There are many and varied reasons for wanting to study in one of the universities in Australia, and more international students are making their way Down Under every year. There are many international students wishing to study in Australia and the number studying in Australia increased from 7,000 in 1986 to 147,130 in 2002. Australia's forty government-funded universities have a reputation for quality education; indeed, these institutions are controlled by both State and Federal legislation, and receive both accreditation and registration to provide courses for international students.
Australia has a population of nearly 19 million in a land area of about 7.6 million square kilometres. However, 85% of these people live on the East Coast or in the major coastal cities of Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Hobart and Perth, with Canberra, the national capital, and Toowoomba as the largest inland cities. The universities in Australia can mainly be found in these major centres although there are also universities in different locations throughout the country. Australia is one of the most urbanised countries in the world, but much of the country remains sparsely populated, providing a home for many of Australia's unique plants and animals.
Of Australia's population, 7.3 million people were either born outside Australia or are children of parents born overseas, making Australia one of the most multicultural nations on earth. In fact, more languages are spoken in Sydney than in any other city in the world. More than 100 ethnic groups live in Australia, making a major contribution to the country's culture and economic development. International students will find themselves very welcome in this richly multicultural society. Australians are open, friendly people, who live in a healthy, safe and unspoiled environment. International students wishing to study in Australia will find a wide diversity of cultures and backgrounds to enrich the learning experience.
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