• Charles Darwin University caters for bachelor and masters degrees, and PhD qualifications as well as vocational education certificates and diplomas
• Students are allowed to work part-time of about 4 to 5 hours a day to supplement their allowance and gain work skills
• Darwin’s proximity to Asia means you will also find strong Asian influences (especially the food)
• Students aged at least 16 years with an accredited course provided by Australian school may apply for your student visa via the Australian immigration website

The first thing comes to mind when thinking about studies is the quality of education that you are going to get. This is obviously important as international students have to spend a lot on housing, food, clothing and other domestic needs. Without a quality education and lifestyle in a reputable university, all of this seems futile. According to QS Higher Education System, Australia stands impressively at 4th position after USA, UK, and Germany. Australia is also known for welcoming international students with open arms. Australia has the highest number of institutions appeared in the 'QS Top 50 under 50'. Darwin is home to Charles Darwin University which was established in 2003 after the merger of Northern Territory University (NTU) of Darwin with the Menzies School of Health Research and Centralian College of Alice Springs, and it was named after Charles Darwin, the celebrated English naturalist.

The Northern Territory is the third largest region of Australia but has the least amount of people (237.8 million). It is mostly tropical, and the capital Darwin, maintains an almost constantly high temperature throughout the year. As well as markets, crocodiles and cruises, you will find strong Aboriginal cultures here, as evidenced by the array of languages spoken in the streets, and the vibrant Aboriginal art that fills the city's galleries and museums. The city's proximity to Asia means you will also find strong Asian influences, especially in the energetic food scene and night markets. There's a saying among locals: "If you don't like sunsets and markets, you won’t like Darwin."

‘’You will find strong Aboriginal cultures [in Darwin] as evidenced by the languages [and] vibrant art’’

Part-time jobs are a lifeline to international students living in a foreign country. It is important not merely to cover living costs but also in the development of your skills. However, it is essential to check the terms and conditions on your visa. According to the rules of student visa, he or she is allowed to work maximum up to 40 hours per 15 days during a semester that is, 4-5 hours per day and work full time during holidays. Opening an account in any of the banks in Australia is also beneficial as the employer can pay a student easily. Before applying for a job, a tax file number (TFN) is required which can be easily obtained from the Australian Taxation Office. Some of the popular job search websites are Seek, Adzuna, and CareerOne. In order to be informed about your rights as an employee, visit Fair Work Ombudsman. Retail, hospitality and service are some of the sectors suitable for a part-time job.

Due to its proximity to Asia, Darwin is a soft landing for many international students that see many strong Asian influences. Darwin as a vibrant city is expressed in Darwin Festival, an 18-day celebration of music, theatre, visual art, dance, cabaret and more in the beautiful tropical city of Darwin every August. Tourism is one of Darwin's largest industries. Tourism is a major industry and employment sector for the Northern Territory. The droves of international visitors help students who find it difficult to immerse themselves in local culture. The culture can be intimidating to many people despite its diversity. In such circumstances, it is important to learn about the place beforehand. Culture shock can lead to social isolation which could impact your student learning environment. Overall, the culture of Australia is said to be friendly and welcoming.

Food often becomes an issue for an international student especially if the culture is completely different to his or her own culture. However, Darwin's 135,000-strong population made up of more than 60 nationalities. Eating options include authentic Indonesian, Malaysian, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Indian, Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi food, plus several types of fusion cuisine.The best place to sample this is the twice-weekly Mindil Beach Sunset Market, 3km north-east of the city centre, with almost 200 stalls–similar to famous Singaporean or Taiwanese food courts. Immerse your tastebuds in Darwin's Asian food culture with a Malaysian laksa, a savoury Japanese pancake or a Thai green papaya salad.

The most dreaded word for international students is visa. Most of the students spend sleepless nights over it. In order to get over such fears, it is necessary to have proper knowledge about the whole procedure and guidelines of getting a student visa. Australian student visa is quite accommodating as it let students study and work for the duration of the course plus an additional month. You can apply for multiple courses with the same visa. The visa costs about AUS$ 535 and can be paid directly on Australian immigration website. In order to get your visa approved, student visa needs to be combined with an accredited course provided by some Australia’s schools. Confirmation of enrollment (COE) identifies the beginning and ending of the date of the course. A student must be above 16 years of age to apply for student visa.