Number of Indian students picking Australian universities doubles up

Indian students choose Australian Universities

The number of Indian students choosing Australian Universities for higher studies has more than doubled this year. The primary reason for this increase is that, the students want quality education over a pathway to migrate permanently to Australia, as per the industry representatives.

The visa applied for higher education to study in Australia by the Indian students increased from 1,987 to 4,148 in the September 2013 quarter.

The student visa application from India fell steeply in 2009, after bogus colleges were shut down, visa rules for vocational courses were made strict and due to the reported increase in the number of violent attacks on Indians in Melbourne.

The visa process for overseas students wishing to study, have been made efficient over the years by the Australian government.

Many scholarships are being offered by Australian universities for international students.

Rhian Thomas, group vice president at The Chopras education services company in New Delhi, said, "They have done a fantastic job at rebuilding that image that undoubtedly was dented."

However, it is a difficult process for those who wish to stay back in Australia. International students can stay back in Australia and work for 2 years after their studies.

Once they are done with the 2 years, they will have to go through the difficult procedure of finding an employer who will sponsor their stay or they must go back to their country.

Phil Honeywood, national executive director of the International Education Association of Australia, said, "Employer sponsorship is very problematic."

"There's a high cost involved, you have to deal with a migration employer often, so the paperwork for employers is very complicated," he added.

"There is a situation in which the minimum wages and the minimum salaries for many occupations, be it aged care worker or be it as a marketing officer, are much higher [for foreign students] than what the award rate is here in Australia," he said.