Hi and welcome to www.austudy-africa.com, the best place to find information about the great range of study opportunities offered by Australian universities, colleges and schools.  

Win an iPod by being curious about Australia!

It's true.  All you have to do is register with www.austudy-africa.com, the website developed by the Australian Government agency, Austrade, to provide information to prospective students from Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.  We’ll keep you up to date with the latest courses and developments in Australian education.   We’ll profile Australian institutions most keen to welcome students from this region.  We'll alert you to the opportunity to meet with visiting representatives of Australian institutions in your country.  And we'll invite you over to visit our Study Information Centres in Johannesburg and Port Louis.  So subscribe to our newsletter http://www.austudy-africa.com/newsletter.html and drop us a line to let us know the issues you want us to feature. 

Study in Australia - just the ticket to a world of opportunities

Do your Mum and Dad know an Australian degree, diploma or certificate is a world class qualification?   Australian educational institutions are highly placed in international surveys.    The 2005 Times World University Rankings Survey http://www.thes.co.uk/ listed 2 Australian universities in the world’s top 20.  And there were 8 Australian universities in the top 60, more than any country except the United States and the United Kingdom.  The Survey features the University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, Monash University, University of Queensland, RMIT, LaTrobe University, and the University of Tasmania among others.  It analysed the views of 1,300 academics in 88 countries, and also accounted for research impact, faculty-to-student ratio, and the presence of international students and academics in the university.

So what are you waiting for?  Australia is THE place to gain a world class qualification, which will greatly enhance your success at home and abroad.  An Australian qualification can give you the edge over other graduates, a new perspective on your home country and a network of international contacts.   And it’s much cheaper, safer and more fun than your next best options!  

And join the "in" crowd!

If you decide to study in Australia, you’ll join the more than 300,000 international students who are currently studying with us and enriching our already diverse and multicultural community.  And you’ll be part of an illustrious group of alumni who have leveraged their Australian education to become leaders in their fields.  They include Mamoru Mohri, Japan’s first astronaut, who is a graduate of Flinders University; James D. Wolfensohn President of the World Bank, who went to the University of Sydney; Akira Isogawa (photo at left), International Fashion designer and a graduate of TAFE NSW; and Oscar-award winning actor Geoffrey Rush, who attended the University of Queensland, to name just a few. 

Australian Education Exhibitions are coming to a place near you

Meet face to face with people who hold the key to your future - representatives of Australian institutions right here in Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.  In March and May 2006, we will be bringing a group of Australian institutions to the region to meet with you in Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia South Africa, Kenya and Mauritius.  Register to attend the exhibition in your country by visiting http://www.austudy-africa.com/roadshow.html  

Need a place to research your study options?

We can help.  Visit our Study Information Centres in Port Louis and Johannesburg.  Our Centres are the place to check out university prospectuses, course guides, and the websites of Australian schools and colleges.  To book in, visit

http://www.austudy-africa.com/infocentres.html

Applying to an Australian institution

To secure a place at a university, college or school in Australia, you need to make an application.  You can download application forms from the website of your chosen institution(s).  Most require you to complete details about the course you seek to pursue, your current level and field of study and your academic achievements.  You will also be required to provide personal details and a certified copy of your most recent academic results.  For more information, visit

http://www.austudy-africa.com/admission.html

Getting a student visa

Before you can leave your home country to study in Australia, you need to obtain a visa which permits you to stay in Australia to pursue a course of study.  To obtain a visa, you may need to pass a pre-visa assessment (PVA) and an English language proficiency test.  You will also be required to complete an application form, undergo a medical examination, provide a copy of your Confirmation of Enrolment (at an Australian institution) and evidence that you have sufficient funds to meet you course fees.  For more information, go to http://www.austudy-africa.com/visas.html

For students from the Seychelles and Mauritius, we’ve got great news.  Effective 1 November 2005, students from Seychelles wishing to study in Australia will no longer have to sit an IELTS test to apply for a student visa.   And for Mauritius, applicants for ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students), secondary schools and non-award courses will face lesser financial and English language testing requirements. This reflects the good standing of the Indian Ocean Islands markets with Australia and the interest demonstrated by students of this region to pursue their studies in Australia.

Australian schools attract increasing numbers of international students

Some people start early.  They come to Australia for secondary school.  It's proving a popular option.  Overseas student enrolments in government schools in New South Wales rose from 1,000 students in 2001 to more than 2,150 students in 2005. This rise is further reflected in independent and Catholic schools where overseas student enrolments reached 24,312 in August 2005, up from 22,000 in 2002.

Stay tuned

Stay in the loop (and join our iPod competition) by registering for the next edition of Austudy-Africa.com at http://www.austudy-africa.com/newsletter.html