After learning about how to get a scholarship in Australia in the previous blog post. This blog post will focus on the comprehensive list of the government and university scholarships for international students in Australia.
Some of the benefits that international students can receive from these scholarships include:
Tuition Fee Waiver or reduction in Tuition Fee
Airfare expenses
Establishment expenses
Health Cover (Overseas Students Health Cover)
Living Expenses
Additional academic support
Pre-course English fees
Fieldwork costs (for research students)
Click on the links to learn more about the scholarships. Please note that these links will bring you directly to the scholarship page of the providers.
Did you find the relevant scholarship for yourself through these links? Let us know in the comments section. If you find any links that are broken or not working then you can get in touch with us via the contact form on our website.
One of the key questions that we get asked quite often by international students community is “How to get a scholarship to study in Australia?”
Did you know that your tuition fees, health cover (OSHC), airfares and living expenses can be paid as scholarships if you are eligible to apply? It’s not a dream but a reality that many students who apply for studying in Australia live.
In 2018 itself, the Australian government has given scholarships worth $320 million to students coming from over 60 developing countries.
Getting a scholarship is not only rewarding for your career but also helps in paying your expenses which may also mean that you may not have to work and you can focus more on your studies.
But getting a scholarship requires planning and preparation in advance. Here are some steps that we suggest you follow if you are interested in knowing how to get a scholarship to study in Australia.
Step 1 – Research
Research yourself about the college/ university and lookup for scholarships page of the website to find the currently available scholarships for the international students.
Scholarships are offered not only by the Australian government but also by universities, colleges, international organisations, and your home country governments as well. So make sure to research all your scholarship options before applying for study in Australia.
Also, make sure to select the criteria that meet international students only as lots of universities will have scholarships available for local students only. So filter out all the scholarships that do not meet requirements for international students
Step 2 – Check your eligibility
There are many factors that will play an important role when applying for a scholarship. There is also no rule of Thumb that these are the only factors that play a role in scoring a scholarship or not. Some of the factors that might impact your eligibility includes:
Your academic record
Your TOEFL or IELTS or PTE scores
Your country of origin
Your financial situation
Area of Study
While some of the scholarships are easy to apply, many of them that will require students to submit lots of documents before applying for a scholarships. So it is better to check your eligibility as it will save you and others lots of time.
Step 3 – Ask your student agent or councilor
Ask your study agent or Councillor about the possible scholarship in your preferred institution/s. Most of the students like to apply their visa through a registered migration agent or study councilor.
It is advisable to ask them before they apply for your offer letter for a particular university or college as most of the institutions like to offer scholarships at that particular point of your application. You can apply for multiple scholarships at the same time, so don’t miss an opportunity there.
The secret here is to apply for as many scholarships as you can as there is no limit to how many institutions or scholarships you can apply. Also, ask if there is a possibility of getting even a reduction in fee as some universities will assess all international students for some scholarships.
Step 4 – Australia Awards Website
Lookup for Australia Awards website, an Australian Government scholarship for the students in need and see if your country has eligibility for applying for an Australian Government sponsored scholarship. Also lookup for the opening and closing dates and how to apply for the scholarship.
You will need to make yourself familiar with the Scholarships Policy Handbook. After finding that information, you will need to apply for the scholarship online at https://oasis.dfat.gov.au/. If you can’t submit your application online then you can also submit the application in a hard copy via mail.
Please note: If you apply for the Apply for Australia Award, you will need to return back home after studies and students who are intending to migrate permanently can’t apply for this scholarship.
Step 5 – Ask for help
It is vital that your scholarship application is free from any spelling errors, grammar mistakes, lack of details or bad presentation. So if you are unsure, always ask someone who can have a final look at the scholarship application before applying.
If possible, ask your student agent or councillor, teachers or anyone who has a good command over the English language to check all the details like spellings, grammar, punctuation and the application details including word limits.
To help you with this, we have prepared a handy checklist for scholarship application here:
Step 6 – Don’t give up
Even if you didn’t get any scholarship at your application or offer letter, don’t be discouraged. Lots of universities and colleges in Australia also provide scholarships if you do well in the first and the second term of your studies.
So make sure to do your best in your studies and find out if your prospective university or institution has such arrangements.
We hope these tips help you in scoring an Australian scholarship for your studies. Let us know in the comments about your experience with the scholarship experience. Also, we suggest you should check the list of all scholarships available to international students in our next blog.
Flu season is upon us and as an International Student by yourself in Australia, it is very important to look after yourself. There may be a chance that you get caught out with the Flu. In case you do fall in sick with that, here we are bringing some tips that might help to recover from it.
1. Flu Shot
Get yourself a Flu Shot before you get sick (the obvious start) – The first one is so obvious but not every international student think that it is important to get a Flu shot. Some students think that it is an expensive to get a Flu shot but most of the students don’t know that OSHC insurance might cover the cost of the Flu shot but even if it is not covered the cost of Flu shot is usually around $20 to $40 which is much better than getting sick and missing out on your study, work and life.
2. Fluids
Drink lots of Fluids like juices, water and keep yourself hydrated – Dehydration due to Flu , cough and cold is the common problem. It is very important to keep yourself hydrated if you catch the flu. Make yourself friends with water, juices, vitamin drinks and fluids to help yourself keep going. If your urine is dark in colour, you need to drink more water. At least drink 1 glass of water per hour while you are awake.
3. Get Rest
Plenty of sleep and a good rest is the most important thing to cure your flu. Sleeping of 7 to 8 hours in the night and some more during the day time. Also, try to avoid using phones, watching TV and computers. Avoid going to work or school as you may even pass the virus to the others.
4. Steam
Steam does help to decongest your mucus and in reducing the inflammation. You can buy yourself a steamer or if that sounds expensive than, just fill the bathroom sink in a hot steamy water, add 1 tablespoon of menthol rub and breathe in the steam. This will help in opening up the congested chest, nose and airways.
5. Eat well
It is recommended to eat well and healthy during the flu time. Don’t starve yourself and don’t eat too much either. A balanced diet of porridge, soups and light foods will help to control the virus in the body. Avoid greasy, fried, spicy and outside food and try go light on your tummy. Also increase the intake of green vegetables, mushrooms, onions and berries.
6. Vitamin C
Vitamin C is linked to our immunity. Add an extra dose of Vitamin C in your diet, whether in form of liquids or tablets or fruits. Lemons, oranges and limes, the citrus fruits are good, but lemons are actually the best source. You can also use supplements to increase the Vitamin C diet for your body.
What are your tips for getting over the Flu? Leave your comments below.
Got invited for a Barbecue? Here are 8 barbecue (BBQ) etiquette that might help you when you are going to an Aussie BBQ:
1. Bring along something
Bring along something either for a drink or to eat. It is usually a good idea to ask the host if they would prefer you to bring along something specific.
Sometimes, hosts may say that you don’t need anything to bring, in that case, you can still bring things like Chocolates, Dessert, Salad, Bottle of Wine, Special dish from your home country, cheese platter, etc or maybe a little gift for the host.
2. Don’t wear formals
Don’t wear too formal clothes like coats, ties, etc. It is perfectly fine to wear shorts and thongs as it a relaxed social event. Leave all your formals at home.
3. Don’t tell the host how to cook
Don’t tell the host how to cook or BBQ as they might take an offense for that unless they ask for your help themselves in that. Also, it is a good idea to compliment and thank the BBQ chef as you would do at any other such occasion.
4. Be a volunteer for help
As much we recommend not to touch BBQ but we do recommend to volunteer to help with the things. Ask your hosts if they need a hand in something. It is always a good idea to offer help then not and usually appreciated by everyone.
5. Bring along some activities
You can bring along some fun activity ideas and things like games or cards etc. Although, most likely you will learn about the backyard cricket as part of the Aussie BBQ tradition.
6. Clean after yourself
Also, it is usually recommended to clean after yourself. Don’t leave your dirty cutlery, cups, and plates hanging around here and there.
7. Leave the unfinished food
It is also good etiquette to leave the unfinished food or drink with the host as a gesture of thanks to the hosts even the one you brought as well. Don’t forget to bring back your utensils though.
8. Don’t forget to socialise
Last but not least, socialise and talk with others as BBQ’s are social events and a great way to network with other people as well. As an international student, it is vital to network with others and a barbecue is one of the places to do so.
Planning to own a pet in Australia? If you are a pet lover and want to own one in Australia, you will need to consider few things before you decide to do so, especially when you are an international student in Australia. Here are some of the things you need to consider:
1. Costs
As much fun the idea of owning the pet sounds, it might be too costly for some people to make that dream come true. The average costs will vary but as per Moneysmart website, average cost of dogs and cats for the first year is between $3000 to $6000. After that it is $3,218 each year for a dog $1,715 each year for a cat.
2. Space
Some pets require more space than the others. With most of the students living as tenants, it is important to discuss with your landlord before buying a pet. Also, as the pets grow over the time, there might be a need for them to have a larger space than before.
3. Time
You would need to devote some time of your life to play, feed, nurture and care for the pets. Like little kids, pets will need lots of attention and time. Make sure you have enough time in your life to look after them.
4. Care
Do you understand how to look after the pets? Buying the pet is one thing but caring for them requires more than that. Care includes their well being, health, food and grooming as well. Who doesn’t like a well groomed pet but again, there are some details to need to keep before buying them.
5. Lifestyle
Does your lifestyle suits to own a pet? If you are too busy studying, working or going away then owning a pet might be difficult for you. Simply purchasing them from a pet shop might not be a way to go for you if you have a hectic lifetsyle.
Do you own a pet in Australia? What are your thoughts on owning a Pet as an overseas student in Australia? Share them in the comments below.
As an overseas student, you must be travelling via planes to come from and to Australia. Here are 8 airport hacks that will make your life much more easier when travelling.
1. Be Kind –
If you ask nicely, most airline personnel will respond accordingly. And you may be lucky to get an upgrade! You just never know this one.
2. Early Bird –
Avoid delays by travelling early in the day. If you are catching an international flight, depending on how busy your local airport gets, try to be at the airport at least 2-3 hours early. If you are catching a local flight in Australia, 1 hour would be sufficient.
3. In Last, Out First –
This hack is pretty obvious. The later you check your bags, the less time you have to wait when picking them back on the arrival at your destination! We know, right!
4. Special Status –
If you want to enjoy the special perks or collect points for your travel then join an airplane credit card or frequent flyer plan. It will help you to collect those points if your always fly with the same airlines which later can be used for the free flights or upgrades or extra luggage.
5. Go Left –
Pick checkpoint to your left, most people tend to go right! As the research shows that most of the people usually turn right when it comes to queuing up for the security check, you do the opposite to save yourself time for a long queues.
6. Bring empty water bottle –
No one is not allowed to carry liquids more than 100ml in the airplane cabin baggage. And if you have to stay at the airport for more than couple of hours, chances are you are going to need water to drink. Buying water at the airports, don’t make sense at all as they are usually ridiculously expensive. Instead bring empty water bottle, once you cleared the security check, you can refill the water.
7. Wi-Fi –
Always check for free wi-fi at the airport. Now, most of the airports will only allow limited amount of Wi- Fi data for use but if you keep setting your time back on your laptop and phone, it will extend your time for the Wi-Fi usage. Simple, yet effective trick.
8. Extra luggage –
In case you are having excess luggage and the check-in person won’t allow you to bring that without paying for it, then, wear the heavy clothing and put on some extra clothes while checking–in. As soon as you pass through the security, you can do a quick outfit change.
