How to choose an English college

Hello again from Study Online Australia!

Today I would like to talk about how to choose the right English college and what factors to consider before enrolling in. It is a simple guide with 4 useful steps.

1. Choose the city
Before coming to Australia, it is good to do a little bit of search about main cities and states in Australia. Check out  climate, population, transportation, work & accommodation options, etc. The majority of international students come to Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Cairns, Brisbane, Byron Bay, Noosa, Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast. 

2. Study in the city or close to the beach?
Once you know at which city you would like to study, then you can start thinking if you like to study in the city or close to the beach. There is never a bad choice. You just need to consider your accommodation & work distance from the school. For example, if you choose to live in the city, then it is practical to find a college in the city too. You can also save money on public transport and if you lucky enough to find work in the city it is double saving for you! At the end, you can really save a quite enormous amount on transportation fees as well as save time travelling by public transport.
On the other hand, if you choose to study close to the beach, there is usually more relaxed lifestyle and a wider range of outdoor areas.

3. English Australia members
All right. So now you should know at which city you would like to study and at which location. At this moment, it is the best time to look for the right college. There are many colleges to choose from. Study Online Australia works mainly with the English colleges which are members of English Australia. What does it mean? It means that English Australia is the national peak body for the English language sector of international education. It makes sure that the English colleges provide high course quality, deliver best practice support and expertise to international students.

4. How to compare the colleges
At Study Online Australia, we always provide at least 2-3 college profiles. You will get the full college profiles with the total prices (tuition fee, material fee, application fee). When you start comparing the colleges, try to look for information like: 

• how many English levels are provided (some colleges don't offer beginners or advanced classes), 
• what variety of the courses the college provides (General English, IELTS, Cambridge courses, EAP, Pronunciation & Business English)
• timetable options (morning, afternoon, evening), 
• prices & payment instalment options 
• nationality mix of students studying at the college, 
• facilities, 
• how many students are in the class,
• student activities after school hours, 
• teachers qualification,
• students' testimonials & reputation
• any extra charges (for example changing the timetable).

It is never too late to ask for any questions or further information. So feel free to ask me at any time. It will be my pleasure to assist you finding the right English college.