Looking Further Afield: Australia and New Zealand

Sarah Nash, Study Options

Study Options is a free advice and application service for UK students wanting to study at universities in Australia and New Zealand

www.studyoptions.com

Trends in UK student mobility to Australia and New Zealand

- Long-established, steady stream of UK students heading to Australia and New Zealand for postgraduate study

- Most significant growth in numbers currently coming from undergraduate students

- Australian and New Zealand universities are keen to attract students from the UK

- UK secondary education directly equivalent to Australian and New Zealand secondary education

- A-Levels/IB considered to be a good foundation for university study

- Shared language and culture makes it relatively easy for UK students to settle in and make strong contribution to campus life

The undergraduate experience compared

- Both Australia and New Zealand have British-based education systems – as a result, far more similarities than there are differences

- Educational background of domestic undergraduate students

- Range of subjects and courses available

- Qualification names and course durations

- Teaching methods

- Campus life

Bachelor of Arts

200

level

200

level

200

level

200

level

200

level

100

level

100

level

100

level

100

Level

100

level

100

level

100

level

100

level

300

level

300

level

300

level

200

level

Year 3

Year 2

Year 1

Major courses

Other courses from your degree area

Courses from any degree area

Key difference: Generalist undergraduate degrees are broad and flexible, allowing students to combine different subjects

Bachelor of Engineering with Honours

Year 4 – 3rd Professional

Year 3 – 2nd Professional

Year 2 – 1st Professional

Year 1 - Intermediate

Professional years

Required intermediate courses in engineering, mathematics and physics

Other intermediate courses in physics, chemistry, computer science, engineering and electives

ENGR

101

EMTH

118

EMTH

119

EMTH

171

PHYS

101

100

Level

100

Level

100

Level

This structure only applies to generalist undergraduate degrees. Professional and specialist degrees (engineering, law, medicine etc) will follow set, structured study programmes that offer students little or no opportunity to take electives.

The application process

Separate from the UCAS process – students apply directly to each university via Study Options

BEFORE RESULTS (conditional offers)- GCSE certificates

- Predicted grades at A2 or IB, signed off by an appropriate school authority

- Personal statement

Students are able to hold all offers from Australia or New Zealand.

AFTER RESULTS (unconditional offers)- GCSE certificates

- A Level or IB certificates

- Personal statement

Application deadlines: October 31st for study commencing semester 1 following year. Some specialist courses have earlier deadlines.

- Application process is competitive but straightforward

- Students apply using their UK qualifications – A-levels, IB, Scottish Highers etc.

- No additional tests for majority of degrees – exceptions are:

- Medicine and dentistry (additional aptitude tests – UMAT, ISAT)

- Performance-based subjects eg music, fine art. Portfolios, auditions and/or telephone/Skype interviews may be required

- Points requirements often lower than equivalent UK universities BUT subject pre-requisites more exacting. If student has not taken required subjects at A-level or IB some universities will accept results of alternative short courses (available online)

Costs

- Students need to budget for tuition fees and living expenses for duration of course

- Tuition fees are individually set by each university, considerable variations

- Most expensive are professional degrees (eg medicine, dentistry, veterinary science)

Bachelor of Arts (includes subjects such as history, English literature, languages, international relations and politics):

AU$15,000 - AU$25,000

NZ$19,000 - NZ$25,000

Bachelor of Commerce (includes subjects such as management, marketing, accounting and finance)

AU$15,000 - AU$30,000

NZ$20,000 - NZ$25,000

Bachelor of Science (includes subjects such as marine science, psychology, zoology and physics)

AU$18,000 - AU$35,000

NZ$19,000 - NZ$25,000

All figures quoted are approximate, per year and cover tuition fees only

Cost of living

- Varies considerably between different locations

- Will depend on a student’s lifestyle (particularly accommodation) choices, but in Australia they will need upward of AU$300 per week and in New Zealand, from NZ$250.

- Australian and New Zealand student visas allow students to work part time.

- No restriction about what kind of work they do, but they are limited to 20 hours per week during term time

- Can work as much as they like during university holidays

Scholarships

- Based on academic merit

- Vary from year to year, and university to university

Please see www.studyoptions.com/money_matters for up to date information

Why go?

- British-based education system

- Australian and New Zealand university qualifications internationally recognised; well-regarded by employers

- Professional qualifications usually translate directly to the UK

(eg veterinary science, architecture, engineering)

QS University Rankings 2011 1. University of Cambridge

5. University of Oxford

6. Imperial College London

7. University College London

20. University of Edinburgh

27. Kings College London

29. University of Manchester

30. University of Bristol

50. University of Warwick

59. University of Glasgow

64. London School of Economics

67. University of Birmingham

72. University of Sheffield

74. University of Nottingham

75. University of Southampton

93. University of Leeds

95. Durham University

96. University of York

97. University of St Andrews

26. Australian National University

31. University of Melbourne

38. University of Sydney

48. University of Queensland

49. University of New South Wales

60. Monash University

73. University of Western Australia

82. University of Auckland

92. University of Adelaide

Positive economic climate; strong job opportunities for graduates

- Australian and New Zealand economies both very strong – graduate job market very different to the UK

- Australian Government has just announced plans for a post-study, two-year work visa – opportunities for students to gain all-important experience to add to their degree before they return home

- Current climate in higher education one of investment and development

“Universities will have an additional AU$2.6 billion over five years from 2011 to provide top quality education. We are also making a substantial investment in HE infrastructure. Already more than AU$4.1 billion has been committed from the Education Investment Fund for strategic infrastructure in the tertiary and research sectors.”

Excerpt from a speech given by the Australian Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans, in October 2010

- Universities very much focused on the student experience; offer many opportunities for internships, leadership programmes, student exchanges, etc.

- Ease and simplicity of the academic application system and the visa application system

- Lifestyle!

How we can help you

- Small team of experienced advisors happy to offer advice/counselling to school staff or students via telephone, email, or in person during visit to the school

- University prospectuses

- School presentations

- Training and support for career counselling staff

- Australia and New Zealand University Open Days – June each year

Email: mail@studyoptions.com Telephone: 020 7353 7200 (London) or 0117 911 2771 (Bristol)