@gandara said:
Hello! i hope everyone is ok here kahit tinamaan tayo ng pandemic... Itatanong ko lang if ok na ba sa ngayon magapply ng student visa kahit walang makapagsabi pa if magoopen na ang border ng Australia... Kasi parang ang hirap ng distance learning and besides malaking bagay pa din yung mkakawork sana doon para masustain yung financial na magagastos sa studies..any advise po kung anu ang magandang gawin if magapply na ng student visa or antayin muna na magopen ang border bago magapply ng student visa...thanks in advance.
It depends on what you plan to study. Studying at university is going to cost you a lot more money, so you do need to have the tuition fees on hand to pay for it especially since you're offshore and cannot earn as much money as compared to being onshore. For VET, it's generally half the cost of uni, so I think mas affordable sya, but then again, there is that issue of whether you have enough savings to pay the fee. The only good thing of being offshore is that you're not paying cost of living in Australia (which is quite high), so your only expense is your tuition fees. You could be paying AUD 10-15k a year for tuition fees (if VET), and another AUD 20k just for living expenses. The money you could earn on a regular semester/term is usually sufficient to cover living costs, but not your fees. The only time you can save up for those fees is working full time during scheduled breaks (summer or winter vacations). Having said that, whether you're onshore or offshore, it's ideal to already have adequate savings to cover some of your fees before studying in Australia (at least 2 semesters/terms) so you have ample time to save for the succeeding semesters/terms. The downside of being offshore is the lack of in-person connection with your classmates and teachers, which I think are very important for the learning process.
The distance learning experience is different for each person, as well as for different programs. It may be easier for some programs because you can just be studying on your own, watching lectures, and take exams, whereas for other programs that are mostly group/teamwork focused, you need to really coordinate well with your group (esp regarding meetings) to be able to deliver quality work. I've experience mostly distance learning on my final semester in Australia (I was onshore). It was very difficult at first, but you'll get used to it eventually. The quality of education didn't deteriorate as much, but the social connection was greatly reduced. Iba pa rin yung experience na makilala mo yung mga classmates mo in person.
With the pandemic still not handled well in Australia, I think that timeline of opening international borders will just continue to get pushed back (or until 80% of people are vaccinated). In my opinion, if you are in a position to continue working (like a full-time job) as you save up for tuition fees, do so until the border opens and you are more financially ready to proceed with studying in Australia. I am suggesting this path because it will be less stress for you (hindi mo na iisipin saan hahagilap ng pang-tuition pagdating mo dito). There is also no assurance of getting work or a visa in Australia if you start your studies now (the projections for opening of borders next year are just assumptions).