6 Reasons why I chose to do my postgraduate studies in Australia

One of the first discoveries my mom made when I had told her about my desire to study in Australia, was that Australia was home to some of the safest cities in the world. And I took that as a good sign.

Australia has low crime rates and regularly makes it to the yearly rankings of the most livable cities for students according to the QS Best Student Cities Rankings. The country is rich with diverse nationalities and cultures that are protected under a very transparent legal system.

Most of all, the people are welcoming. And my friends and family who stay in Australia swore by it, and I took their word for it. It's my second year in Melbourne and I've realised they couldn't have said it any better.

Did you know that Australia is the third-most popular international student destination in the world?

The country is one of the world's leading education powerhouses and home to six of the top 100 universities in the world. And that's how it climbed onto my 'countries-to-consider' list when I was planning for life after graduation.

Australian universities also offer plentiful majors and electives, constituting different course combinations to choose from, making the degree a wholesome product of your streamlined preferences.

The world-famous institutions, quality education, world-class student facilities, and multicultural society all made Australia start climbing up my list of possible study destination.

This was an option I didn't have in the countries I had lived in.

International students are permitted to work for 20 hours per week in Australia and full-time during semester breaks, making it the perfect solution to offset my living expenses such as rent, utilities, groceries, etc., which are otherwise burdensome to endure.

To get an idea of the living costs you can expect based on your living arrangements, lifestyle and circumstances, you can use IDP's Cost of Living Calculator to get a realistic and up-to-date comparison of the living costs of the various cities in Australia and abroad.

In addition to earning a living, it is also an amazing opportunity to gain credible experience in my area of study, further contributing to my resume. Much of the university degrees and vocational courses in Australia incorporate internships and other training programs to facilitate hands-on work experience and build networks.

Besides the option that allows international students to work alongside studying, Australia also offers a Temporary Graduate Visa (subclass 485) where students can pursue their career for 2 years after graduation, or up to 4 years for those who choose to study in regional Australia.

The country offers employment opportunities across an array of disciplines such as digital marketing, civil design, human resources, aeronautics to name a few.

Yes, this was indeed a matter of consideration. English is the official language of Australia, thus facilitating seamless communication for most international students.

Granted, the Australian slang can take some getting used to, but I can guarantee that nuances of the slang does not hinder communication one bit wherever you travel within the country.


I grew up in the Middle East, so even though summer feels like home, it's one of my least favorite times of the year. And when I read about Australia enjoying pleasant weather for most parts of the year, I jumped at the chance.

Also, Australians celebrate a sunny Christmas because December marks the beginning of summer in the country. Australia is situated in the southern hemisphere, so the seasons are reversed compared to the rest of the world.

Before you start planning and researching your preferred list of countries to pursue post-graduation, I highly recommend you sort out your priorities first in terms of the reputation of universities, the standard of living, life after graduation, the living costs of various study destinations and the socio-political situations of the country.

The key is to think long-term and assess each country according to their potential to return the best value for your money.

Although you can do all the research by yourself, I highly recommend you consult an expert like I did. Not only did it save me time, but I also got access to more information and assistance than Google could provide.