The Commonwealth of Australia or Australia, as we commonly know it, takes pride in being one of the developed countries of the world. It is the sixth largest country in the world in terms of size and one of the wealthiest countries as well. Australia—owing to its size and isolation—is often dubbed the “island continent”, It is one of the most happening places in the world for one to study and live. Indians constitute 2% of the total population of Australia.
The people of varied nationalities have migrated to Australia and settled there. Although Australia has no official language, English, however, is the most commonly spoken language. The variegated population of Australia has given rise to some other spoken languages including Mandarin, Italian, Arabic, and Greek. No state religion is followed. Thereby several religions like Buddhism, Islam, Hinduism and Judaism also have their fair share of followers in the country.
Australia’s size gives it a wide variety of landscapes. Australia experiences temperate weather. Climatic conditions can vary from one part of the country to the other because of the sheer size of the country. The climate of Australia is significantly influenced by ocean currents. The northern part of the country experiences warm weather most of the year while the southern part usually, witnesses cooler winters. The Indian population seems to be scattered mostly across Sydney, Melbourne, and Perth. These are the cities where Indian cuisine restaurants and movie theatres showcasing Indian movies are found the most.
Ranked third in the Index of Economic Freedom (2010),[196] Australia is the world’s twelfth largest economy and has the fifth highest per capita GDP. Australia is a wealthy country; it generates its income from various sources including mining-related exports, telecommunications, banking and manufacturing. Apart from these, even tourism is one of the top industries. As a result of which finding a temporary or a part time job in a hotel or a bar is not difficult.
Australia has the third highest number of foreign students in the world behind only the UK & US. It has eight of the top 100 universities in the world! It can rightly be said that Australia is a country of opportunities for career, new culture and adventure. Australia offers a diverse range of study options for international students, with more than 1,100 institutions and 22,000 courses to choose from. Employers and universities all over the world recognize Australian degree and other certificates. Being an international student on a student visa, ensuring that one is studying with an institution or a course that is registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) is a must. CRICOS registration guarantees that the course and the institution where you study meet the high standards expected by international students. At present, there are 38 public universities and 3 private universities that are CRICOS recognized.