Australia

Claimed by Great Britain in 1788, this former penitentiary colony today has one of the world’s best education systems. Many young people come and fill the lecture rooms of Australian universities every year (174,732 international students in 2003) or apply for the Working Holiday Visa in order to visit and work in the country. Australian degrees are internationally recognized and, regardless of your area of study, you will find an institution and a program to fit your needs.

Very much aware of how tricky it can be to organize a study project in such a faraway land, Study Experience is there to help you find the right studies and settle into Australia.

Come and study in this unique country, the most Western of all Eastern countries…

Geography

Australia is divided into 6 states and 2 major territories. The 6 states are: South Australia, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania and Victoria. The 2 major territories are: the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory or ACT.

Due to its huge surface area (a little over 7,600,000 km2), Australia has a number of different climates. While the southern and southwestern coasts benefit from a Mediterranean climate, the coasts in the north and northeast, the eastern coast and Tasmania (situated in the southeastern part of the continent) are subject to humid climates: tropical, subtropical and oceanic respectively. The west coast experiences hot and humid summers and extremely dry winters, whereas the interior of the country is desert and dry.

In addition, Australia boasts some of the most amazing natural landscapes.. The extremely varied scenery includes lively cities and deserted expanses, splendid tropical forests and renowned sandy beaches.

The climate may have its say in terms of deciding which institutions are best for you. Do not hesitate to contact us should you require more information.

Culture

Australia is internationally recognized as a safe, enjoyable and inexpensive country. According to the annual international survey conducted in 2003 by William M. Mercer, a human resources consultant, the cities of Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney are ranked among the first 10 cities in the world in terms of best quality of life.

Australians are welcoming, relaxed and open-minded towards people from other cultures. They will know how to assist you, be ready to answer your questions, support you and help you discover their country. They are also sports-oriented, particularly when it comes to Australian football – a discipline that is close to Gaelic football, somewhere between rugby and football – just like rugby in teams of 13 or 15.

Like its American counterpart, the Australian society is a true melting pot. Anglo-Saxon culture meets aboriginal culture, and all the other European, Asian and Oriental cultures that have immigrated over the years. The cuisine is one area that has been significantly influenced. One can easily find dishes of Greek, Italian, Arab or Chinese origin. However, the most typical dish is the famous «barbie» or barbeque! As a matter of fact, the Australians are particularly fond of it. Accompanied by beer or Australian wine, grilled meat “made in Oz” is delicious.

The low cost of living for foreign students makes Australia a more affordable destination than the United States or the United Kingdom. Furthermore, Australia does benefit from a very high standard of living. There are numerous green areas along with a rich social and cultural environment. New technologies are well established and make life more comfortable. Access to the internet and communication is inexpensive and easy: the country has one of the highest per capita mobile phone usage rates in the world.

According to Megan Hillyard, a North American student in Australia, “life in Australia is idyllic. Australians really make the most of their time in education and their passion to communicate makes university life together stimulating and incredibly amusing. Whether I am at the library or surfing at the nearest beach, I am always having a good time.”

Key Facts & Figures

History of Australia

• The aboriginal culture is the most ancient culture still present in the world today.

• The first European colony in Australia was established by England on January 26^th, 1788. On January 1^st, 1901, the six British colonies at that time joined together in a federation to constitute a democratic nation within the British Empire.

• In 1902, Australia became the first country in the world to grant women the right to vote.

• We owe the world’s first long feature film to Australia.

• Rock inscriptions dating back to the glacial period have been found all over the Australian territory.

Australian Society

• The capital of Australia is Canberra. Sydney is the largest city in the country.

• The political regime of the country is a Parliamentary Monarchy.

• The population of Australia was 20,600,856 inhabitants in 2008.

• Since April 19^th, 1984, the official anthem of Australia is “Advanced Australia Fair”.

• At present, more than 140 nationalities are represented in Australia.

• English is the official language in Australia although more than 100 languages and numerous aboriginal dialects are also spoken. About 15% of the population uses a language other than English at home.

• According to the World Health Organisation, Australia is the second country in the world in terms of long life expectancy and good health.

• Australia is a democracy where voting in national elections is mandatory for all Australian citizens over 18 years of age.

Australia at Full Scale

• Australia is the sixth largest country in the world, with a surface of 7,686,850 km².

• The highest summit in the Australian continent is Mount Kosciuszko. Situated in New South Wales, it rises to 2,228 meters above sea level.

• The Lake Eyre Basin (an immense lake of more than 9000 km² that dries up over long periods) is the lowest point in the Australian continent, 15 meters below sea level.

• The distance between the southernmost point of Australia (South East Cape in Tasmania) and the northernmost point (Cape York in Queensland) is 3,700 kilometers.

• The distance between the easternmost point in the Australian continent (Cape Byron in New South Wales) and the westernmost point (Steep Point in Western Australia) is 4,000 kilometers.

• Of the 20,000 species of vascular plants found in Australia (the best-known at present being ferns), 17,000 are endemic.

• More than 80% of the 268 mammal species found in Australia (including marsupials) are endemic.

• About 90% of the insects and arachnids found in Australia are unique to the Australian territory.

• 14 Australian natural sites in are classified as World Heritage Sites. In addition, Australia has in all more than 500 national parks!

• Continental Australia is both the largest island and the smallest continent in the world. Size-wise, Australia takes the sixth place after Russia, Canada, China, United States, and Brazil.

Trade and Technology in Australia

• The currency in Australia is the Australian Dollar.

• The telephone country code for Australia is +61.

• 56% of Australian households possess a computer.

• More than 8.19 million Australians own a mobile phone.

• It is estimated that 99% of Australian households have a television, with 2 television sets per household on average.

• Australia is one of the largest stockholder countries in the world. About 54% of the adult population owns stocks in companies traded in the stock exchange.

• More than half of Australian exports are destined for the Asia-Pacific region with Japan being Australia’s primary trading partner.