Many Filipino students wish to attend an Australian University and find employment in Australia upon graduation. This is for good reason as in 2012 Australia was voted the fourth happiest country in the world and is the third most popular country to study for international students.
With approximately half a million international students attending Australian universities in 2015, it is important for Filipino students to make considerations before they apply to study in order to have an advantage when it comes to finding employment upon graduation. Here at CareerPlan we want to make the process for Filipino students as easy as possible, so we have put together a list of considerations for Filipino students wishing to attend an Australian University.
Consider which Australian university to attend before putting in applications: For Filipino students wishing to attend an Australian University it is important to consider which Australian university to attend before putting in an application.
The Australian education system is the third most popular in the world, has 22,000 courses to choose from, 1,100 educational institutions to choose from and includes eight of the top universities in the world.
Research is required to see which Australian universities offer the best employment outcomes. The location of Australian university may also impact job availability. As an example, a larger city may have more job opportunities for Filipino students to work while they are studying rather than in a rural area. Due to this, a student may consider attending an Australian university in a more metropolitan area.
Other factors also play a part such as students support specifically designed for Filipino students. For instance, Deakin University prides themselves on accepting Filipino students into their school and even has their own Deakin representative for the Filipino students, who students can reach out to at any time. Having specific support can help Filipino students get ready for applying for jobs upon graduating from an Australian university.
Consider which industry has the best job outcomes: The decision of which Australian university to attend is very important but it is also wise to consider which industry has the best job outcomes. Filipino students who wish to stay in Australia upon graduation and find a job relevant to their field of study will have higher chances of finding employment if they are in the healthcare industry, the farming industry, the government industry or in the design industry.
When deciding which Australian university to attend, it is important to consider what courses are available and if that industry has many job opportunities upon graduation.
Consider how to build job connections: As a Filipino international student, it may be hard to find a support system in a new country let alone build job connecting while studying. Australian Universities like the University of Melbourne offer the Filipino Students Association where students can come together and help each other while studying. Students can build connections and help each when it comes to building job connections and skills.
Consider how to gain work experience in your relevant field: It is important for Filipino students who are studying at Australian universities to consider how to gain work experience in their relevant field. A great way to get help on where to apply and on how to build a resume is to explore what the Australian university of choice has to offer. Many Australian universities have job seeking services and employment support.
On a student visa, Filipino students can participate in paid work for up to 40 hours a fortnight while studying. Filipino students can also partake in volunteer work which is not included in the 40 hours of the student visa. Without relevant work experience, a Filipino student may find it hard to find employment in Australia’s competitive job market upon graduation.
Consider the visa options to work in Australia upon graduation: Filipino students may wish to stay in Australia and seek employment in their relevant field of study upon graduation. It is important to consider the visa option to work in Australia way before graduating from an Australian University. Leaving it to the last minute may create unnecessary stress and take up time that could be spent on looking for employment.
As per the existing Post Study Work (PSW) rules of the Australian government, one can get two years of PSW visa after the completion of Bachelors or a Masters degree, three years after the completion of Masters degree by research, and four years for a Doctorate degree.
Other opportunities include: Filipino students have the option of applying for Australian residency, applying for sponsorship at an Australian employer, continuing with study or gaining further work experience.
Here at CareerPlan, we hope that these considerations help Filipino students with their choices of Australian university and with raising the chance of employment upon graduation.
Making the decision to study abroad can be daunting but also one of the smartest things you can do to ensure a successful future.
Australia is one of the most popular destinations for international students who are looking to study abroad, not just because it has so much to offer in the way of climate, lifestyle and affordable living.
Here are five great reasons why those wishing to study abroad choose an Australian education:
Australian education institutions operate under strict legislation (the Education for Overseas Students act 2002) which is set in place to protect those wanting to study abroad and to ensure they receive the highest quality education at a reputable Australian education provider.
There are over 1,200 registered Australian education institutions offering higher education, with over 22,000 different courses of study at all levels. Seven of Australian Universities are ranked among the best in the world. Australian education providers have fantastic facilities to cater for all your needs as a new student including extra-curricular activities.
An Australian education is highly recognised internationally. Students who undertake study in Australia are more easily accepted into other study courses in other countries around the world. This is a great benefit of choosing Australian education if you have a plan to further study abroad after Australia.
An Australian education is affordable. The cost of living in Australia is relatively low while the standard of living is high. Students who choose to study in Australia can enjoy a balanced lifestyle and pursue other interests while living here. Australian education institutions are often located in cities that have great pubs, clubs and places to eat, with cuisine from all over the world. Australian education providers are also close to areas that have a lively music scene, vibrant arts culture and some of the best beaches in the world.
International students can undertake paid work while studying and, after graduation, can apply for a working visa which will allow you to seek permanent jobs here. There are fantastic opportunities for students with the right qualifications.
If you are considering to study abroad, it’s important to do your research so that you can get the most out of your Australian education. An Australian education is not only highly regarded internationally; it offers everything you need to succeed in whatever field you choose. If you do elect to stay on and pursue jobs in Australia, you will find that it is a friendly and welcoming country with a high regard for those who embrace the lifestyle and contribute to the country in a positive way.
It is interesting to note that there has been a certain shift in the selection of courses among the Nepalese students while pursuing their higher education at Australian universities. In the past students used to mostly go for vocational education. This way they could get enter quickly into the job market without attending academic classes in the universities.
The reason behind this was also because of visa success rate. Prakash Neupane, senior counselor at Expert education and visa services based in Kathmandu said, “until 2010, the Australian government duly recognized vocational degree and the visa success rate for such education was pretty high.
But from 2011-2016, this trend received a severe setback as vocational education wasn’t encouraged for foreign students in Australia. The shift has occurred with the changes in Australian government policy that rigorously screen student visa application to ensure that only ‘genuine temporary entrant’ (GET) get admitted to the Australian universities.
Mr. Khem Sangroula, an education agent for Australian education, in a recently televised interview said that the intense screening of students academic and financial records to ensure that they are fit for Australian education and are taking the right courses as per their competencies has been a key to ensuring students’ success.
Selection subjects that match the required skills in the job market
Every year, the Australian government publishes skilled occupation list (SOL), mentioning the most attractive courses for foreign students along with the emerging career opportunities in Australian job market.
Accordingly, international students’ subject selection trend is shifting towards Information Technology (IT), management, nursing, and accountancy. The reason behind the selection is because the skills and qualifications related to these subjects are in high demand offering high salary and lucrative career opportunities.
Match your career interests with future job prospect !
There are plenty of career opportunities for those who are academically sound and has a passion for excelling in life through a very competitive and market-based degree. Koustup Dhakal, a Nepali student who completed his masters in management (engineering) from Central University of Queensland opined, “Technical subjects like IT and management have huge number of students enrollments at Australian universities because it is easy to get into the world of work with these subjects after applying PSW (post study work) visa post graduation. I also immediately got a job and now have a permanent residency,” he said.
Do more research and consult more before you decide what courses to study!
Make sure that you as an international student to carry out plenty of research on the courses that match your interests and also have great job scope in future. Remember, choosing the right course often becomes very crucial in determining the career opportunities
It is no wonder that many international students make a right decision to choose Australia for higher education. But still a large number of students make wrong decisions in choosing the right college or a university, city to live in, courses to study, and even strategy for financing their studies.
Of the 43 Universities and many private colleges spread across Australia, international students have a wide range of educational providers to choose from. If you are intending to live and work in Australia, then the name and profile of the University matter as much as the course itself.
Universities in Australia vary greatly in their reputation. On the top of the list are the group of eight or G8, which have intensive research and high-quality teaching arrangements (link with another blog). These are also the Universities that are situated in the major cities of this vast country. Overall, the quality of education in G8 universities is believed to be high in all the courses of studies.
University reputation matters
First, international students often make hasty decisions to move to Australia, without choosing a right university. They then end up with low-quality education in terms of university reputation, which not only hampers their educational quality but also the job prospects in Australia after graduation. Making the right choice does not mean you select just one of the eight elite Universities, but also a far wider range of Universities. One cannot neglect the quality of other Universities in some specific subjects/courses of studies. But, for this, you need to do a thorough research and career consultation before making your enrollment decision.
Where to stay makes a big difference in your student life!
The second mistake international student make is in choosing a city. Many anticipate living in a big metropolitan city like Sydney and Melbourne, but they are often placed at university campuses located in small regional towns, where the prospect for a job and professional networking are limited. As the plan to leave for Australia, they do not have the knowledge of the vast differences in opportunities that exist between the metropolitan and regional Australia. Often the education agents prefer to enroll students in regional universities as they get better deals from these Universities. International students realize they are in the wrong place only after they arrived at their University.
As the plan to leave for Australia, they do not have the knowledge of the vast differences in opportunities that exist between the metropolitan and regional Australia. Often the education agents prefer to enroll students in regional universities as they get better deals from these Universities. International students realize they are in the wrong place only after they arrived at their University.
Plan ahead about how you manage your finance
The third mistake international students make is about the financing plan. They think that they are not good enough to compete for scholarships. They seem to be unaware of many kinds of scholarships Australian Universities provide to international students, especially at the spot graduate level. Many are aware of the Australian government scholarships such as Australian Leadership Awards or Endeavour Scholarships, but not about the University-level scholarships and financial aids.
If you intend to stay in Australia, then it is better to look for such alternative and University-based financial support which do not force you to return at the end of the course.
These scholarships are of course very competitive and require a careful and well-developed application. The mistake many students make is they rely too much on the educational agent which have limited skills and competence to support in preparing high-quality applications to maximize the change of getting such scholarships.
Choosing a right course is fundamental
Besides the university, the next choice you have to make is the course. A related mistake in financial planning is to choose a cheap course and cheap university. The demerit of such choice is to minimize the prospect of the job after graduation. Instead of minimizing the cost of fees and living, students could optimize job prospect during and after graduation.
Select subjects that are suitable for migration point of view
Many students come to Australia for studies with an intention to return home after graduation. In practice, over 60% change their mind and want to stay in Australia after their studies. But you cannot continue to live and work in Australia after graduation unless you secure permanent residence or work visa. To achieve these, you need to study particular subjects in the list of qualifications which Australia encourages retain (put SOL link).
“If I had known I would intend to stay in Australia, I would have studied a different course than I am doing at the moment”, said a Bachelor level international student in Sydney. He came to Sydney for study with an intention to return home, but after he spent a year in Sydney, he changed his mind. However, he is worried about the course he is studying as this does not qualify him for a permanent residence.
For students who wish to study abroad, it is critical to find an Australian University with a great reputation. International students can put their minds at ease as they have the luxury of choosing from 8 distinctive and reputable Australian Universities. These Australian Universities (also known as the group of 8) consist of Australian National University in Canberra, Monash University in Melbourne, University of Adelaide in Adelaide, University of Melbourne in Melbourne, University of New South Wales in Sydney, University of Queensland in Brisbane, University of Sydney in Sydney and University of Western Australia in Perth.
Students studying abroad are often not aware of the elite research environment and teaching resources at these Australian Universities (much akin to Ivy League schools in America). To help international students make their decision easier we have highlighted features of each Australian University.
Australian National University (ANU)
Students studying abroad will be impressed with the history of ANU with its links to the Australian Government (two prime ministers have studied there). Located in the inner-city suburb of Acton, ANU provides international students with close proximity to such sites as Parliament house. The campus itself includes its own accommodation, cafes, medical centre and more. Students studying abroad will be awestruck with the incredible stats of this Australian University, such as ranking first in Australia for graduate employability.
University of Melbourne
The University of Melbourne is known as Australia’s leading comprehensive research-intensive university. This school is located in the heart of cultural Melbourne and is ranked number 1 in Australia. Students studying abroad may be impressed to learn that one student won a Nobel Prize.
University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Students studying abroad will enjoy the strong industry links at UNSW. The school provides Faculty Advisory Councils so that expertise and industry knowledge can be passed to students. This Australian University prides itself on research, winning the highest amount of funding provided in Australia in 2015.
Monash University
Monash is ranked in the top one per cent of world universities (73rd in the world) making it perfect for students studying abroad. Monash offers a premier suits of scholarships designed to reward achievement and features many clubs and societies to help students fit right in.
University of Sydney
The University of Sydney offers the widest range of courses out of any Australian University. This school offers many tools to help students financially with scholarships, budgeting tips and financial assistance. This school will appeal to students studying abroad who are forward thinkers as they encourage sustainability and even have their own community garden.
University of Adelaide
The three primary values of this Australian University are research, engagement and learning and teaching. For students studying abroad and wish to continue to travel after their degree will enjoy this schools focus. This school prides themselves on having internationally-focused staff and preparing students for global citizenship. They are ranked in the top 1% of universities in the world and pride themselves on their research capability.
University of Queensland (UQ)
UQ is sure to impress students studying abroad as it is spending the next 5 years investing in students experience of life and learning. UV is expanding their employability programs, providing flexible learning options, creating a vibrant campus setting and much more. Ranked within the top 50 schools in the world, this Australian University is sure to impress.
University of Western Australia (UWA)
UWA offers a range of scholarships and sponsorships for students studying abroad. The school offers help with English for those with English as a second language. UWA has a picturesque campus and highly paid graduates. UWA is a forward school for those who want to live in accordance with the school’s motto and ‘pursue the impossible.’
