There is no doubt that Australia is a highly desirable place to live in. In a separate survey of 215 cities, research carried out by leading company Mercer found that Australian cities continued to rate among the highest for quality of life with criteria including; political, social, economic and environmental factors, personal safety and health, education, transport and public services.

Despite being the sixth largest country in the world, Australia has a lot of space but not many people. With the lowest population density in the world - only 2.5 people/square? Sri Lankans are the 16th largest ethnic group in Australia and have generally settled easily into Australia, because of their ability in the English Language, and achieved prominence in professional life.

The ratio of international to local students in tertiary education in Australia is the highest in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) countries. Government grants have supported the establishment of Australia's 38 universities; all but one are public. There is a state-based system of vocational training, known as TAFE Institutes, and many trades conduct apprenticeships for training new trades people.

International students need to obtain a visa to study in Australia, no matter what country they come from. The type of visa you will need is called a Temporary Visa (Subclass 573) and this allows you to study towards Bachelor's, associate, graduate certificate or diploma, or a Master's degree. Work is 20 hours/week while you are studying and unlimited during holidays. An eligible dependant family member can live with you and work up to 20 hours per week provided you have begun studying. The cost of a current student visa to Australia is LKR 61, 000.00.

Funds to be showed vary based on the Assessment Levels and it plays a crucial role in getting a successful visa. Your passport country and course of study determine your Assessment Level. The Student visa subclass under which you will be assessed is determined by your main course of study, even if you are studying a package of courses.

With an assessment Level of 4, Sri Lankan students have to show funds for the total duration of the course. This means tuition fees (varies) and living expenses (AUD 18,000/year) to be shown for the total duration of the course (Max up to 3 years). Alternatively you can go for a 2- year diploma programme if you have minimum 3 A/L passes.

IELTS is mandatory (Diploma - 5.5; Undergraduate - 6.0; Master's - 6.5). Parents/blood relatives can sponsor and properties are not accepted as a source of funds. Spouse/children are allowed to accompany the main applicant and must show evidence of finances to support them for the course duration.

Although the Australian visa process can be complicated and time consuming, skilled workers are considered as strength to the economy. Provided that you meet certain criteria, there is no reason why you cannot earn a good living in Australia. It's not without good reason that Australia is one of the most popular destinations in the world for international visitors. The Australian lifestyle and stunning climate ensure that it attracts endless numbers of people from other countries, some of whom never leave after visiting and falling in love with all it has to offer.

Do visit us at 5/6, Railway Avenue, Nugegoda or contact us on 077 3424385 / 077 1051882 / 011 281 2283 for further queries. www.overseasstudentcentre.org.

Overseas Student Centre (OSC), Nugegoda helps find quality higher educational opportunities for students like you and professionals likewise at affordable prices in partnership with Australian Migration Centre (AMC), "The largest Australian Migration Agent in Sri Lanka", which has assisted thousands of families to successfully migrate and settle in Australia.

OSC is always in the forefront for advising its valuable clientele and partners on different study options, entry requirements and scholarships available in top universities and colleges in Australia, UK, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore and also guides them on the latest requirements to achieve a 100% success rate in UK, Aus, Canadian and NZ student visa submissions.

Thousands of students have consulted us and made the right choice on their further studies/career overseas. We are eager to meet you to help you make the right decision. Aussie lifestyle is arguably the finest in the world which is the number one reason why most people flock to its sandy shores to live and work.