It's close and the quality's fair dinkum
When it comes to exports, Australia may be best known for shipping natural resources to energy-hungry countries like China, but another key commodity has been creeping up its list of exports in recent years. Higher education is now Australia's third largest export after coal and iron ore, and students from Hong Kong and the mainland are among the major contributors to its US$13.7 billion international industry.
With its multicultural society, picturesque beaches and reputation for a relaxed lifestyle, Australia has emerged as one of the most popular countries for international students, with more than 179,000 enrolled in its higher education institutions this year.
While its proximity to Asia makes it an attractive option for many Hong Kong postgraduate students, recent research has also shown that most international students chose to study in Australia because it provided an affordable, quality education offered in English and was recognised by employers.
Calvin Chan Shing-kit, manager of the Hong Kong branch of IDP Education, an advisory company which represents Australian universities, said completing a master's degree at an Australian university typically took between one and two years. He said commerce and business remained the most popular postgraduate courses for Hong Kong students, although other areas such as architecture and health science were becoming increasingly popular.
While iconic images of beaches and wildlife may lure prospective students, Mr Chan said there were a number of key factors Hong Kong students needed to consider when deciding whether to pursue postgraduate studies in Australia. Students needed to weigh up the cost of tuition fees and the cost of living, as well as the commercial and educational relationships between Australia, Hong Kong and the mainland. Choosing the right course at the right university also required careful consideration.
He said students needed to consider factors such as the duration and structure of the course, the university's reputation and the qualifications of its teaching staff. Students seeking postgraduate qualifications for professional accreditation should also check which courses were recognised by their industry bodies before enrolling.
While all Australian universities had their individual strengths in different fields, Mr Chan said it was important for students to research their options carefully. Although there were no official rankings covering all Australian universities, the 'Group of Eight' represented the top research-intensive universities that attracted the lion's share of government research funding. (For a web link to information on the Group of Eight, see below.)
'Group of Eight is an excellent option for students who would like to do the postgraduate courses, especially with research components, given their strong research funding from government,' Mr Chan said, adding that IDP counsellors could offer advice on choosing the right institution. Timing may also affect a student's decision to study in Australia.
The country's academic year differs to Hong Kong's, with the first semester beginning in February or March and the second starting in July or August. While choosing a university that will best meet your education and career aims is essential, having friends or family close by might also influence your choice of location. Students must decide whether they would prefer to study in cosmopolitan cities such as Sydney or Melbourne, or prefer to experience life in a regional centre such as Newcastle. While the east coast cities of Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane remain the most popular destinations, increasing numbers of students are heading to the smaller cities of Adelaide and Perth.
Although moving to another country and studying at a foreign university inevitably involves a period of settling in and adjustment to different teaching styles, research presented at a recent international education conference showed that international students in Australia performed just as well as their local counterparts.
The study, by Hong Kong-based education consultant Alan Olsen, also found international students were less likely to drop out than Australian students. Those from Hong Kong and the mainland were even less likely to drop out than the average international student, according to the study of 2006 statistics from 32 universities. A range of scholarships to assist international students are up for grabs each year, including the Endeavour Awards, the government's merit-based scholarship programme that provides opportunities for citizens of the Asia-Pacific region, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas to undertake study, research and professional development.
The Australian Leadership Awards Scholarships are academic awards offered to high achievers from the Asia-Pacific region to undertake postgraduate study, masters or doctorate, and a leadership development programme.
Designed to develop leadership and build partnerships within the Asia-Pacific region, this programme is intended for those who are already leaders or have the potential to assume leadership roles that can influence social and economic policy reform and development outcomes.
Those applying to study a master's degree by coursework need to obtain a Higher Education Sector student visa; students studying a master's by thesis or a doctoral degree need to apply for a postgraduate sector student visa. Students must have been accepted for full-time study on a registered course before applying for the student visa.
Those holding a Hong Kong or British National (Overseas) passport can apply for a visa via the internet after their enrolment has been electronically confirmed and they have paid their fees. Mr Chan said the visa process usually took about two weeks.
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