The My Study Australia website has been created for the Australian Education Connection (AEC program), with a view to providing students, parents and advisers with comprehensive information about semester abroad, year abroad, full degrees, transfer and internship programs to Australia at direct enrollment prices.  Information about direct enrollment is listed on this website. There is also information about student services. In the case of full degrees, prospective students should be aware that the AEC provides all support services and there is no additional cost to the student. Students have access to all student services including assistance and information on scholarships, financial aid, orientation, arrival and other services.

RESEARCH YOUR OPTIONS BEFORE YOU APPLY!

• Carry out research about all your options to study in Australiaat least 5 months prior to the start of the overseas program. There is much information on the AEC web site but there is also information on the web.
• In Australia a Masters program can be offered in three modes:
• Coursework only (attending classes in a core set of subjects based on your interest area/field of study
• coursework/research – this is where you undertake the program with part coursework and a dissertation. (Students planning on eventually undertaking a PhD or a Doctoral will gain their `research’ experience) b y undertaking a coursework/research combination, but preferably a full research Masters. It is rare that a university will allow a student into a PhD/Doctoral program without any prior research; therefore, if you undertake a coursework only Masters, you may not be admissible into a Doctoral program.
• research only
• You can access all the information you require about AEC partner universities, and what they offer, by clicking here. The AEC also provides you direct links to the university web sites so that you are able to get further information if you wish (beyond what the AEC has provided on the partner university pages on this site).
• Questions you should ask yourself whilst undertaking the research:
• Which city should I go to? Look at general web sites about a city to determine what attracts you to that city.
• Which university? Why? Remember all universities are accredited. However, for the purpose of US financial aid, most universities listed on this website are accredited as `accredited foreign schools’ to accept aid. So whilst all universities on this website are accredited, there are approximately 4 who have not applied for `title IV' status for financial aid purposes. When choosing a university, also consider the subject areas. Do they offer the curriculum (course/subject area/field of study) you are after? All programs are not exactly the same; some may have a internship or work experience component e.g. teaching. So compare universities. Email the AEC if you have very specific questions and we will respond to you (usually we will respond within 24 hrs).
• How much will this cost? Cost is a huge factor for students, even those on financial aid, scholarships or loans so take the time to also consider the cost of tuition and housing at individual universities. Tuition cost is usually dependent on where the university is located – some regions are more expensive in terms of infrastructure so keep it in context.
• Can I afford to live off campus because it is cheaper? The AEC recommends single students stay on campus or on the fringe of campus during their first semester and then move off campus and further away. Australia has excellent public transport systems so staying off campus or further from campus is not an issue. The AEC and the university can usually provide you plenty of information to make this happen.

Australian universities accept international students into all their programs. US students with high school or some college level study can apply for entry into undergraduate study.

Some Australian universities will also request for any test scores that you might have. Usually a university’s web site gives you general information about entry requirements. An example:  if you have undertaken only hospitality management at undergraduate level and then want to take psychology at a Masters degree level, then you will find it difficult to gain acceptance as you have not taken any undergraduate psychology courses or have prior knowledge of psychology.

The best way to determine eligibility is to visit the web site of the university you wish to go to. You may connect to university web sites by navigation through the university profile pages on this site. If you still have questions, email the AEC Program.

Don’t be quick to click out of this section! Read the full section from start to finish or if you click out, remember to return and read this section fully so you have all the facts necessary to navigate financial aid.

• If you are a US citizen or permanent resident, you can use US financial aid to study in Australia and New Zealand. Most universities on this web site are all accredited by the US Government as `accredited foreign schools": therefore, you can get your aid to go abroad. Click here for an information brochure about US financial aid.
• If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you may access some financial aid/loans from your Provincial Governments/private lenders. Please click here for an information brochure.

US students who would normally qualify for US financial aid at home, are able to access financial aid from the US Department of Education (telephone 1-800-433-3243) to study abroad provided they proceed to a university that is approved by the US DOE. Most universities listed on the AEC web site are approved for US financial aid participation in the Title IV, Student Financial Assistance Programs (SFAP) and Federal Family Education Loan (EFEL) program.

All foreign universities approved by DOE have a special 'Foreign School Code’ which needs to be listed in financial aid loan papers and the AEC will assist you with this. So instead of using a domestic in-USA school code you would use the Foreign School Code of the university you go to. When you get to this stage, the AEC will advise you what needs to be done.

Most information about financial aid is listed in the booklets we mention above. If you would like information about Working Whilst Studying, click here.

Of course you can!Click here.

For most fields of study, a degree is a degree as long as you go to an accredited school and as all AEC partner universities are accredited there is no issue about acceptance of qualifications. However, certain fields of study where you require licenses or certificates and other local accreditation to practice – e.g. lawyers, teachers, medical professionals – additional steps are required. The AEC has prepared a list of some of these subject areas/fields of study so you understand what additional steps are needed to get the license/certification etc. Click here for more information.

This section was simply too long to include here. As we wanted to streamline and cross reference so readers have numerous navigational entry points to the information, we ask you to click here and you will have access to comprehensive information about the AEC service.

Follow these guidelines and you’ll surprise yourself:

Stage One

• Do your research.
• Decide on your university or universities from the profile pages of AEC university partners  (choose up to 3 in order of priority). The profile pages do connect you also to the university’s web site  - click here
• Understand the process of financial aid for your study abroad – Read information on this page.
• Read the document about Transferability and Licensing in case you have additional steps you need to take for your field of study e.g. teaching qualification which will require you to complete additional State (in the USA) or Provincial (in the case of Canada) documentation after you complete your studies in Australia or New Zealand   – click here

Stage Two

• Read about the benefits of applying through the AEC. Who is the AEC? What do they do? – click here
• Note that there is no additional cost for using the AEC service however, the AEC does request a $100 tuition deposit with your application. This deposit is fully refundable if the AEC is not able to admit you. Click here for information about the tuition deposit.

Stage Three

• If you decide to apply through the AEC, please complete the AEC – Application to an Accredited Australian University for a Full Degree Program  - click here and return the completed form with:
• a $100 check made out to the AEC marked `tuition deposit’
• one photograph
• a copy of your most recent transcript

Applications must be sent to:

Representative of AEC (Australian Universities)
36 Hernandez Avenue
Ormond Beach, Fl 32174, USA.

Telephone: 1 (954) 680-0453 or
toll free 1-800-565-9553.
Facsimile: 1(954) 680-0597.
Email: enquiries@mystudyaustralia.com 

Once an application is received at the AEC, the AEC will send you a package via download with university specific forms for completion. If you have nominated 3 universities you will receive 3 forms and instructions from the AEC. You are then required to return the completed applications and all documentation which the AEC requests of you. Please be aware that often, the university does require an application fee. If there is a fee, it is a non-refundable fee. Application fees are from A$75-100 (approx. US$68-$95). The AEC will provide you instructions about the fee. 

There are some universities that do not charge application fees – the AEC will advise you of these as well.

Stage Four

During this stage, the AEC will assist you with the following:

• keep you regularly informed about the progress of your application at the Australian/New Zealand university
• advise you about financial aid matters. If you are a US student, you will be required to complete the SAR Report.
• in getting the appropriate agreement from the Australian university to wait for your financial aid (if there is a delay with receiving the money as most US financial aid does not disburse until the start of a semester). This is required because Government regulations require that universities collect at least the first semester tuition funds in advance and without the first semester tuition fee, the university cannot give you clearance for your student visa. This is the reason the AEC will work with you and the Australian university to sort out matters on your behalf. There is no cost for this as the AEC is funded through income it earns from processing applications to universities i.e. doing some of the administrative work in North America on behalf of the universities.
• advise you of any scholarships through the Australian university and send you the necessary web links to have these lodged.

If you plan to undertake study by research (e.g. Masters by Research or PhDs), you should not send in your application to the AEC until you have completed the following processes:

• Identified a Research Supervisor at your choice of university. You can do this effectively by emailing potential supervisors at the university. (Link to the university through the profile pages.)

Usually to identify a potential research supervisor, you must provide an overview of your research proposal. Note this is not a formal proposal but a short synopsis so that potential research supervisors can understand your proposal and either agree to supervisor or state that they can’t assist you, in which case you can pursue other options. Usually this is a very informal stage of `negotiations’ but these are important.

Once you have a research supervisor identified (an email discussion with a potential supervisor who agrees to your proposal), then you may complete the AEC application form and return with the documents requested. Once the AEC receives your application request, the AEC will forward you more specific forms for completion and clear instructions on what to do next.

Yes you can most definitely pay your tuition fees direct to the Australian university. When a university makes you an offer of admission, the admission offer letter is sent to you by the AEC – it provides clear instructions on how to pay your fees direct to the university. Most universities accept credit cards or electronic transfer of funds.

Please be aware that the universities the AEC works with are accredited by the US Department of Education. They have been vetted locally as well and universities in Australia are monitored by Government.

Scholarship money for international students is limited, however, at the postgraduate research level there are some scholarships available. Students that are applying for degree programs in Australia through the AEC Program will be notified by the AEC of additional paperwork required for scholarships.

Rest assured if there are scholarships available the AEC will inform you of this and advise application procedures. In this way, you have every chance of applying for all scholarships at the university that may be available to you.