Why Australia?

More than just beaches and barbecues

From the modern, sophisticated capital cities to rustic rural towns in the outback, Australia is one big country that is exciting to explore.

• Australia is known as a friendly, easy-going country where people are welcoming and laid-back
• Politically safe and stable, an ideal destination to study and live
• Good quality institutions and standards in education
• Australia has a high standard of living that is relatively inexpensive
• Spectacular landscapes and amazing wildlife
• Diverse in culture and rich in Aboriginal heritage
• Each of Swinburne's campuses is an exciting location.

Australia's reputation for high-quality education

The quality of Australia's tertiary education system means that Australian qualifications are recognised around the world.

Not only are Australian degrees considered favourably by employers, they are highly regarded by educational institutions across the globe, a particular advantage for students thinking of postgraduate study.

Australia's population encompasses people from over 130 nationalities, making it one of the most multicultural societies in the world.

This mix of people has ensured that Australia exhibits a rich cultural blend of languages, fashions, architecture and cuisines, perhaps best exemplified by the city of Melbourne.

Most Australians speak English, sometimes alongside a second language spoken with their families.

Swinburne University of Technology is also consistently ranks amongst the top universities when it comes to cultural diversity, according to The Good Universities Guide.

Competitive study expenses

Studying at an Australian university or TAFE can often be considerably less expensive in comparison to study options in other developed countries, such as the United Kingdom and United States.

This applies to both the cost of living and tuition fees, and is a benefit further enhanced by the generous range of scholarship opportunities, many of which can significantly reduce the cost of studying in Australia.

High standard of living

Australia is widely considered to be a safe, relaxed and friendly country whose citizens (and visitors) enjoy a generally high standard of living.

Australia’s major capital cities consistently feature in the top positions of world standard-of-living surveys, with Melbourne, Sydney and Perth often rated amongst the world’s top five most liveable cities.

Recent rankings

• The Economist Intelligence Unit's 2009 Most Liveable Cities list placed Melbourne the third most liveable city in the world, Perth the fifth and Sydney the eighth.
• In their latest Global Quality of Living Survey, English magazine Monocle ranked Melbourne in their top ten best cities. 
• The 2009 Mercer Survey, which produces a global quality of living city rankings list, placed five Australian capitals – Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane – in their top 50.

Extracurricular experiences

More than just a learning opportunity, overseas study is an all-round cultural experience and most students will use their time away from uni work to explore the country they have come to study in.

Whether you're attracted by the beauty of an unfamiliar natural landscape, the fun of festivals and events or the excitement of a city's night life, Australia won't disappoint.

Spanning more than 7.5 million square kilometres Australia is a country of climatic and scenic contrasts - visitors can be exploring tropical rainforests one day and skiing alpine slopes the next.

The beaches are world renowned, the countryside often spectacular and the cities - clean and modern - amongst the most liveable in the world.

It is also a country of cultural contrasts. Regional festivals celebrating food, wine and music, are relaxed events sometimes spanning days or even weeks. In the urban areas, barely a weekend goes by without a major sporting event capturing the public's imagination, while the pubs, bars and clubs provide plenty of fun for lovers of night life.