Brilliant sunshine, beautiful beaches, and lasting mateship are hallmarks of Australia — home to a wonderful diversity of cultures and the culinary delights that came with them from every corner of the globe.

Aussies are known for being friendly, easy-going people with a laid-back attitude to life. That’s why you’ll often hear Aussies say, “no worries” or “she’ll be right, mate”. By golly, they mean it, even in times of stress. Absolute legends! But be warned, Aussies get dead serious when it comes to sports. Any sports.

And one more thing — great news if you’re thinking about going to the land Down Under for your tertiary studies — Australian universities adopt one of the most straightforward admissions processes in the world.

There are countless reasons why each year, so many international students pick Australia as their top-choice destination for higher educations. Indeed, graduates from top-tier Australian universities enjoy global recognition for their academic qualifications and make their mark around the world.

Here are five reasons why you should put Australia on your radar as a potential number 1 pick for undergraduate studies:

1. You want to go to a great university with a more relaxed pace

When you think about Australia or Oz (as it's known colloquially), you probably imagine dazzling beaches, glorious sunshine all year round, and picturesque landscapes. Well, you’re on the money there. Along with world-class universities and a lifestyle that’s the envy of the world, Australia is an ideal location for you to undertake your tertiary education.

And elite Australian universities are renowned for academic rigor. Leading the charge is the Group of Eight (Go8 for short), which are comprised of Australia's top research universities — the University of Melbourne, the Australian National University, the University of Sydney, the University of Queensland, the University of Western Australia, the University of Adelaide, Monash University and the University of New South Wales.

However, as discussed above, the laid-back Australian culture has the overarching effect that relative to say, the US and the UK, you would on balance enjoy a more relaxing undergraduate experience. That’s not to say you won’t have to work hard, because you’ll for sure. But it means that you might have more time to pause, ponder a little, and smell the roses.

How does that sound?

2. You want an admissions process that is uncomplicated

Among the US, UK, and Australia, the good old Aussies, by a clear margin, definitely have the most straightforward and transparent admissions process.

Admissions to Australian universities are almost entirely predicated on your marks. Outside a few exceptions like medicine, and law to a lesser degree, there are no other requirements like the personal statements, supplemental essays, extracurricular distinction, and recommendations that are integral components of the US system.

Compared to the US or the UK processes, applications to Australian universities are straightforward in every sense of the word.

There is little to no guesswork in deciding whether you’ll be accepted into an Australian degree. If you can make the grades, you’re in.

Australian admissions follow the UK system in the sense that candidates apply to study a specific degree or course within their desired institution. However, note that unlike the US, the entry marks required for different degrees at the same Australian university vary greatly.

Given that the Australian admissions process is so uncomplicated, with a well-organised admissions plan, it is entirely feasible for you to apply in the same year to universities in Australia and the US or the UK, depending on your preferences.

Potentially, it can be a very useful Plan B.

3. You want affordable higher education

It’s not easy to get around it – for many students, finance plays an important role in deciding where their good-fit place is for their higher education. After all, when we talk about fit, it’s not just not academic, personal, or social, it is also financial fit. Like it or not, just facts of life.

To that end, Australia is one of the more affordable destinations for international families.

Relative to the US and the UK, tuition fees at Australian universities are generally lower. And the Australian dollar is also comparatively weaker than the Greenback and the British Pound. So, international families will get maximum bang for their buck in the land Down Under.

Additionally, there are significant merit-based, and need-based, scholarships on offer from the government, corporations, and charitable organisations in Australia, which are available to international students.

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4. You want to complete a professional degree as an undergraduate

There are various similarities and differences when comparing the Australian university admissions system to that of the US and the UK.

Like students in the UK, applicants to Australian universities are required to select their degree or course of study at the time of application.

But unlike the US, 1st-year university students in Australia can enrol and commence studying towards their professional degree, such as Medicine or Law. In the US, such professional degrees are generally only available to students who have completed their 1st degree.

Because of the earlier focus placed on a specific academic area, like the UK, students in Australia can bear a standard course load and complete a degree program in as few as three years. Australian students can choose to take double or combined degrees, which would take four or five years, or longer.

In short, one way to think about the Australian system is that it takes some of its foundations from the UK system in that it allows students to undertake professional degrees at undergraduate level. But relatively speaking, students in Australia do so at a more relaxed pace.

It all depends on what you would like out of your experience as a university student.

5. You love your campus life so much that you want to stay after graduation

Skip forward a few years. You’ve finished your university studies in Australia. You’ve had an amazing time. You want to stay. What now?

If that sounds like it could be you, then you're in luck.

Let’s compare it to say, the US, it is much easier to stay in Australia post-graduation by finding work and in due course, head towards permanent residence. It’s no pushover, landing your first job is never easy, but it is a whole lot easier than all the hoops that Uncle Sam will make you jump through before you get your Green card.

Whether you want to remain in Australia to work full-time or attend a graduate program, the Australian system is markedly easier to navigate than the US equivalent.

And you may well want to stay. After all, Australia is regarded as one of the world's nicest countries to live in. And Australia consistently ranks among the safest countries in the world, Australia’s gun laws has been lauded, even by the Americans, as the world’s best practice. Since the Port Arthur tragedy, Australia has not had any major gun related crimes, particularly in comparison to the frequency and scale of violence involving firearms in the US.

With a stable political system and a low crime rate, Australia offers a safe and beautiful environment to study, thrive and live.

So, there you have it.

If you’re a great university, amazing experiences, simple admissions process, lower fees, weaker currencies, maximum value, and a real opportunity to stay beyond graduation, work and live in one of the most beautiful and safest countries on planet Earth, perhaps you should seriously consider the land down Under as the place for your undergraduate studies.

To find out if Australia is a good fit for you, click the button below to register with ivyO! Wait no more, act today!