studying overseas

last SG · 2005-05-31T18:18:35+00:00

I heard that she wont run for MP...is that true? Well, every country has their own Pauline Hansons...as for me..I have Winston Peters

blunt_knife SG

Hi, i'm gonna serve NS in september. After that will be going to aussie to further studies. But my grades are C average, so basically i do not choose the uni, the unis choose me.

But i have been to the IDP study in aussie fare and have been recommended QUT (queensland university of technology). Based on the current requriements, i can get in, but if the requriements become stiffer by the time i ORD, i might not get in.

My problem here is, my gf will be going with me to aussie. And my sister might also be coming. Because my parents are not 'fang xin' abt her going alone so with me, her older bro ard they feel better. My sister is taking A'levels this year and her results are a little above average. As for my gf her results are B average. The ideal scenario is that my gf goes to UQ(her wish), i go to (QUT), and my sister, to either one as she is not sure yet.

What i'm afraid is, by the time i ORD, the requirements had stiffen and all our plans are burnt.

Is it really that hard to get into aussie unis? Why do i hear ppl say its very easy as long as got money sure can go.. I say again, i'm a C average student, and the course im gonna study is relevant to my diploma. Basically im a finance student studying finance again.

And if possible, can anyone who had studied in Aussie tell me how much they spend in a year on average? All expenses including tuition fee. Just wanna know cos if my sis and i go together my dad gonna bear the brunt of all expenses

Thanks guys, and girls.

Weirdo80 SG

Requirements may change but that's a risk you have to take. However, I don't think they will reject you. International students are very attractive to them, because of $$$. The question will be whether you can pass the course. So, study hard. My first degree from QUT also. What are you doing? I did software engineering. That was tough!

Anyhoo, expect to spend about $1.5k in living expenses per month, so $18k a year. I'm not sure about international fees, I think close to $9k a semester? So another $18k a year. So try to prepare about $36k a year. If you want to get a car and drive around (highly recommended), that's extra.

Good luck!

alexkusu SG

Get PR or ur fees be at least 3x +++++ Laughing

icebaby0 SG

From my knowledge is that Aussie universities doesn't mind international students. The more the merrier (except those selective and very good Uni such as UQ or Uni of Mel or something). Because they earn from there. Few yrs back there was an article written in Aussie saying that the govt don't fund much to these universities hence they rely on International students for funding. More international students = more money for them.

However, requirements do change time after time. Esp for Engineering students. But being a finance student, I think ur worries shld be lesser. QUT is known to accept most students.

My suggestion is, why not try to get a conditional entry (not sure if it's possible) Meaning request for a place now, but join them later? Won't that be better?

As for expenses, it depends on the school. The fees aren't getting cheaper in Aussie plus the increased exchange rates. School fees per semester (4 papers for biz students) is abt AUD6k (do check with their website for their sch fees). Maybe 2 yrs from now, it might increase. So per yr (not including summer semester) is abt AUD12k minimum.

As for expenses, 4 yrs back I spent abt $3k per semester just on food and accomodation (stingy way of living) but my husband who studied in QUT spent abt S$5k but was living a life of luxury. Every week can go restaurant, can go gambling, etc. Accomodation ain't too expensive at QUT side, you jus have to look around lah. So I guess maybe when u are going there, your expenses might be more because of the exchange rates difference.

Well, hope that helps

ditzy SG

Have no worries, the requirements will not get any stiffer, but the tution fees will get higher.

Its easy to get in, they love international students, especially the $$$ that come with them. Laughing

Spenditure? Gotta see your lifestyle. If you going QUT and live in brisbane city, its walking distance and serviced by a free bus loop. The brunt of expenses will be on rent. If you live further in the suburbs, you have to start considering transport costs.

I will exclude tuition fees in the following sums, because it is module and course dependent, the higher the credit points, the higher the fees. All amounts I state are in Oz $.

I live in the city in a rented apartment, monthly rent I pay is 600 bucks, I spend nil on transport, because QUT is just a walk away and theres the bus loop. Next in line is food. Food isn't cheap here. Lastly are bills. I don't lead a lavish life here, I can make do with 5000 bucks each sem just for living. So assuming tution fees cost 9k a sem with the above living expenses, adds up to about under 30K annual.

You might consider extra expenses stabilising yourself down in the first sem when you come here.

hisoka SG

from what i know its pretty easy for foreign students to get into aussie unis, so i gues don't worry about it.

oh but one thing as mentioned the cost of living might be pretty high so prepare to get the pockets burnt thru

blunt_knife SG

Well thanks for all the replies, the cost u guys have mentioned are around what i estimated myself. Ard 30 to 40k a year.

As for driving, is the petrol/insurance there expensive in relative to Sg? I know how much a car costs, it's the petrol/insurance that im in the dark abt.

Also, what abt internet and mobile costs?

Ps: im not intending to live in hostel, im planning to rent a small apartment. e.g. 1 room apartment, and if my sis is coming too, 2 room apartment

ditzy SG

see below lah, please. Laughing

ditzy SG

Petrol is cheap, cheaper than coka cola by the litre, no joke, I'm serious! Laughing Diesel is pricier here. Strange hor? Cars are cheep, 20K can get you a brand new mitsubishi 3.5l magna, i say its the best buy for the year 2005, comes with a sunroof.

Internet? I'm paying 96 bucks monthly for 1.5mbps adsl. Ok lah not bad, at least better than dodo. Mobile calls here costs here are a killer. Laughing Its cheeper making a direct call to singapore on your mobile than to make a local call in the afternoon. How much difference you ask? If I make a 3 min local call, I can pay over 5 bucks. If I do a direct dialling to singapore, cost me less than 3 bucks on the same time. wtf right?!

Good thing you thought of finding an apartment, theres a lack of hostels here. Laughing Since its your sibling and if you intend to stay in the city, I say get a studio apartment or 1 room, its cheeper to share. Where I'm staying, 2 bedroom apartments can set you close to 400 bucks a week. You're so lucky, by the time you get here, at least 3 new blocks of apartments would have finished construction and just in time for you to move in. Laughing I say go for casino towers, smack right in front of george street. Good view of the river, and the casino is just across the road.

blunt_knife SG

haha casino your head. my parents will personally fly down to aussie to castrate me.

oh yah i was thinking of the 2 room because there's my gf as well Very Happy

ditzy SG

Now you're talking. Laughing Your gf can tahan meh? Travel from city to uq everyday? Not near you know, even though its one coronation drive away. And got 2 rocket bus services there.

vito_corleone SG

if u scerw up ur a lvls try american unis but make sure u score well in the SAT..use that to replace the A lvls..you'll find that many US unis take SAT over other qualifications like A lvls(according to what one singaporean student studying at NYU told me). hope that helps. Razz

blunt_knife SG

oh ya is UQ and QUT very far away from each other? Would it be smart to find accomodation in between the 2 unis?

Or should get the accomodation nearer to UQ? Cos i intending to get a car, so i can drive to QUT, but my gf not driving so stay nearer to UQ better. Though if schedule permitting, i'm her full-time driver haha. she did say she's contributing to my petrol costs though

Ditzy u studied at UQ or QUT? which course? just curious Very Happy

Cos although i keep talking abt QUT, it will be even mroe ideal if i were to be accepted into UQ. But i doubt my grades can get me in there

blunt_knife SG

Oh yah and 1 very very very very very very very important question that i forgot to ask!

Tobacco prices? Alcohol prices? (alcohol i dont mean clubbing or pubbing, i mean as in buying my own beer/wine/CHIVAS REGAL!!!!!!!! from the supermarket)

ditzy SG

Maybe it would be a wise idea. If you have a map, take a look at the areas of Auchenflower, Milton and Toowong. There is only one direct route from the city going thru these suburbs from the city to UQ and that is coronation drive. QUT's main campus is in at botanical gardens in the city.

I used to stay near UQ and travel to the city. Laughing Gets very sian after awhile.

Wah, you really determined to get a car. You got $$$, the people here love $$$.

Me, I don't reveal so much on the net, just the things I know and can tell you.

ditzy SG

Fags, stock as much as you can from Singapore duty free! Laughing You cannot get cheap fags here. You think singapore is ex, wait till you come here. Booze is cheep at the local liquor shops. Look at that assortment of cheep red wines, ohmygawd, I'm so spoilt for choice! Go with the best, go with Victoria Bitter.

ditzy SG

To emphasize, beer is cheap, wine is cheap, spirits and liquer not so cheap. Laughing

blunt_knife SG

Haha thanks for all the info man..

For the fags, is it all are expensive? Or is it only the foreign ones like Marlboro? As in, are there any Australian made cigarettes? What's the price of a pack of fags there on average?

Anyway is it that hard to get in UQ for a C-average student?

FeowFeow SG

Q. a few yrs ago, when I was in Melb, ciggies were A$6.00 per pack of 25 ciggies. Dunno abt tt now...

FeowFeow

ditzy SG

About the same lah, 10 bucks. Laughing UQ for a c average student, I don't see why not.