AUSTRALIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

New Research on Studying in Australia, Views from Six Key Countries

Wednesday, 12 October 2011

Australian Education International has recently published the results of a survey which examined perceptions about studying in Australia.

The survey was conducted in collaboration with AEI education counsellors at posts in China, India, Indonesia, Korea, Thailand and Vietnam. Respondents, including prospective students, their family members and recent Australian student alumni, were asked to compare their perceptions of studying in Australia with those of studying in the U.S and studying in the UK.

The study found that the three most important factors in deciding where to study were the quality of education, the cost of tuition and the cost of living. Australia is perceived to be a provider of high quality education, but the current high value of the Australian dollar impacts on both the cost of tuition and the cost of living in Australia relative to competitor countries.

Many prospective students found the cost of Australian student visas was the least important factor in making a decision to study abroad as it was comparable to those of Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the U.S.

Students ranked Australia as taking the shortest time to process student visas and having the fastest visa application and processing times.

Survey respondents were also asked about the clarity and transparency of the visa processing system as a whole and whether this made students more likely to choose a particular country. Australia's visa process was seen as most likely to positively influence student choice.

The results of the survey suggest that the cost of Australian student visas may not have a major impact on students' choice of study destination. The survey also shows that when the total length of time taken from starting to apply to an education institution through to having a visa application approved is taken into account, Australia is considered by the sample surveyed to have one of the fastest systems in place.

If you are interested in Australian visas , contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try its visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to Australia.