there has been a big above-inflation jump in fees in oz.......coupled with the current strong aud, australia is now more expensive than other popular education destination like uk or us............

add the likely change in immigration rules on opportunities to work/stay after studies (a major reason for oz study), i foresee a significant drop in on-shore enrolment...........

you may have the money, but you may not have good enough grades to get in.........

unless of course, russia and bangladesh are also considered 'overseas'.......

the process of applying for uk med school starts 1 full year before, and includes sitting for ukcat/bmat tests.........

while i have known many with oz year 12 qualifications being accepted into many courses, i have not know anyone being admitted into medicine.....in any case, it makes no sense why anyone would do a year 12 programme when intending to go to uk.....just go do a-levels......which is also perfectly acceptable for entry into oz.....and actually an easier pathway into critical courses in oz...........

then i think you are stucked........either you stay on in oz and bear the financial pain, or change course, and go to uk.........

the 3rd option is of course, imu-pms.......and then choose uk at matching........90% chance you will get uk......

for people who intend to go to oz for non-critical courses, year 12 is perfectly acceptable pathway.......but if one is thinking of trying critical courses, it is actually easier with a-levels......just that you will be delayed 1 year........

it is exactly half way through year 12 now...and the isat tests should be completed.....and one will generally have an idea whether one is on target for the atar98 one needs to have any realistic chance......

newcastle is also undergraduate entry......however, does not take direct entry international students.....there are however, backdoor ways of gaining entry.........

the main downsides to monash msia is practical near impossibility of getting a job in oz after.....and it is also NOT recognised by spore..........

there are 2 main differences between the two...

a-levels cover content in greater depth.....ie the syllabus is deeper and wider......but assessment is based purely on exam........

oz year 12 on the other hand, covers content more superficially, but however is a more moderated course, with strong emphasis on METHODS and PROCESS.....course work and summatives takes up 50-70% of final marks.......

in summary, year 12 prepares you better for real world university environment (western world, not msia).....

a-levels prepares you for the 1st year of uni better, as some content will already be covered at a-levels.....but it can be a bit of cultural shock when you enter uni in the western world, and suddenly find you have minimal didectic teaching, and have to do almost everything by yourself.....

put the money in high interest internet based accounts and you should get at least 6%.....that is 6k/year or 500/mth......just keep you alive with zero frills in major cities.......

kings used to be ranked quite high, but appears to have slipped somewhat in recent years.....

if you are referring to that kings appears to accept aussie year 12 as acceptable qualification, that is of no consequence.....you may note that stpm is NOT in the list, but i have known more people (msians) being admitted with stpm, and actually nil with year 12..........

kings is part of the ukcat consortium, so it would be a good idea to start applying to sit for that now....

fast food joints and supermarkets generally don't like to employ older students, as they will need to pay full wages to them by law....teenagers are cheaper labour.....

yes, this is commonly done, to maximise your content, rather than use heavy dead weight luggages......just make sure you reinforce the edges and corners adequately........

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Added on July 12, 2011, 8:35 amthey are moving towards chip based cards slowly, but the majority of cards and readers are still magnetic strip based.....and yes, you still need to key in pin........

the move towards chip based cards has nothing to do with being backward or modern, but with fraud......

msia is one of the MOST fraud prone country, and the emv consortium had to very quickly implement chip based cards in misa to reduce fraud........oz is a relatively safe country, and there was no need to rush to implement smart cards, which are more expensive........

the use of pin for all cc use is a simple but effective way of preventing fraud, and i cannot understand why it is not implemented in msia......the signature method is useless against fraud.......(btw, the system in oz allows for signature as well, to accommodate cards from countries using signature)........

This post has been edited by limeuu: Jul 12 2011, 08:54 AM

the other thing is, boxes are difficult to carry around, but if you have people picking you up from the airport, or uses a taxi, then it is okay. If you however, need use public transport, then proper luggage with wheels is easier.....

then that is fine.......yes, have a small bag, you will still need a proper bag for other travels.........

if your source of funds is msia, there is no significant difference between using msian cc, and converting myr to aud, deposit in account there and then use a cc from oz......

that is not the question you need to ask..........the real question is, will they accept me?.......

for medicine, you don't choose the uni.....they choose you........

as for fees, they are all on their respective websites......if you need to be spoon fed that, you are definitely NOT doctor material.....

who are 'most people'?.........

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Added on August 18, 2011, 10:51 pmracism is anything but subtle in msia.....it is official policy.......everybody can identify many areas of different official treatment and entitlement of msians, based on ethnic grouping......that, in case people don't know, is racism.....

in fact, most msians feel more free and accepted in oz.......they don't (it is illegal) treat you different because you are of different race (or religion, sex, gender preference, etc)........

This post has been edited by limeuu: Aug 18 2011, 10:53 PM

http://www.immi.gov.au/skilled/_pdf/sol-schedule1.pdf

health care professionals are always in demand........engineers are needed as long as the resource boom continues.....teachers are always needed........

the list will of course change yearly........

pharmacists and lawyers was removed last years, and now put back.......and optometry removed......

for the moment, accountants are still in the list......

This post has been edited by limeuu: Aug 20 2011, 12:12 AM

actually, they do NOT need you to have band 8......it's points based........the minimum is band 6, but you will get zero point, you get 10 points for band 7 and 20 points for band 8.....

however, a fresh graduate with no other merits will need band 8's 20 points to reach the cut-off eligibility points........

if you however have other extra points, like work experience, higher qualifications, other language skills, studied in 'regional oz' etc, you can get the 65 points even with zero points from ielts.........

the statement is VERY clear, and there is NO ambiguity........

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Added on August 26, 2011, 10:47 amall details are linked from the link above......don't expect to be spoon fed, and go do the research yourself........

in any case, this thread is about STUDYING......NOT migrating to oz.......

This post has been edited by limeuu: Aug 26 2011, 10:47 AM