Q&A with Lorna, student at the Australian Learning Group (ALG) in Sydney

As part of our Q&A series, Study Online Australia had the pleasure of speaking to Lorna Samson who is originally from the UK.

After two working holiday visas, she decided to study down under. 
 
​But Lorna's college closed down unexpectedly as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic. Thankfully, the Study Online Australia team swiftly helped her to change courses and she is now studying at the Australian Learning Group (ALG). Lorna is now happily studying Certificate III and Certificate IV in Fitness, which is something she has always wanted to pursue.

We asked Lorna her top tips on studying in Australia.

What inspired you to apply for a student visa?

After completing my two year working holiday visa, I decided this beautiful country would be a far better place to start my studies rather than returning home to Scotland.

​There are so many international students doing the same thing which assured me that it was a good decision to make!

What have you loved about Australia so far?

I love my course as it goes hand-in-hand with fitness, which is one of my favourite past times. The experience will hopefully give me the opportunity to work in an industry that I love. The college is convenient and easy to get to as well which is a huge bonus.

How did Study Online Australia help you to find the right course?

I spoke to the Study Online Australia team about what I was interested in studying and how long I wished to spend at college.

Company director Pavla sent me a list of numerous colleges with different timetables so that I could choose one which suits me best. I changed college and course twice but Pavla was really helpful and quick to respond.

How did you find the student visa process? 

The application process was much easier than I expected it to be all thanks to the Study Online Australia team's help. They gathered the information quickly and process the application on your behalf. The team will also follow up if they need any further information and spend a lot of time making sure everything is correct before sending the application. 

What advice would you give to readers dreaming of studying down under? 

The biggest advice I would give to aspiring students is to choose a course you really want to study instead of just going for the cheapest option. It's also really important to save money before commencing your course as the student fees can be tough!