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Studying in Australia is working for international students

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Australia is a popular destination for international students because of its location and the variety of courses and qualifications an Australian education offers', says Ben Lin, an international student graduate from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Australia is also a top choice for many international students because it is culturally diverse.

'Sydney is such an international destination; it feels like I'm travelling the world in one city', says Ben, who is from Singapore. 'But the best thing, by far, is meeting people – meeting all different types of people. It's been an eye-opening experience.'

Choosing to study in Australia offers many opportunities for international students. International students can choose to work while they study, do internships over the summer, travel during semester breaks or just relax and immerse themselves in the cultural mix that is Australia.

The flexibility allows international students to mould their experience of studying in Australia to be unique and special to them. But according to Ben, the best thing an international student looking to studying in Australia can do, is just to get out there and do it!

'Look forward to the experience, don't set high expectations and take things as they come.'

The learning environment in Australia is another reason hundreds of international students from Asia, Europe, the United States and South America come to study in Australia every year.

The number of international student enrolments has consistently increased each year with Government figures for 2007 showing over 455 000 international student enrolments. This is a growth of over 30 per cent since 2003.

Australian universities and educational institutions provide a smaller and more dynamic learning environment for students than some other destinations.

'Learning in Australia is more classroom-based – students are more involved in class discussions and group activities', Ben says. 'The learning environment is more conducive to students and allows them to develop their own thoughts.'

With the expanding Australian job market, studying then working in Australia has never before been a more attractive and viable option for international students.

Australian employers are adopting innovative recruitment strategies to find and attract the 'talent' they are looking for and that includes looking at the extensive resource pool of international students.

Companies such as KPMG, Amex and Westpac have opened their doors to international student graduates offering them internships, part-time roles and graduate positions within their companies on and offshore.

Monique Gunn, who runs Working Solutions, a university internship program for international MBA students in Sydney, says employers are genuinely impressed by the calibre of international students studying in Australia.

'Employers who are involved with the program are so impressed by the skills and abilities of the students that they take on more students', she says.

The Working Solutions program placed 42 international students in 2007 with many students being offered ongoing or permanent roles after the completion of their internship.

The recent government changes to immigration, including the introduction of the skilled migration program, have also increased the chances of international students finding work in Australia after they graduate. The changes reflect the shifting attitudes of the Australian work environment to the growing demand for skilled labour.

With all these factors in favour of international students studying in Australia, it is an ideal time for students looking to study overseas to consider studying in Australia. With beautiful beaches, cultural diversity and employment opportunities, why would you choose to study anywhere else?

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