Quite often, studying "at the ends of the earth" turns out to be more financially advantageous than in one's home country.
Answers to the publication's questions were provided by Oleg Stepanenko, CEO of the educational company Students International; Tatiana Evkina, CEO of the educational company Global Class; and Tatiana Busargina, CEO of the educational company StudyLab.
Our applicants who go abroad to study most often choose English-speaking countries, the most popular of which are the UK and the USA. Meanwhile, there are three more English-speaking countries with a good standard of living and developed infrastructure – Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. They are far from the top of the list of priority destinations for educational migration from Russia, but according to experts, they can compete with leading educational powers. Moreover, you will have to pay significantly less.
Route one: Canberra
The Australian higher and vocational education system allows not only school graduates and students (through transfer, with or without losing a year) to study, but also people with higher education who wish to obtain a master's or doctoral degree. The country's most famous higher education institutions are located in large cities such as Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane.
A prerequisite for admission to an Australian university is knowledge of English, confirmed by an IELTS certificate. To make the path to the language easier, you can take long-term language courses, for example, a three-month program. During this time, it is realistic not only to prepare for admission to a college preparatory program (Foundation) but also to understand how ready you are to live and study in another country. There is another way to enroll – through the senior grades of an Australian school. The downside of this method is its cost (you will have to study for at least another two years).
The cost of studying at Australian universities is 35-40% lower than in European countries and the USA. On average, a year of study at a local college will cost 6-9 thousand Australian dollars ($5-8 thousand), and at a university – 24 thousand ($7-21 thousand). The price depends on many factors, including the chosen specialty, location, and prestige of the institution. Universities offer scholarships for master's (Masters) and doctoral (PhD) programs, not only within research work but also within specialty training.
International students studying in Australia can live in a university dormitory or rent an apartment. Russian and European students often rent apartments with several people, while students from Asian countries prefer to live in dormitories. Renting an apartment in central Sydney costs around 1,600 Australian dollars ($1,500) per month.
According to local legislation, any foreign student who has studied in the country for at least two years has the right to stay in Australia for one and a half years without a residence permit.
Route two: Wellington
In New Zealand, a country with a population of just over 4 million people and a relaxed lifestyle, there are eight universities – University of Otago, University of Auckland, University of Canterbury, Lincoln University, University of Waikato, Massey University, Victoria University, and Auckland University of Technology. The largest university in the country is Massey University, with 32 thousand students.
To enroll in New Zealand universities, it is necessary to complete preparatory programs, so-called Foundation courses. To enter preparatory programs, in turn, you need to pass an international English language exam (IELTS or TOEFL). An alternative path to higher education in New Zealand, as in Australia, is to enroll in the senior grades of a New Zealand school (after finishing the 13th grade, you can go to university). A year of study for a bachelor's degree (by our standards, a bachelor's degree is awarded to a student who has completed 3 years) will cost 14-20 thousand New Zealand dollars ($10-14 thousand), for a master's – 17-30 thousand ($12-20 thousand), which is one and a half to two times cheaper than the cost of similar programs at UK and US universities.
Living expenses in New Zealand average 1,500 New Zealand dollars ($1,000) per month.
A New Zealand student visa allows you to work up to 15 hours per week during the academic semester and full-time during holidays. In addition to part-time work, students undergo paid internships as part of the curriculum. Most students are given the opportunity for almost automatic employment for a two-year period after completing three years of study at a university. To stay and work in the country, you must present an employer's letter to the immigration office.
Route three: Toronto
Unlike New Zealand universities, Canadian institutions do not require foreign applicants to complete mandatory preparatory courses. For admission, it is enough to have a high school diploma and a certificate of English language proficiency (IELTS or TOEFL). Transfer from domestic universities is possible with the loss of 1-2 years.
The cost of studying in Canada averages from 12 thousand Canadian dollars ($11 thousand) to 25 thousand ($23 thousand) per year, which is almost two times cheaper than studying in the UK and 35-40% cheaper than in other European countries. The Canadian education system provides the opportunity to receive two types of scholarships – a partial scholarship, a kind of financial support for students, and a full scholarship for master's and doctoral programs, aimed at talented students.
Living expenses in Canada (accommodation, food, transportation costs, health insurance, books and clothing) amount to about 1,000 Canadian dollars ($954) per month, which is 20-25% lower than in the US. At the same time, every Canadian university has a student dormitory with good living conditions and facilities for study and leisure. One of the main advantages of studying in Canada is the vibrant social life of students.
Studying at Canadian universities often includes the opportunity to undergo paid internships in one's field. Also, Canadian legislation allows foreign graduates to work in the country for 1-2 years after graduating from local universities.
FOR AND AGAINST
Higher education abroad is considered more liberal than domestic education. This is primarily explained by the fact that it is focused on student self-determination, identification and development of personal talents. In addition, education abroad is oriented towards training narrow specialists and the practical use of acquired knowledge. Domestic universities, for their part, produce generalists.
According to experts, in recent years the most in-demand fields at universities in Australia, New Zealand and Canada have been those related to business, economics and commerce, particularly accounting and finance. The second place among priority areas is shared by tourism, hospitality management and information technology.
More specifically, it is worth noting that Canada specializes in education in information technology, engineering and construction. Australia is renowned for education in business, economics, logistics, tourism, environment, mining, agriculture, and the oil industry. At universities in New Zealand, the most popular specializations are business, economics and agricultural sciences.
When choosing a country for further education, experts advise considering many factors, including the field of study, cost, living conditions in the country, and climate features. In thinking about the future, one might even recall the famous Australian saying: You will never never know if you never never go. Which translates to: you will never know anything if you don't try. And perhaps respond with the Russian proverb: "Homes and walls help." Or not respond. Either way, it's up to you.