Living in Australia

Australia

Australia is a land of contrasts: sweeping golden beaches, coral reefs rich with marine life, tropical rainforests, mountain ranges, vast grazing lands and sparse deserts. One of the oldest continents, Australia is the only country to occupy an entire continent. Surrounded by the Indian and Pacific Oceans, Australia has many unique animals and plants. The surface geology is typically old and flat with a major mountain range stretching down the eastern coast and another mountain range in the north west of the continent.

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria. It is situated on the Yarra River and around Port Phillip Bay with its beautiful beaches and water sports facilities. It is a beautiful spacious city with world class parks, gardens, sporting venues and scenic places. Melbourne is a well-renowned cultural, artistic, financial and communications centre served by an international airport, a cargo and passenger seaport, and rail links to neighbouring states. Melbourne has been voted the world’s ‘most liveable city’ for seven consecutive years. Often considered as the shopping capital of Australia, Melbourne offers some of Australia’s biggest shopping complexes as well as sophisticated, exclusive boutiques and a host of lively and popular markets. One quarter of Melbourne’s population was born overseas making it one of the world’s most multicultural cities. There are now people from 140 nations living harmoniously together. This broad ethnic mix has brought many benefits to the city including a wide range of cuisines and over 2,300 elegant restaurants, bistros and cafes. Melbourne has an excellent public transport system with trams, trains and buses providing an extensive network throughout the city and suburbs. The population is approximately 4 million. Melbourne is a sprawling city with suburbs extending up to 50km from the centre of the city.

The city centre is on the banks of the Yarra River, 5km from Port Phillip Bay. The city centre features world class department stores, historical architecture, theatres, galleries and arts centres.

Melbourne is only a short distance from many beautiful beaches as well as the Victorian mountain regions, where skiing is popular during winter. The city and surrounding suburbs are well serviced by a public transport network of buses, trains and trams. A multicultural city enriched by 170 ethnic groups. Sometimes called the culinary capital of Australia, Melbourne has a vast array of restaurants, offering a variety of international cuisine. Bustling Chinatown in the heart of the city, serves up the finest of Asian cuisine and culture. Several other Melbourne streets are dedicated to Vietnamese, Japanese, Italian and Greek food - cuisine to suit every palate and many to suit a student’s budget.

A Good Choice for Study

There are more than 50,000 overseas students studying in Australia and each year approximately 15,000 students from the Asia Pacific region arrive in Australia to continue their education. They have chosen Australia for several reasons:

Australia has a high quality education system, the equal of any country in the world
Australia offers traditional education in reputable universities, schools, and colleges like Windsor College
Awards from Australian institutions of higher education are recognized internationally
Australian universities, colleges and schools have established networks of support to help overseas students
The Australian education system includes informality and accessibility of academic staff, the availability of computers, small group tutorials and close supervision
Living costs and tuition costs compare well with other countries and most overseas students are permitted to work part-time.
Australia is a safe, stable country with a pleasant climate.