So many students come from abroad to study within our shores. This article is for those looking to head in the other direction - Australian citizens considering the option of studying abroad. Of course, it is somewhat deceptive to call it an 'option', as there are just so many paths that can lead you overseas. Some of our universities, for instance, have campuses in other countries. Monash University has campuses in Sarawak, Prato and Johannesburg. Curtin University of Technology has campuses in Sarawak and Singapore. Other universities have numerous 'partner' institutes located across the globe. And there are still other options.
Enrolling locally, studying internationally
It is generally possible for you to spend, say, a semester at one of a local uni's OS campuses if you're an Australian student. When doing her Bachelor of Communication, for instance, a friend of mine elected to spend a semester at Monash University's Johannesburg campus. In turn, some of her South African classmates came here the following year.
It's important to keep in mind that the overseas campuses of our universities aren't always as large as their local counterparts. Monash University's Johannesburg campus is pretty small, for instance. They don't offer the same variety of units or courses.
Australian universities with campuses abroad include the University of Newcastle (Singapore), the University of Wollongong (United Arab Emirates), Monash University (Malaysia, South Africa and Italy), RMIT University (Vietnam), Swinburne University (Malaysia), James Cook University (Singapore), Curtin University of Technology (Malaysia and Singapore) and the University of Adelaide (Singapore).
In addition to the rather small number of universities that have campuses abroad, most universities have partnerships with overseas institutes. You're overseas, but you're not enrolled in an overseas institute as such. The overseas institute has little to do with you; you still deal with whatever university you're enrolled in back in Australia. Essentially, you're just swapping the facilities of an Australian university for the facilities of one of their international partners and undertaking overseas units that are the equivalents of something offered locally. In some instances, Australian universities actually offer their own units through their international partners.
Students considering this option will be pleased to hear that, as a general rule, the HECS-HELP scheme will cover your studies abroad. You're still an Australian student, after all. If you're considering this option, it would certainly be worthwhile checking whether this is true of your course and institute.
Keep in mind that you'll probably need to get some sort of student visa, however.
Enrolling internationally
Enrolling at an overseas institute and completing the entirety of your studies there is yet another option. The exact requirements vary from institute to institute, country to country. You'll need to apply for some sort of student visa, which will probably involve a lot of arduous paperwork. To get into the United States as a student, for instance, you'll fill out a number of forms that are available through the embassy. Once you've applied for an actual course at a US institute and been accepted, someone at that institute will send out yet another form, known as an I-20, which you'll have to hang on to all the time when you're in the US, as it will provide a record of all your immigration information, including your authorisation to work.
More information on specific countries can be found online through sites like Study Overseas (www.studyoverseas.com), but use such sites as a general guide only. You're supposed to be intelligent and resourceful, right? Contact the relevant embassies and Google the relevant immigration departments. Visa requirements can change and non-official websites can take a while to reflect these changes.
Entry requirements, beyond visas and official forms like the I-20, vary from institute to institute and country to country. If you're heading somewhere where English isn't the language of instruction, you might have to sit a language test or enrol in some sort of language course. Of course, the visa requirements of some English speaking countries might require you to sit one of these tests even if you're a fluent English speaker.
Academically, you're obviously going to need your academic transcripts from secondary school and/or any undergraduate courses you've completed. There is the International Baccalaureate (www.ibo.org), a two-year program that universities around the world recognise. Keep in mind that the two-year diploma, which is the highest level of International Baccalaureate - the equivalent, we suppose, of HSC - is aimed at 16 to 19 year olds. If you've already left school and are past that age, you can forget about it. Local universities also recognise the International Baccalaureate, so if you've still got some time left before Year 11 and 12 you might consider undertaking the International Baccalaureate at one of the many schools located across the country. Some universities, particularly in Canada and the US, provide special scholarships for high-achieving International Baccalaureate students.
Money
Speaking of scholarships, depending on where you want to go, a good many are available. The Australian government is running a programme entitled the Prime Minister's Australian-Asia Endeavour Awards, which are available to both local and Asian students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels (www.endeavour.deewr.gov.au). You have to study in Asia, of course. That's the whole point. Furthermore, 40 awards are offered to Australians annually - 20 at an undergraduate level and 20 at a postgraduate level. Competition is fierce.
The afore-mentioned Study Overseas website is a good starting point for finding out about scholarships specific to certain regions, countries or institutes. Keep in mind that very few scholarships are going to cover everything. Most will cover a part of your fees and possibly only for a short time (a year, for instance). Furthermore, with scholarships comes added pressure to perform academically. On-going scholarships will typically require you to perform at a certain level if you're to continue receiving support.
Researching the various scholarships that are out there is a worthwhile exercise. Studying overseas is expensive. The fees you'll pay will probably be significantly higher than what the locals pay. Subsidies and loans available to local students probably won't be available to you. And to make matters worse, your visa will probably place severe restrictions on the amount of work you can do. In the United Kingdom, for instance, you won't be able to - legally, that is - do enough work to pay for your tuition. Their restrictions on work mean you'll have a bit of play money, but that's about it. You'll need some other stream of income - a very good scholarship or very generous parents, say - to cover the fees and everything else. Depending on where you're going and the type of student visa you apply for (the US, for instance, offers a number of different ones), you may have to provide evidence of suitable financial support or resources.
We hate to labour a point, but seriously, don't relax when it comes to the financial side of studying abroad. Though governments do everything they can to ensure incoming students have financial support, the responsibility ultimately rests with you. Your parents might offer to support you, but a sudden change in their financial situation could leave you in hot water. Consider taking a break of a year or two after school to work and save some cash. Of course, if you've already been in the workforce for a number of years, you're in a much better position. If you're still in school or an undergraduate course, bust your arse getting good marks and research the various scholarships that you might be eligible for. The careers advisor at school might have some valuable information. Similarly, if you're still completing an undergraduate course, ask the university about partnerships they have with international universities. You might find that there's some arrangement that could make your financial situation easier or your acceptance into an international institute more likely.
Finally, consider yourself. Even if you get a scholarship or have adequate financial support, you may not be a suitable candidate for studying overseas. Some students who come here just can't cope when the excitements wears off and they realise they're a long way from home and don't know anyone beyond the confines of the campus. Language and cultural barriers contribute to this significantly. My friend who went to South Africa, for instance, had only ever known a culture where it was completely normal to walk to the pub after dark. That's not the done thing in Johannesburg, unless you're looking to be relieved of your wallet and possibly be gifted with a Soweto smile. This was her first time overseas and she spent almost all of her time, even during weekends, on campus for a fear that, while somewhat founded, was made worse than it probably would've otherwise been because she didn't do a great deal of research on the city before applying to study there and adequately prepare herself. Make sure you do your research. If you're uncomfortable with the sound of a place in terms of culture or security, either don't go there or do your best to visit as a tourist before applying to study there.