AUSTRALIA
Official name: Commonwealth of Australia
Capital: Canberra
Largest city: Sydney
Area: 7,741,000 km²
Population: 22,620,600 (2011) World Bank
Currency: Australian dollar (AUD)
Major language: English
Major religion: Christianity
National color: Green and Gold
Life expectancy: 79 years (men), 84 years (women) (UN)
Monetary unit: 1 Australian dollar = 100 cents
Main exports: Ores and metals; wool, food and live animals; fuels, transport machinery and equipment
Gross National Income per capita: US $32,220 (World Bank, 2006)
GDP: US$ 1.372 trillion (2011) World Bank
Density: 2.8/km2 (233rd) 7.3/sq mile
Government: Federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
Internet TLD: .au
Dialing code: +61
Time Zones: (AEST) covers the eastern states of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory. AEST = (UTC +10).
(ACST) covers the state of South Australia, the town of Broken Hill in western New South Wales and the Northern Territory. ACST= (UTC +9½).
(AWST) covers Western Australia. AWST = (UTC +8).
Membership: G20, OECD, WTO, APEC, UN, Commonwealth of Nations, ANZUS, and the Pacific Islands Forum.
Australian Icons: Sydney Opera House
Sydney Harbour Bridge
Uluru
Akubra Hat
Australia has one of the highest standards of living in the world. It is an English-speaking country with a population of about 21.5 million. It is home to people from over 190 countries, and cultural diversity is part of its national identity and is one of Australia’s greatest strengths.
The major reason why students choose to study in Australian universities is for its high quality of lifestyle and education. The Australian lifestyle will be hassle-free and more relaxed. This helps students to enhance their studies without any tension. Another reason for choosing Australia is for its cost efficiency. The education and living expenditure in Australia will be comparatively 40 to 60% less than that of USA/UK, varying with the location. Australian universities and training institutions offer a wide range of courses to meet most aspirations and requirements. The curriculum and infrastructure are the latest while the faculty is up-to-date and progressive in outlook and result-oriented.
University
University is the highest level of study in Australia. Study can be undertaken at an undergraduate level (Bachelor Degree) and/or a postgraduate level (Graduate Certificate, Diploma, Masters, PhD). Australia has more than 40 universities, 38 of which are government funded.
Vocational
Vocational institutions include skill-based courses which are closely linked to selected industries and give students practical skills and industry experience. Courses are provided at both government-funded Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes and private institutions. Many vocational institutes have links and agreements with universities. Through these links, universities may offer up to one year of advanced standing into a Bachelor degree as well as guaranteed entry into your course when you achieve the required grades at your vocational institution. Many of the courses provide advanced standing into university degrees.
English Language
There are approximately 100 private English language centres in Australia. Courses in English can be taken for a variety of reasons including study, travel, immigration or business purposes. English courses can also be undertaken at some universities and TAFE institutions.