Study in Queensland

THE QUEENSLAND TERTIARY ACADEMIC YEAR AND APPROPRIATE VISA CONDITIONS


TERM ONE

The academic year in Queensland, Australia’s second largest state and its third most populous begins in March at the end of the Australian summer when it is still to warm to spend most of the day without some kind of air-conditioning and lasts for roughly three and a half months until the first long break of the year. So by the time you have finished studying for the semester the winter chill has made an appearance and you notice the clothing of people has changed dramatically. Although, nowhere near as cold as Europe, it is a lovely time to study in Queensland, and I have found I do my best work during this semester.
I am convinced it is because of the lovely conditions at this time.


TERM TWO

While, the second semester begins in July and goes through to late October, when studies are finished for the year. This is the business end of the year. The second semester begins in the late winter months and continues throughout spring to early summer when it begins to get warm again, unlike Europe, when the academic year begins in winter and ends in winter. Australia, being in the southern hemisphere begins its academic year in summer and ends it in summer too.


TERM THREE

It has become common for many Australian universities to have a third semester that has its duration throughout the summer months for those students wanting to continue on with their degree and finish their course of study earlier, although this option is not available across all disciplines and in all faculties at universities in Queensland.

Term Three is usually the best semester to take extra English language courses so it is possible to compete with your classmates successfully over the traditional academic year period starting in March. It is also possible to complete tertiary preparation studies during this semester so you can start a bachelor’s program with your contemporaries, without having the feeling of always being a semester behind everyone else and having no classmates.

If you are interested in starting your degree or other studies during the third term of the Queensland Academic year than you will be coming into Australia at the hottest time of the year. So, bring some board shorts, sunscreen and a lot of loose fitting shirts because they are going to become your most cherished articles of clothing. Coming into Queensland at this time of the year means that you will be experiencing a Queensland Christmas which is nothing like you experience in Europe. Seafood is just as popular in most Queensland homes during this time of the year as traditional Christmas food. And, if you are invited over to a friend’s house for Christmas lunch you may find you are eating crab meat instead of turkey or pork.


MANDATORY CONDITIONS

Because you are an international student you do not have a part time option like domestic students. So it can be difficult to earn extra money while you are in the country. But it is not impossible though, because in the mandatory conditions set down by the Australian Government stipulate that an international student can work 20 hours per week if s/he has already enrolled in a course of study on a full time basis. And there is no limit to the hours of work an international student can do when the course is in hiatus throughout the year. If your VISA belongs to the subclass 8105 than this is an option for you if you would like to consider it. Although it would be wise to check with your course provider about how much coursework you would have to complete throughout the term before you got a part time job because you can find that you have bitten off more you can chew. But, it is still possible to earn some cash on the side to make student life a little
 more bearable while you in Australia during your academic career.


VISA SUBCLASSES

Apart from the subclass 8105, there are other subclasses for an international student to consider when applying for their VISA to study in Queensland. If you are a student with Australian Defence Force (ADF) or a secondary student, you would apply for a VISA under the subclass 8202. With the 8202 Subclass though, you must maintain a satisfactory attendance record during your course study period and progress along smoothly enough to satisfy your education provider so you don’t get into trouble with the government.

The other mandatory conditions applied to other student VISA’s are:
If you have an 8501, then you must maintain adequate (OSHC) Overseas Health Student Coverage while you are studying in Australia.
Subclass 8516 stipulates that you must continue to satisfy the requirements of your VISA while you are a student in Australia. Your course of study must match the course of study stipulated on your VISA. You must also maintain a satisfactory standard of living and adequate monetary funds so you can continue in your course of study without undue hardship.

A VISA with the subclass designated 8517 is for parents who are bringing school aged children into the country for more than 3 months and emphasises the maintenance of adequate living arrangements for those dependents while they are in Australia.

While VISA subclass 8532 is specifically for people under 18 and also emphasises the maintenance of suitable living arrangements, support and general well being while you are in the country. Subclass 8532 notes that the holder of the VISA with this particular subclass must remain in the custody of a parent or guardian, or a relative over the age of 21 who is of good character. If the holder of the 8532 VISA has no relatives in Australia than they must make arrangements that have been approved by their education provider and meet their requirements for adequate housing, support and general well being while the student is studying in Australia.
These are the main subclasses that a student who wants to come to Queensland to study must consider while they are filling the appropriate documentation.

So, remember that most (if not all Queensland tertiary education providers) provide courses for international students in accordance with governmental regulations that apply to student VISA's. And, all Queensland universities have international student offices that will assist you or your AA education agent with the appropriate information to make your study experience in Queensland a rewarding one.

So, if you are interested in studying in Queensland get the exact dates of course commencement and duration from the education provider of your choose because they are all slightly different with different orientation schedules and international student days and so forth.