Studying Abroad: Australia!

Studying in Australia

Large cities, kilometers of beaches, unique wildlife and a special climate. Australia is a fantastic country with endless study potential. Australian universities offer great education, so if you are looking for a challenging, international study, you’re in the right place.

Australian studies
Studying in Australia is quite popular due to the combination of high quality education and a unique lifestyle. As an international student you have a wide assortment of courses on different levels to choose from. You can do bachelor and master courses in many fields or participate in a study abroad program. The Australian government takes care of the quality of each university you might study at.

Population

Australia is one of the oldest continents in the world. The natives, the Aboriginals, have lived on this continent for nearly 40,000 years and are probably the oldest civilization in the world. The modern Australia is a multicultural society with more than hundred different ethnicities living there. The different cultures live together in harmony, which results in an open and tolerant society with a rich cultural lifestyle. Australians are known for their hospitality, something an international student can use wisely.

Origins of Australian population

-    Europe: 92%

-    Asia: 7%

-    Aboriginal or other: 1%

The five largest population groups are from

-    Britain

-    New Zealand

-    Italy

-    Vietnam

-    China

Lifestyle

Australia has a perfect climate with lots of sun and little rain. The way of life ‘down under’ is known for many outdoor activities. Australians love sport, especially water-sport. It’s common to get together for a ‘barbie’, also known as a barbecue, in the yard of one of the many parks.

Nature

The nature is as broad as the population, there are more than 500 national parks and 4700 miles of amazing coastline landscapes.

Facts and digits

Population: roughly 22 million

Capital city: Canberra, (over 356 thousand inhabitants)

Time-zones: UTC +8 to +11

Currency: Australian dollar / AUD

States:

-    Australian Capital Territory

-    New South Wales

-    Victoria, Queensland

-    South Australia

-    Western Australia

-    Northern Territory

-    Tasmania

Language

The official language is English and is spoken by roughly 80% of the population. Other languages are Chinese (2.1%), Italian (1.9%) and Greek (1.4%). Various Aboriginal languages are the mother tongue for roughly 0.02% of the population.

Government

Australia is a constitutional monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is head of state; she is represented by a governing general.

Religion

In 2006 64% of all Australians perceived themselves as Christian, of which 26% Catholic and 19% Anglican.

Climate

The seasons in Australia are opposite of ours, so summer starts in December and winter starts in June. There are many differences amongst the states when it comes to climate – New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland have hot summers and mild winters. On Tasmania and in Victoria the winter can be quite cool. In the center of the country it’s warm throughout the entire year, and in the north it’s tropical with a drought from May to September and rain from December to March.

Studying Abroad: New Zealand!

Studying in New Zealand

Studying in New Zealand, the country of The Lord of the Rings, is an adventure. The nature and culture are great and overall very different. This makes New Zealand a very adventurous and inspiring study destination. The universities with which we work are internationally acknowledged and offer excellent education.

New Zealand studies
In New Zealand you can study a full bachelor or master programme in various fields. There is also the option to study several different courses over a year of half a year. New Zealand offers interesting study opportunities.

Nature

The nature of New Zealand is of overwhelming beauty. New Zealand has many beautiful beaches. Especially the northern island has attractive beaches because it is warmer there. Here you can find tropical, white beaches with clear blue water.

Also on the northern island are the coniferous trees that only grow in New Zealand: the Kauri tree. This special tree has a soft bark and small oval leaves and is only fully grown after 800 years. The largest Kauri tree is 51 meters high and has a diameter of 4.4 meters and is located in the Waipoua Forest. The age of the tree is estimated between 1250 and 2500 years.

Dolphins

Do you want to see dolphins whilst studying in New Zealand? That is an option! On the west coast of the northern island the smallest dolphins in the world can be found: the maui dolphin. Maui dolphins are no larger than 1.7 meters and have a noticeable physique: grey with white en black stripes and a round black fin. On the southern island the Abel Tasman National Park is a great place to watch for dolphins and seals in the calm waters.

Activities

On the coastal Piha, close to Auckland, the beaches are amazing. The waves are high, which is perfect if you love surfing. In the summer there is a lot to do here and there are many fun parties in the weekends with live shows. Another beautiful beach is Ninety Mile Beach on the most northern part of the northern island. At Ninety Mile Beach you can go horse-back riding, kayaking, fishing, quad riding and golfing. The northern island is also known because it is where The Lord of the Rings was filmed.

Extreme sports

New Zealand is also a country of extreme sports, such as bungee jumping, rafting, motorsports and rugby. A definite recommendation is to visit a rugby match of the national team, All Blacks.

Culture

The Kiwis, the unofficial name of the New Zealanders, are friendly and international students are warmly welcomed. New Zealanders spend most of their time outside and that makes this the perfect place for an outdoors person. The cities are safe and comfortable.

Population

Roughly 70% has a European background. Most European New Zealanders are British, Irish or from The Netherlands. Roughly 15% of the population descends from the original inhabitants, the Maori and their influence is found back everywhere in New Zealand culture. The Maori are the second ethnic population group. The Asians make up 6.5% of the population and the immigrants from the Pacific Ocean region another 6.5%.

Facts and digits

Population: roughly 4 million

Capital city: Wellington (500,000 inhabitants)

Other large cities: Auckland (1.3 million inhabitants)

Language: English, Maori

Timezones: UTC +12

Currency: New Zealand Dollar / NZD

Government

New Zealand is a constitutional monarchy. Queen Elizabeth II is head of state; she is represented by a governing general.

Climate

New Zealand has a mild, changing climate. Since New Zealand lies on the southern hemisphere, the seasons are exactly the opposite of The Netherlands. From June to August it’s winter, and from December to February it’s summer. The temperatures vary greatly between different places. On the southern island the summer is warm and dry, whereas the north of the country is usually more humid and the summers are cooler. The summer in the area north of Auckland is sub-tropical.

Due to the clean atmosphere and the thin ozone layer above New Zealand, the sun can feel very powerful. Take good care with sun lotion! New Zealand is in an area where earthquakes are possible, so be prepared and pay attention to the instructions from the government.

Studying Abroad: Vietnam!

Studying in Vietnam
Vietnam is a fascinating country in South East Asia with green rice fields, beautiful mountain landscapes and idyllic beaches. It is a country that is developing rapidly. With a new development every day and a huge economic growth, this country is perfect for developmental studies.

Vietnamese Studies

The main language at the universities is English and the educational institutes pay attention to globalisation and internationalisation. This also counts for the RMIT University in Vietnam. A study in Vietnam offers you a great time and memories for the rest of your life.

Population

Roughly 90 million people live in Vietnam. The population of Vietnam is very helpful and friendly. Despite a growing welfare, over a quarter of the Vietnamese population lives below the poverty line. The population is 85% ethnic Vietnamese people and the remaining 15% consist of various minorities, Cambodians and Chinese.

Food

The Vietnamese kitchen is not only a joy for tasting, but also for viewing. The meals are served beautifully and are very reasonably priced. Many dishes include rice, soya- and fishsauce and the flavours are mostly salty and seasoned. You are probably familiar with the Vietnamese spring rolls, but there are more than 500 traditional Vietnamese dishes. Plenty to explore!

Restaurants are open for the largest portion of the day, and in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi many food carts are available on the street with an abundance of cheap, yet delicious snacks.

Climate

Vietnam is positioned along 1,400 kilometers of coastline on the Indochinese island. The climate is (sub)tropical and varies per location. The south of Vietnam has a tropical climate with an average temperature of 32 degrees Celsius. From June to September the rain season starts in Ho Chi Minh and surrounding regions with heavy rain throughout the afternoon. During the other months it is quite dry and from March to May the temperature can climb up to 38 degrees and be very humid.

Hanoi in the north has four different seasons. The winter is from December to February with temperatures around freezing point. The spring is from March to May and the weather is pleasant. The summer is from June to August and can be very warm and humid with temperatures ranging in the 30s. Autumn, another pleasant time in Hanoi, is from September to November. Precipitation is present throughout the entire year and in the summer months heavy rainfall is common. 

Communication

Postal offices are usually open extra long, from 6 AM to 8PM including weekends and holidays. Express mail service is available in the larger cities. Long distance domestic and international phone calls are possible at postal offices, but also through mobile services and prepaid cellphone cards. Additionally, each city has a general information number (call 1080) where you can ask any questions you have, ranging from telephone numbers to train and flight information. Internet is available in postal offices and internet cafés.

Transportation

The public transportation in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi consists of busses. The local inhabitants prefer using a moped or scooter. Taxis are cheap for the first two kilometres at roughly 12000 Vietnamese Dong (less than 1 USD) and scooter taxi’s are even cheaper, roughly half that. From safety perspective the wearing of a helmet on a scooter or moped is legally enforced. Students often rent or buy a moped or scooter, whilst others rather use (scooter)taxis.

Medical options

There is a broad selection of dental and (international) medical options available in Vietnam. On the Ho Chi Minh campus the medical service is open from 8AM to 5PM, where a doctor and nurse is present.

History, safety and hygiene

If you haven’t been to Vietnam before, it is worth it to dive into the country and its history. Some parents of international students know Vietnam as the country that was in war for 30 years and question its safety. The current Vietnam is very different though. It’s booming, with construction all over the place, mountain trails are being hardened and life is becoming much easier and more luxurious.

In the cities the traffic can be quite hectic, so you should be prepared. And just like on many other (sub)tropical destinations, there is the necessity of preventive car, such as vaccines and general hygiene regulations. Pay careful attention to what you purchase at food carts on the streets to prevent becoming sick.

Facts and digits

Capital city: Hanoi

State form: People’s republic

Timezone: UTC +7

Currency: Vietnamese Dong VND

Studying Aboad: Singapore!

Studying in Singapore
Living and studying in a metropolitan city like Singapore is a special experience. You can experience the lively art and culture, beautiful landscapes, great shopping opportunities and pleasant climate of this unique city.

Singapore studies

Unique is the best word to describe Singapore. It’s the smallest country in South East Asia and consists of a group of 63 islands. The largest of which is called Singapore. This is a dynamic city with a good mix of cultures, kitchen, art and modern architecture.

Mix of cultures

Singapore is known to be a great mix of cultures and religious tolerance. The country has over 4 million inhabitants and the population consists of roughly 77% Chinese, 14% Malaysian, 8% Indian and 1% miscellaneous people. Also, over 90,000 expats live in Singapore.

Singapore is a former colony of the UK. The Englishman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles started a trading post in 1819 and set out the foundation of the current Singapore. The original inhabitants were Malaysian fishermen, but after the British trading post was introduced, the country became a magnet to migrants and tradesmen from the southern provinces of China, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Sir Lanka and the Middle East.

Food
The food is as diverse as the population. The Singaporean kitchen knows a wide variety of dishes influenced by Chine, Arabic, Malaysian and Indian habits. The dishes are often combined, which leads to especially tasteful meals.

Language

There are four official languages in Singapore: Malaysian, Mandarin, Tamil and English. Malaysian is the national language, but Mandarin and English are spoken most frequently. The majority of the people are bi-lingual, as they speak English besides their mother tongue.

Religion

The mix of culture also results in a mix of religion. The most prominent religions are: Islam, Taoism, Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Sikhism and Judaism. The skyline of Singapore consists of many mosques, gothic cathedrals, complex statues of Hindu temples and the characteristic architecture of Chinese temples.

Life maintenance

The costs of maintaining life in Singapore depends on your own expenditure and finances. Singapore is a large city with a wide variety of options for every budget. Keep in mind that you’ll need at least between 9,000 and 18,000 Singapore dollar a year to maintain basic life necessities.

Singapore Visa

As an international student you need a Student’s Pass to study in Singapore. The university can help you attain this.

Good preparation

Studying abroad requires some preparation. Before you leave you should read up on various steps, from orientating to getting a flight.

Facts and digits

Population: roughly 4 million

Capital city: Singapore

Currency: Singaporean Dollar (SGD)

Timezone: UTC+8

Public transportation

The public transportation is very adequate and over half of the populations chooses to use it to get to work, university or elsewhere.

Climate

The city of Singapore has a tropical climate with warm humid weather throughout the year. The temperature throughout the day is over 30 degrees Celsius and usually doesn’t fall below 24 degrees Celsius at night. The humidity is high. During monsoon periods, from November to February, heavy rainfall is very common.

Studying Abroad: Japan!

Studying in Japan

Japan is the country of large metropolitans, gorgeous temples, warm water sources, beautiful blooming cherry trees, friendly people and amazing technology, sumo wrestlers, volcanoes, skiing and of course sushi. A study in Japan means excellent education, but also the chance to go sightseeing for many of the things mentioned above.

Japanese studies

Japan is one of the most densely populated and influential countries in the world. For that reason alone it’s interesting to study in this country. The quality of Japanese education is a number one priority to universities, and more and more universities are offering programmes in English.

Usually there are plenty opportunities to learn Japanese during your study and to familiarize yourself with the country and its customs. This valuable knowledge and experience make you an attractive job candidate.

Population

Less than 1% of the population consists of non-Japanese people, especially Koreans and Chinese. Important worries of Japan are overpopulation and aging. The standards of living have greatly improved in the past 50 years and Japanese people have the highest income per capita in all of Asia. Lots of attention is paid to social welfare and medical care and since 1961 the country has a health insurance policy that provides every citizen with necessary healthcare.
 

Economy

Japan is number three on the world ranking of largest economies, after the US and China. Since 2012 the Japanese economy, along with many others, has spiraled into a recession and is battling deflation. The service sector dominates the economy with a 75% share, followed by industrial (20%) and agricultural. In 2012 the working population was 65.9 million workers and unemployment was a mere 4%.

Climate

The climate varies from a cool and humid continental climate in the North with cold winters and hot summers to a humid subtropical climate in the south.  Especially in the summer rainfall is heavy and in August the average temperature in Tokyo is 27 degrees Celsius. Japan is one of the most seismically active places on Earth.

Facts and digits

Population: roughly 127 million

Capital city: Tokyo

Large cities: Yokohama, Osaka, Nagoya, Sapporo, Kobe, Kyoto

Language: Japanese

Currency: Yen (JPY)

Timezone: +8 (+7 summertime)