Month: February 2021

Having been a vibrant place that houses a vast number of international students year after year, UK is the most sought-after study destination for programs such as law, engineering, medicine, design, sports science, and management. Did you know? UK comprises elite universities! 6 out of which are ranked amongst the top 200 institutions by the Times Higher Education (THE).

Benefits of studying in the UK include living in a multicultural city where you can find students from all parts of the world. According to HESA (Higher Education Statistics Agency), the UK is the 2nd popular study destination for students with over 115,000 international students (grew by 5%) studying in the UK in diverse courses. Since the city is welcoming, you can comfortably step into the UK to accomplish your higher education dreams. 

Interested to know the other aspects of studying in the UK? Read on the benefits of studying in the UK for international students!

1. Rich Research Infrastructure

REF (Research Excellence Framework) is a unique system that checks and accesses research standards of over 150+ institutions in the UK. The result revealed by REF states that 46% of research done in the UK institutions are internationally excellent and 30% of which are world-leading. 

Guess what? The UK Government awarded over 90,000 research degrees between 2008 and 2018, which is considerably higher than other developed countries’ count. The report prepared by the Dept. of Innovation, Business and Skills revealed that the fields such as health & medical sciences, clinical sciences, social sciences, humanities and business had conducted more research in the year 2019. So, irrespective of the field you choose to study, you have opportunities to research, innovate, and shine as an international student in the UK.

2. Post-Study Work Rights to study in the UK

With the new 2 years’ post-study work rights in the UK, international students completing a program in the UK at the undergraduate, post-graduate, or doctorate level will be allowed to apply for the Graduate immigration route with a valid Tier 4 Visa.  

On successfully meeting the eligibility criteria, all international students are accepted for the Graduate immigration route and can avail of up to 2 years of non-extendable leave. Over time, they will be allowed to either work or lookout for work pertaining to a specific skill set. Graduates are also entitled to swap their careers to skilled work as soon as they find employment that best fits them.

3. Health Cover Benefits to study in the UK

International students in the UK with a valid study visa can receive necessary/essential healthcare treatments through the UK Government’s NHS (National Health Service). The NHS provides free health cover to international students and UK residents through national funding. 

In order to receive free health treatment under the NHS Scheme, you shall need to meet the following eligibility criteria:

• You should have enrolled in a full-time course in the UK.
• The UK Government must accredit the selected course.

4. Scholarships for studying in the UK

The UK Government continuously provides financial support to help deserving international students to study seamlessly in the UK. This includes scholarships, grants, bursaries, fellowships, monetary awards, and loans.

The availability of scholarships and bursaries in the UK for international students from both the government and the privately held universities is a driving factor for international students’ growth in the UK, every year. 

For instance, Chevening Scholarships are awarded to outstanding international students from Chevening-eligible countries around the world. This scholarship is applicable for students pursuing a one-year master’s degree in the UK. Since it is a fully-funded government scholarship, it covers travel expenses, living costs, and accommodation costs. Hence students are free to focus on maximizing the study experience of a lifetime.

5. Tailored Courses

Studying higher education in the UK will help complete your course in a short span. Most countries have a template of  4 years’ course span for undergraduate and 2 to 3 years’ course span for postgraduate courses. But when you choose to study in the UK, you can complete undergraduate in just 3 years and postgraduation in just a year(for research-oriented courses it may take between 18 months and 2 years). The tailored courses in the UK can help cut short your academic cost for a year. Some of the popular tailored courses to study in the UK are mentioned below:

1. Business
2. Natural Sciences
3. Engineering and Technology
4. Medicine
5. Law
6. Social Sciences
7. Sports Science
8. Media and Communication
9. Fashion
10. Arts & design

So, are you planning to get enrolled in a UK University in 2025? Well, we are here to guide you through step-by-step process to achieve your study abroad journey seamlessly. 

Go ahead and fill in the inquiry form! Our expert counselors will reach out to you.

Studying abroad is a dream come true moment for any student who wishes to broaden their knowledge in the desired field. As a student, choosing a country to pursue higher education can be an overwhelming process. For students aspiring to study in a multicultural country, Australia or New Zealand would be a great option considering the countries’ people, culture, and top-notch educational institutions. 

To make things simpler for you, we have compared country-specific, academic and other vital factors of Australia and New Zealand. Sit back and give it a read!

Living Cost Comparison – Australia vs New Zealand 

Living Cost in Australia – Cities such as Melbourne and Sydney rank top on the list for most expensive cities globally. However, the other cities in Australia offer many free and affordable services, along with special offers and discounts to international students pursuing higher education. 

Though retail prices in Australia and New Zealand look similar, you may notice a higher variation when it comes to certain expenses. For instance, a typical day-meal at a restaurant will cost you at least between $15 and 20 in the Southern part of Australia. As per the Australian Government’s record, international students Study-AustraliaCity are bound to spend over $17,000 (USD) for their living costs. This amount excludes tuition fees and flight charges. 

Living Cost in New Zealand – When compared to Australia, Study in New Zealand is less expensive. While the average cost of living for students ranges between $12,000 and $13,000 (USD), the New Zealand Immigration suggests it would be good for international students to keep a budget of $15,000, including emergency airfares.

While Wellington and Auckland offer better programs in their cityscapes, the country has many more budget-friendly options like Hamilton and Palmerston North, which are just a couple of hours away from big cities thus have lower costs of living. Overall, New Zealand is known to be a comparatively affordable country for students looking to study at a budget-friendly destination.

Education System and Study Experience – Australia vs New Zealand

People in New Zealand are welcoming and are incredibly hospitable. The citizens across the little island often look out for one another and that translates into their classrooms. The environment is casual, relaxed, supportive and exciting, allowing students to ask as many questions to professors and get their doubts clarified. Irrespective of courses such as Medicine, Engineering, Law or Journalism and Media, New Zealand has qualified and top-ranking institutions across the country.

Australian institutions are more extensive and support a vast number of international students every year. Considering the learning opportunities the country provides for international students, one should not skip the chance to study in an Australian Institution.

Wellington and Auckland’s universities are spread across the city. Australia’s institutions focus on offering less classroom centric curriculum and more practical and research-oriented curriculum. Students can spend their leisure time lounging in beautiful botanical gardens and city cafes from skyscrapers during breaks and between classes.  

Course Duration

Many Australian and New Zealand universities follow a 2-semester process. Hence international students have a choice to study a semester at a time or for an entire year. While the initial or first semester commences in February and ends in June, the second semester commences and ends in July and November respectively. 

Some Australian Universities also follow trimesters. You need to consider studying in Australia or New Zealand depending upon the academic calendar that best fits your time frame and schedule. A few institutions in Australia and New Zealand provide international students with internship opportunities to take up alongside their regular classes.

Accommodation and Entertainment Factor – Australia vs New Zealand

Accommodation in New Zealand – Though home stays are available in walking distance from shops and restaurants, International students studying in New Zealand prefer living in an apartment or flat with other students. Auckland is the biggest city in New Zealand, accommodating many international students year after year. 

Many multimedia courses in New Zealand include sightseeing and activity trips for international students to all the nearby Islands, where you can get an opportunity to witness diverse landscapes! Apart from that, New Zealand is the best place for Bungee Jumping. So, get ready to experience jumping from over 100 feet in height if you are an adrenaline junkie! 

Accommodation in Australia – Over 70% of international students, prefer flats for their accommodation and the remaining prefer home stays. You can enroll in plenty of programs in Australia’s largest city Sydney – usually known as the Harbour City, where beaches, charm, and nightlife attract international students.

We hope you conclude choosing between Australia and New Zealand based on your study requirements. If you need to know more about these destinations, fill in the inquiry form. Our destination-specific expert counselors will get in touch with you in helping your study abroad dreams come true! We wish you the very best!