therefore compulsory that students register themselves for the Overseas Student health Cover ( OSHC). This is arranged through Med bank.

Religion
There is complete religious freedom in Australia. Local Indian Society can advise you of location of temples, mosques, monasteries and churches

Living in Australia as an international student
counselors on campus are readily available to assist students with their personal problems
Academic -language problems, preparation for examinations, essay writing, project reports, presentation, managing course work, appeals, etc
Personal-homesickness, relationships , loneliness, religious beliefs, financial management
Other-visa, employment opportunities, higher studies and career decisions, etc.

Student rights
All students have certain rights irrespective of their nationalities. These could involve academic appeals, the right to protest against discrimination on the basis of sex, religion , ethnic origin, disability, etc

Accommodation for international students
Rented Housing - You can rent a house or an apartment. It is often cheaper to rent the household in groups of three or four.
The cost is approximately AU$ 100 -$ 150 upward per week.
College Hostel- A high proportion of international students reside in college hostels. The cost is AUS$ 80-AU$ 120 per week.

Halls of Residence- They are similar to colleges in that they are on or near campus. There is a high proportion of international students and they tend to be cheaper than colleges. The approximate cost is AU$ 80 -AU$ 150 per week

Higher education university courses
There are 42 higher education institutions in Australia; 36 of these are members of the Unified National System, four are commonwealth funded Government colleges, and two are private universities
Australian year 12 qualification and equivalents
successful completion of class 10+2 from India.

English requirements
For higher education entry, you require an overall score of siz or better on the International English Language Testing System ( IELTS)
For secondary entry , an overall IELTS score of between 5 to 6 is recommended
There are two versions of the test-Academic and General Training , It is owned and managed by the British Council, IDP Education Australia: IELTS Australia nd Cambridge ESOL, IELTS Australia rest centres have been opened in Ahmedabad Ph.: 0796406226, 6403413, Bangalore Ph.: 044-52179388/89 , Hyderabad Ph: 040-23398247-51, Mumbai Ph: 022-22026505, 22042686, New Delhi Ph.: 011-26213504, 26213667
More information in this regard can be had from IDP India Country director, Mr. Henry AS ledlie Ph: 011-26467535, 26284404 Fax: 91-11-26481262, 26440627 Email: henry.ledlie@idp.com, Web:www.idp.com

Grading by Australian universities
(A=90% or higher, B=65%-70% C=55% approx

Costs of Study
The tuition fees usually vary from AU$ 10000 to AU$ 27000
may also make an additional charge ranging between AU$ 250 approx
Business studies comes to around Rs. 8,40,000
For Engineering Rs, 8,10,000
For Sciences courses Rs. 7,20,000 and for Hospitality Rs. 7,20,00

Sponsor
Sponsor/s can be applicant, parents, grandparents, or spouse only
Getting a Student Visa
(a) The first requirement before applying for a student visa, is to get and 'Offer of Acceptance' from an educational institution of Australia,
(b) Secondly , it is obligatory to show that you have the requisite financial support to meet you expenses including tuition fees, accommodation etc. Students are required to show that they have at least Australian Dollar 12,000 ( around Rs. 3,00,000) to cover living costs for each year of their study
Part-time work: Holders of a student visa are permitted to work for upto 20 hours per week during the session and full-time during vacations. Students require a work permit for this.

Employment Opportunities
The first step as a job seeker, is to get a work permit. For which you have to deposit $50 as permit fee to the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. Allow you to work for 20 hours a week
Students can also benefit by logging into the university websites where bob vacancies are posted, from time to time. the typical jobs that the international students take up as part time earning opportunities, are those of waiter/waitress, clerical staff, supermarket staff, shop assistant, bartender, cleaner etc.

Undergraduate Courses
Agriculture-Forestry, Agriculture, Parks and Wildlife
Business, administration and Law-
Education
Engineering
Health Sciences
Humanities
Mathematics and Computing
Science

For further clarification or for course specific information, you may get in touch with the
AEC Manager
Australian Education International
Australian High Commission1/50 G, Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi-110021
( Ph. 41399900 Fax. 41494490)
e-mail:aec.india@dfat.gov.au,
or Education Promotion Officer

Australian Education International
Australian Consulate-General Office16th Floor, Maker Tower-E
Cuffe Parade, Colaba
Mumbai 400021
(Ph. 2181071, 2881072, 2186865 Fax. 2188228)
Email: aief@bom2.vsnl.net.in
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IDP Education Australia