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Australia is a country of dramatic landscapes, sun drenched beaches,
coral reefs, tropical rain forests, deserts and bushland. All this
contrasts with its cosmopolitan cities and metropolitan skylines.
Australia is the world’s largest island continent and is approximately
the size of mainland United States.
New South Wales (capital city: Sydney)
New South Wales is perhaps the most varied of all States. It offers
snow-capped mountains with excellent skiing facilities to stunning
golden sandy beaches. The climate ranges from subtropical in the
north of the State to cooler temperatures in the south.
Sydney (population 4 million), Australia’s oldest city, is
Australia’s business and finance capital. Built on the shores
of Port Jackson, Sydney offers the most spectacular setting for
a city. The city is world famous for the Sydney Opera House, home
to Australia’s opera, ballet and theatre companies and symphony
orchestras. Sydney is a dynamic, thriving multicultural city with
a skyline that rivals that of Manhattan. Other attractions include
the Harbour Bridge, Taronga Zoo, the Royal Botanic Gardens and the
Art Gallery of New South Wales.
Victoria (capital city: Melbourne)
Victoria’s capital city, Melbourne (population 3.3 million),
is a diverse and cosmopolitan city. Melbourne has a reputation for
its shopping complexes and sophisticated boutiques, restaurants,
cafes and bars. It is regarded as one of the cultural, culinary,
sporting and shopping capitals of Australia with a great selection
of events and festivals to entertain locals and visitors.
Melbourne has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons.
Summer temperatures often reach 30 degrees, while the winter average
is 15 degrees. Only a few hours from Melbourne is the Victorian
Snow Country and from June to October several ski resorts provide
excellent skiing and snowboarding. Only a short drive from Melbourne
you will also find some of Australia’s most spectacular surf
beaches.
Australian Capital Territory (capital of Australia: Canberra)
The establishment of a national capital was determined with Australian
federation in 1901, and the site was selected in 1908. Canberra
is strategically located between arch rival cities Sydney and Melbourne.
Canberra’s population has grown to nearly 300,000 and is
home to many national buildings including the National Library,
the National Gallery, the High Court of Australia and Parliament
House. The city enjoys a thriving arts, music and café scene.
Autumn (March to May) in Canberra is beautiful. The days are sunny
and crisp, the trees are changing and everything looks lovely. Canberra
winter is cold but the sky is usually blue and sunny. Summer temperatures
can be quite high.
There are many study opportunities in Canberra, including the
Australian National University, Canberra University and Canberra
Institute of TAFE.
Queensland (capital city: Brisbane)
Queensland, home of the Great Barrier Reef is also known as the
‘Sunshine State’. Queensland offers rainforests, island
resorts and fantastic diving. Brisbane, the state’s capital,
has a hot humid climate. While the summer maximum average is only
30 degrees, there are extremely hot days during the summer months.
Brisbane winters are mild and very pleasant. Most winter days are
sunny with average daytime temperatures around 20 degrees.
Western Australia (capital city: Perth)
Western Australia, the largest state in the world, covers one-third
of the Australian continent, over 2.5 million square kilometres.
Western Australia is so big that the climate varies from north to
south. When it is warm and dry in the north, it is cool and wet
in the south. Perth (population 1.4 million), the capital of Western
Australia, is one of the most isolated cities in the world although
it offers all modern conveniences. Perth offers white sandy beaches,
lots of sunshine and a cosmopolitan atmosphere. Residents of Western
Australia enjoy a relaxed lifestyle.
South Australia (capital city: Adelaide)
Adelaide (population 1 million) is the capital of South Australia,
also known as the Festival State. Adelaide hosts a variety of national
and international festivals each year and has some of Australia’s
finest restaurants and produces some of the country’s best
wine. The climate is distinctly mediterranean and is a climate perfect
for living. Summers are hot and dry while winters are cool and mild.
The average summer temperature is around 28 degrees, and in winter
is 15 degrees.
Tasmania (capital city: Hobart)
Hobart (population 160,000) is Australia’s southern most
– and smallest – capital city. Hobart is a riverside city
with a busy harbour and surrounding mountains. It offers a relaxed
atmosphere, numerous parks and attractive homes, making it one of
Australia’s most charming and enjoyable cities. Although many
Australians regard Hobart as conservative and provincial, it does
have a thriving arts scene. Tasmania offers heritage wilderness
and unspoilt natural beauty and is known as one of the last great
wilderness areas in the world.
Northern Territory (capital city: Darwin)
Darwin is the bustling tropical capital of the Northern Territory.
Residents of Darwin enjoy a relaxed, tropical lifestyle with wonderful
sunsets, city streets shaded by palms, mango trees and plenty of
flowering tropical shrubs. The climate is tropical with dry months
from May to September and the wet season from December to March.
Temperatures range from 25–33°C in summer and 20–30°C
in winter.
Climate
Nearly one third of Australia is in the tropics and the rest has
a temperate climate. Northern Australia (for example Darwin and
Cairns) has a tropical climate, with humid heat in summer and very
little change between seasons.
The temperature in the southern part of Australia varies and has
four distinct seasons:
Summer (December to February)
Autumn (March to May)
Winter (June to August)
Spring (September to November)
Tasmania is generally colder all year round compared with the
rest of Australia. Adelaide, Melbourne and Canberra have cold winters
and hot summers. Winters in Sydney, Perth and Brisbane are generally
mild.
People
Australia’s population is approximately 19 million people.
Australia is an extremely multicultural society and nearly one quarter
of Australians were born overseas. There are nearly one million
Asian-born Australians and about 2% of the population are of Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander descent. More than 100 different ethnic
groups are represented in Australia, making Australia one of the
most ethnically diverse countries in the world. Because of the multicultural
flavour of the country, Australian cities are quite cosmopolitan.
Sites showing human occupation in Australia date back 40,000 years.
Australian Aborigines inhabited the country for more than 40,000
years, while European settlers first arrived in 1788.
Religion
The majority of Australians are Christian, however, all religions
are represented in the community. Churches, synagogues, temples
and mosques are located in most major cities.
Culture and Sport
Australia’s cultural life is very diverse and exciting, offering
world class opera, orchestras, theatre, concerts, modern dance and
classical ballet, art galleries, comedy, musicals and Broadway shows.
Sport plays an important part in the lives of many Australians.
Working Holiday
If you come to Australia on a working holiday visa, you can study
up to 12 weeks full time. Many students choose to study English
Language or another short course while they enjoy a working holiday
experience. Please contact
us for more information about studying on a working holiday
visa. Please note that working holiday visas are not available to
all countries, only those with which Australia has an agreement.
Accommodation
As an international student, you have many accommodation choices
in Australia. You may choose to live
- in a residential college on campus
- off campus with other students in a house or flat (apartment)
- with a family and pay board (homestay).
The cost of accommodation will depend on the city, and the location
in a city. Most universities and colleges have an accommodation
officer who will help you find accommodation and give advice about
your options. Study Australia can help you arrange temporary
accommodation or homestay accommodation before your arrival in Australia. This will give you time to think about where and
how you would like to live longer term. Please contact us with your
questions and needs.
Homestay
Living with a family in a private or shared room. The cost normally
includes most meals. Approximate cost per week is A$150–A$200.
On Campus
University colleges of residence provide accommodation and meals
for full-time students. The fees and facilities vary at each campus.
Students have a private bedroom with a desk and share other facilities.
It can be quite difficult confirming a room on campus as places
are limited. Approximate cost per week is A$90 (no meals) and A$180
(with meals).
Off Campus
Flats (apartments) or houses can be rented from real estate agents
or from private owners. They can be either furnished or unfurnished.
Many students choose to share a house or flat with other students.
Rents vary depending on location, size and facilities. You must
sign a lease (rental contract) and pay a bond. The bond is refunded
if no damage has been done. Electricity, gas and telephone are extra.
Some universities have shared flats and houses available for students.
Approximate cost per week per person is A$100–A$200.
Living Costs
As a single student you will need approximately A$12,000–A$17,000
per year for living expenses such as accommodation,
food, transport, textbooks and some spending money. This amount
will vary depending where you live (city or country), whether you
are in a high or low cost area, and your personal lifestyle. This
amount does not include international airfares or tuition fees.
Student Employment
As an international student on an Australian student visa, you
can work up to 20 hours each week during semester, and full-time
during vacation periods.
Most universities and colleges have employment services that will
help you find a job.
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