Salient Features of the University of Sydney for International Students
As an international student, it is important to know the key features of a university before making the huge decision of which one to attend. Today we are having an up close look at the salient features of the University of Sydney (Sydney University) that may appeal to international students.
Ranking: Sydney University will appeal to international students as it has many reputable rankings to speak of. This year Sydney University was ranked number 1 in Australia for the Thomson Reuters’ innovation ranking, and 28th in the world. The University of Sydney is also ranked 46th in the world for the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) Working Ranking of Universities. This was based on academic reputation, citations per faculty, student-to-faculty ratio, employer reputation, international faculty ratio and international student ratio.
Course Availability: International students will be impressed with the extensive course availability at Sydney University. There is an array of undergraduate courses, honours degrees, postgraduate courses and postgraduate research study available. Sydney University offers a variety of degree ranging from a Bachelor of Arts to a Bachelor of Law or Engineering.
Scholarships: Sydney University offers many different scholarship options for international students. While the eligibility for each scholarship is different, Sydney University encourages students to apply for as many as they are eligible for. These scholarships are often based on academic merit or economic background. University scholarships can help international students with housing or finances.
Location: Sydney University has several different campuses and the main campus is spread across the inner-city suburbs of Camperdown and Darlington. The main campus has plenty of car parks, however, many international students cycle or takes easily accessible public transport. The main campus of the University of Sydney is also the hub of student life with recreational rooms, bars and function centres.
Accommodation: The University of Sydney has accommodation options for international students, on and off campus. One option this Sydney university offers in residential colleges. This offers not only accommodation on-campus but also three meals a day, laundry services and a support network with regular alumni talks and presentations. Another option this Sydney university offers is University-run accommodation. These University-run houses are available all year round but fill up fast. The University of Sydney also provides an off campus housing database where you can search for accommodation nearby.
Cultural attractions: The University of Sydney is located in one of the world’s best cities. Sydney is home to the famous Opera house, harbour, and beaches. Near the main campus are Darling harbour, Chinatown, and shopping malls. The University of Sydney also offers over 200 clubs and societies including cultural groups so students can fully immerse themselves in the culture of student life.
Overall the University of Sydney has many salient features to appeal to international students. If you are an international student looking for a university with top rankings, wide course availability, scholarships, top location and plenty of cultural attractions, then this Sydney University may be for you.
Melbourne University: What Makes it Australia’s Best University?
Are you looking for a world class university with affordable accommodation and quality education? Would you like to have a globally recognized research-based academic degree at your hand with ample scholarships? Do you wish to live in a city that offers enthralling entertainment with cultural events and exotic environment? If yes, then the University Melbourne (Melbourne University) in the Victorian capital of Australia could be your best study destination.
With a surging population of about 4.2 million, Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia. Popular for its rich culture and tradition, it has been regarded as the most livable city in the world. Moreover, street art, alternative fashion, live music and festival including the Melbourne Fringe Festival and Festivals of Arts, Film, and Comedy has attracted unprecedented number of students in this city.
Flexible accommodation with an availability of a mixture of high-density and low-density blocks near to the city centre at an affordable price have enabled students to live properly and commute classes within a short distance to the universities in Melbourne. Likewise, integrated public transport system of trains, trams, buses and taxis has made travel from the middle and inner parts of the city convenient and reasonably inexpensive.
Emerging as an educational hub for international students, Melbourne comprises of 8 universities including a much larger number of individual campuses consisting of around 300,000 students. What is interesting is the fact that about one-third of the students in Melbourne are from abroad.
Among the universities in Melbourne, the University of Melbourne is the world-renowned academic institution. As per the 2016 Academic Ranking of World Universities, the University of Melbourne is the highest ranked Australian university which stands at 40th position in the list of the top 500 institutes around the world.
Established in 1853, Melbourne university carries a legacy of pioneering research and technological development. Ranked as the No.1 research university in Australia, Melbourne university comprises of 45,000 students under various academic programs.
Major Attractions for the International Students
Variety of Courses
Melbourne university offers undergraduate and postgraduates courses in the field of Arts, Business, and Economics, Architecture Building and Planning, Law, Engineering, Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences among others. The range of choices that they can avail here makes the Melbourne University the most preferred learning centre for students.
Scholarships and Bursaries
Considered as one of the most comprehensive scholarship programs in Australia, the Melbourne Scholarship programs confer merit-based scholarships to bright students from Australia and abroad. In addition to this, it has a generous provision of financial aid for socio-economically backward students who would otherwise be unable to attend the university in the absence of adequate financial resources. Residential campuses also offer employment opportunities for students in the second year. The major criteria for grabbing such opportunities include academics, leadership contribution, core skills and competencies and/or financial need.
Research and Publications
According to the official website of the university, 4,500 research publications have been made until 2012 through various research institutes at the university. Some of the notable ones include: Melbourne Energy Institute, having more than 100 research centres and institutes, including Bio21, one of Australia’s most sophisticated medical research and biotechnological initiatives, the Melbourne University was also awarded $21 million from the Australian Research Council to establish Stem Cells Australia (SCA), as a major world player in stem cell research.
International Networking and Collaboration
Working with acclaimed global universities, Melbourne university enjoys the membership of Universities as 21 including the Association of Pacific Rim Universities. More importantly, the university has the world’s largest student exchange program in Australia with over 140 exchange partners from 37 universities.
Strong Alumni Network
The University of Melbourne boasts of Nobel Laureates, Prime Ministers of Australia, philosophers, industry leaders, artists, physicists among others who have made a significant contribution to the development of society. The network is expanding each year with 2,80,000 Alumni worldwide at present
Accommodation Facilities
Consisting of 11 residential colleges, Melbourne university gives better accommodation option for international students including accommodation scholarships.The major advantage of living at a residential college is that it helps to foster an academic and social network. Similarly, exciting sporting and cultural programs enrich the academic experience of students.
Lucrative Career and Job Prospects
The University of Melbourne provides various opportunities for outstanding graduates. For example, Melbourne Early Career Development Program (MECDP) imparts a tailored development program including exposure to the routine functions and operations of a variety of professional services such as Finance, Student Services, Marketing, Procurement, Research Services and Human Resources. It gives a platform for high-potential graduates to transform into the managers and leaders in future. Furthermore, on-the-job technical skills and knowledge acquired through this program helps to boost the career of students.
Apart from this, the university has two separate type of employment opportunities- student employment and casual employment which can be sought by directly contacting the concerned departments and professors.
The Believe Campaign
The humanitarian campaign of Melbourne university is becoming popular among the international students as it aims for the student’s general welfare too. Since 2013, the University has been launching ‘Believe’- the campaign which aims to raise $500 million by 2017 to educate future leaders and conduct researches including other philanthropic activities. With the generous contribution of University’s Alumni and the donor community, the campaign is ongoing and aims to engage 100,000 by the end of the campaign in 2021.
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Australian National University: What Makes it Attractive to International Students?
Brief History
Among the Australian universities, Australian National University (ANU) has a rich legacy dating back to 1930 when Canberra University College which later integrated with ANU started its classes. During the 40s, intensive discussions among intellectuals and administrators culminated in the establishment of a National University. Consequently, ANU was established through a bill endorsed by the federal parliament in 1946.
Enjoying the consistent world ranking among the top universities, ANU in the latest QS World University Rankings of 2016/17 occupies the 22nd position. In the 2015 Times Higher Education Global Employability Univesity Ranking, ANU was placed at 32nd in the world and 1st in Australia.
John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University
The above-mentioned statistics clearly indicate the quality of education that is being offered by the Australian National University and the employability prospects of its graduates. With 10,052 undergraduates and 10, 840 postgraduate students, ANU is constantly growing as a leading research university in Australia. ANU is highly reputed for its programs in Arts, Humanities, and Natural Sciences.
Salient Features of ANU
Unique Courses
ANU provides 50 single degree courses under seven academic programs at present. One of the major attraction among international students towards ANU education has been the dual degree courses that it offers at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The flexible double degree aims to cater the intellectual curiosity as well as the employability skills of the students. Completion of the degree within less time compared to taking two degrees separately also encourage students to get into such courses.
Strong Faculties and Academic Staffs
ANU has a robust team of academics and researchers who take students learning to next level. Interestingly, faculties at ANU deal with a limited number of students as the average class size is smallest among Australia’s top universities allowing for individual mentoring of students. Consisting of 86% of PhD holding academic staffs with six Nobel prize winners among the staff and alumni, the 2016 Good Universities Guide awarded ANU with a maximum 5-star rating for staff qualifications.
Research and Publications
Famous as a research-intensive university, ANU research efforts have been constantly directed towards responding to the socio-economic, political and environmental challenges facing the world today. Ranging from next generation solar energy solutions to political engagement strategies, researchers have focused on transforming the world to make it a better place to live in.
95% of the ANU research has been rated above world standard in the last round of Excellence in Research for Australia Results in 2015. Publications of articles, conference papers and books to communicate research findings including new knowledge and discovery has been the top most priority of ANU in the field of academic inquiry.
Best Accommodation
Offering more homes to students on campus compared to any other Australian university, and an unparalleled residential experience, ANU comprises of 11 different residences for undergraduate students. Ranging from catered, self-catered or apartment-style residences, students can get laundry facilities, outdoor spaces and study rooms within easy walking distance to shops, cafes, restaurants, sporting facilities, nightlife, and public transport. Apart from this, the residences help in building a robust support network through academic and social support programs among the students by sharing experiences with peers.
Exotic Location
Known for its classic Australian bush landscape, Canberra, the capital city of Australia, is renowned for its walking trails and reliable public transport making it convenient and affordable for students to get around. Having the shortest commute time of any major Australian city, Canberra was ranked the world’s most livable city by OECD in both years 2014 and 2015. With growing vibrant multicultural community in the city, it has become the hotspot destination for international students.
International Learning Experience
ANU offers students with an opportunity to get into any one of 170 partner universities across 35 countries under the student exchange program. This program intends to hone skills and foster knowledge of students thereby improving their employability allowing for global networking. Besides, ‘Global Summer Program’, ‘Year in Asia’ program among others allow students to study and travel overseas.
Alumni Impact
Renowned for contributions in their fields of expertise and within the community, ANU alumni are working in various parts of the world. The vibrant alumni community has been learning, discovering, leading, creating, innovating changing lives and making history.
Alumni Mentoring Program
ANU has provisioned an alumni mentor who will support alumni by providing proper career guidance including work/life balance by means of discussions and also avail of the networking opportunities. This program is a perfect platform to share skills, ideas and knowledge with fellow alumni.
ANU Fund
ANU has established a fund to provide scholarships to students and promote teaching and research among others welfare activities. Some of the sub-categories of this fund are Innovative Learning, Campus Life, Students First.
Diversity and Equity
Nurturing a positive campus environment, ANU has historically put an emphasis on promoting academic culture. It has offered equal opportunities for women and men including the socially and economically marginalized and disadvantaged groups on the basis of religion, ethnicity or economic status.