Top STEM Courses for Female International Students in Australia
Women in STEM is one of the most talked about topics in recent history.
Rightly so, as there is underrepresentation of women in the STEM field.
So in this article, we are looking for Top STEM courses in Australia that female international students need to know about.
Let’s get started!
What is STEM?
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.
It refers to a multidisciplinary approach to education and career paths involving these fields.
But these four fields of STEM comprise many other subfields that students can have a career in.
Notably, some universities also refer to STEM as STEMM (including Medicine in STEM).
Why STEM in Australia?
In this ever-changing world, technology is dictating the future of work.
Many new work opportunities are emerging, while some jobs are disappearing in front of our eyes.
Education in STEM is not just critical but essential for preparing ourselves for the jobs of the future.
In Australia, the gap between the skills employers need and knowledge generated in the education sector is widening.
So, STEM course graduates are considered to be in high demand in Australia.
STEM careers are well-paid and highly valued in today’s job market.
Why Women in STEM?
According to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, women make up only 37% of students studying STEM courses in Australian universities.
And the numbers are worse when it comes to STEM-qualified employment with women representing 15% of these jobs.
In 2022, there was 17% or $27,012 of pay gap between men and women in STEM industries.
Apart from these numbers, more women are needed in STEM careers as they bring a different perspective in the industry.
Increase of women in STEM can ultimately benefit the industry as a whole.
List of popular STEM courses in Australia
There are plenty of options in terms of courses you can study in STEM areas, but we have handpicked some of the most popular ones.
You can undertake both or either undergraduate or postgraduate courses in these fields:
- Information Technology
- Biomedicine
- Civil Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Software Engineering
- Agriculture Engineering
- Architecture
- Physics
- Biochemistry
- Food Science
- Medicine
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list and there are many other courses you can do in the STEM fields.
Top STEM universities in Australia
Here is a list of Top STEM universities in Australia that you might consider studying in:
- Australian National University (ANU): ANU is known for its excellence in research and STEM disciplines.
- The University of Melbourne: A global leader with a strong emphasis on innovation and technology.
- The University of Sydney: The University of Sydney offers cutting-edge research facilities and a diverse range of STEM courses.
- The University of Queensland (UQ): UQ is known for its contributions to science, research and technology.
- Monash University: Monash University is renowned for STEM programs and research output.
Requirements to study STEM courses in Australia as an international student
Here are some of the basic requirements to study STEM courses in Australia:
- Passport and Student visa: You will need a passport and an Australian student visa in order to study in Australia as an international student.
- Academic Qualification: To get an admission into STEM courses, you will need to have a high school certificate with good grades in the relevant subjects to get into an undergraduate program. If you want to get into a postgraduate course, then you will need to have a Bachelor’s degree in the relevant field.
- English Proficiency tests: Students from non-English speaking countries are required to undertake an English Proficiency test like IELTS, PTE or others. With minimum overall scores of 6.0 to 6.5 IELTS equivalent depending on the university.
- Entrance Tests: Some universities in Australia may require entrance tests as part of their admission requirements. While some offer scholarships to students with higher scores in these entrance tests. Common entrance tests into STEM courses include GRE, GMAT (for postgraduate courses) and SAT or ACT (for undergraduate programs).
We hope you find this information related to STEM courses for female international students in Australia useful.
