Located right at the top of Australia in the Northern Territory, Darwin is Australia’s hottest capital city. It’s home to some amazing landscapes, but there are many other reasons why you should study in Darwin.
The Northern Territory environment is vast and diverse. It is a place where you can enjoy a walk along the beach or camp in a national park, fish for barramundi, or spot a crocodile. It is a land of ancient sandstone formations, wetlands, billabongs and unique native flora and fauna.
The Northern Territory has a distinctive flora of more than 4300 species of native plants, including some 702 endemic species concentrated particularly on the Western Arnhem Land Plateau.
Its fauna includes 400 bird species, 150 mammal species, 300 reptile species, 50 frog species, 60 freshwater fish species and several hundred species of marine fish.
The Territory also has one of the world’s most intact marine environments so it is important to protect its marine and coastal biodiversity. It is home to the largest area of mangrove forest in Australia.
Every Australian will tell you the same thing: the Northern Territory is like nowhere else. Whilst studying in Darwin, you’ll be able to explore the greater area around the city. Think wondrous stretches of desert, towering natural monoliths, swimming holes and absolutely incredible natural sights like the breathtaking Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge, world-famous Uluru, Kakadu National Park and the Karlu Karlu Devil’s Marbles. Don’t forget to catch the Field of Light installation in the Uluru heartland, which is in place until 2020.
Population
The Northern Territory is dynamic and progressive yet it retains a friendly relaxed pace that has made it such a popular destination for visitors and a great place to live. The population is the nation’s youngest, at a median age of just 31.3 years, but also the smallest with just over 235 000 people living and working in this vast expanse of land. Northern Territorians are typically vibrant, happy, outdoor-loving people who know how to enjoy life.
The population includes people from more than 100 nationalities. As Australia’s gateway to Asia the Northern Territory is home to third and fourth generation families from countries such as China, Indonesia, the Philippines and Vietnam. Throughout the Northern Territory Aboriginal people, many still living traditional lifestyles in remote homelands, represent a quarter of the population and have a strong influence on the region’s culture.
Climate
Australia’s Northern Territory offers a warm, tropical climate in its north, and an arid desert climate in the south.
Darwin is located 12 degrees south of the equator, has distinct wet and dry seasons with very high humidity and rain from November to March. Maximum temperatures are in the low 30℃ all year-round and minimum temperatures range from 19.3℃ in July, to 25.3℃ in November and December.
Alice Springs is located in the very centre of the Australian continent and offers a pleasant desert climate with maximum temperatures from 19.7℃ in July to 36.4℃ in January and minimums from 4℃ in July to 21.5℃ in January.
Languages
The Northern Territory is one of Australia’s most culturally diverse regions. Its population includes people of over 100 nationalities and supports some 50 social, cultural and religious organisations.
Up to 27% of Territorians speak a language other than English at home. Speakers of Indigenous languages are a large part of this group speaking up to two or three languages including English.
Immigrants from distant places have made the Northern Territory their home and have contributed enormously to our economy and culture, in particular the Greek and Asian immigrants. The Northern Territory community celebrates with enthusiasm during annual cultural festivals including the Greek Glenti, an Indian festival and Chinese New Year.
The Education In Darwin Is Top-Tier
According to the Times Higher Education University Rankings, Charles Darwin University is ranked =28th for ‘Millennial universities’. It is also one of six members of Australia’s Innovative Research Universities network and is 2nd in Australia for graduate employment, and =1st for graduate salary. Charles Darwin is a globally connected and respected university, with campuses sweeping over the Northern Territory. The university offers more than 75 nationally recognised and accredited programs for international students.
International Students In Darwin
In 2015 over 2000 international students enrolled to study in the Northern Territory (NT). The top five countries represented by international student enrolments in 2015 was Nepal, India, Philippines, Viet Nam, China and Indonesia.
The Territory offers internationally recognised courses and degrees, with the reputations of many of our providers speaking for themselves. One of the things that makes the NT unique and so different to other Australian states is our proximity to Asia, which allows us the opportunity to form connections and develop friendships with our Asian neighbours.
Post Study Work Options
The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) allows graduates to work in Australia temporarily after they finish their studies. It has two streams: the Graduate Work stream and the Post-Study Work stream.
The Graduate Work stream is for international students who graduate with skills and qualifications that relate to an occupation considered in demand in the Australian labour market, as indicated in the Skilled Occupation List (SOL) for Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List (MLTSSL). A visa in this stream is generally granted for 18 months.
The Post-Study Work stream offers extended options for working in Australia to eligible graduates of a higher education degree. Under this stream, successful applicants are granted a visa with a visa period of two, three or four years’ duration, depending on the highest educational qualification they have obtained.
