International Students
Study with Ikon
Ikon is a private higher education provider in art therapy, counselling and psychotherapy and early childhood education. Ikon has been providing education since 2008 and has been registered as a higher education provider since 2016; helping people help others for over twelve years.
Our higher education courses in counselling and psychotherapy, arts therapy, and early childhood education provide individuals with the skills and knowledge to move forward with rewarding careers. Ikon students are diverse but are connected by a common desire to make a positive difference in the lives of others.
With campuses in Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney you get to choose where you will explore a new culture, gain a new global perspective and make friends from all over the world.
Ikon is registered to deliver the following courses to overseas students in Australia and subscribes to the Australian Government’s Tuition Protection Service initiative.
Link to CRICOS Registration.
CRICOS Provider Number 03581E
Why Australia
Australia is a sophisticated, multi-cultural society with a great love of sport, food, music and life in general. Our vast geography offers you with so many unique travel experiences. From the ‘Outback’, our untamed wildness, to the beauty of the Great Barrier Reef to our cosmopolitan cities and our beautiful sandy beaches you will be amazed!
History
We have been teaching in the ‘Wellness’ space for almost 30 years with Australia’s only Psychotherapy Bachelor courses.
As the leader in ’Art Therapy’ education we provide you with a unique education experience you will be part of small intensive cohort of students.
How to apply?
Complete the application form below, plus the following forms:
International Student Application Form
Admission Eligibility
International applicants may be accepted into a course of study at Ikon where they achieve the following:
1. Are at least 18 years of age at the time of application
2. Satisfy the academic admission criteria most relevant to their relevant circumstances
3. Satisfy any course specific admissions criteria for their chosen course
4. Satisfy the published English Language Proficiency for their chosen course
5. Participate in an interview
Under the Australian Government’s Simplified Student Visa Framework, international applicants must also satisfy Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) visa requirements. As part of the International Student Application Form, applicants will be required to complete a series of GTE screening questions.
Course Admission Criteria:
Bachelor of Arts Therapy
Bachelor of Counselling and Psycotherapy
Diploma of Early Childhood Education
Bachelor of Early Childhood Education
English Language Proficiency Requirements
Download Here
Tuition fees
Studying in Australia
Studying overseas is an exciting adventure, and the experiences you have while living in Australia will stay with you for your lifetime. To begin with, you may find it challenging and it will take time to adjust to your new life. You may experience difficulties in cultural, social or academic areas; and find that the values and customs of your home country are very different to those in Australia. Remember that you are not alone and that there is always help available to assist you to settle in.
Bringing Family to Australia
If you are intending to bring school aged children with you to Australia, they must go to school full time if aged between 5-18. You will be required to pay school fees for your children, approximately $4160 per year at primary school and $5160 per year at secondary school.
There will also be Visa requirements for your family members. Visit the Department of Immigration and Border Protection website here or the Study Australia website here for more information.
International students in Australia, on a valid student visa, can work for up to 20 hours per week (Monday to Sunday) while school is in session. There is no limit on the number of hours an international student can work during recognised school vacations or holiday periods. Students are not allowed to begin working until after their course(s) have begun.
The 20-hour-per-week limit does not extend to any work the student is required to undertake as a component of his or her studies or training. Volunteer and unpaid work, however, does count towards the 20 hours. If an international student works more than the Australian restrictions allow, his or her visa may be cancelled. More info
Family members (spouses and children) accompanying the international student under their student visa have the same work rights as the student – 20 hours per week. Unlike the students, family members may not exceed 20 hours per week, even during holidays. For those students obtaining a graduate degree, like a masters degree, their family can work unlimited hours. Like students, family members are not allowed to work until after the student has started his or her course.
Eating Out
Australia is a multicultural nation, and nowhere is this more obvious than in our food culture. The nation is home to a great many nationalities, which, luckily for us, show off their national talents through the delicious form of food.
Deciding where to eat out can be tough, with almost every international taste catered for. You should have no trouble finding a travel favourite or food from back home. Major cities tend to have different cuisines cluster together in areas.
There are also plenty of great options to suit the student budget. Chinatowns and local pubs are often a good bet, offering cheap lunch deals and dinner specials. Serving both food and alcohol, pubs are the great location to bridge the gap between eating out and staying out, and Australian cities are known for their huge amount of pubs.
What to Bring
- Your Hand Luggage
Your hand luggage should include a document folder; plane ticket; valuables like laptops, camera; and any necessary medicine for an existing complaint.There are security regulations about carrying liquids, aerosols or gels in your hand luggage. Read information at: www.travelsecure.infrastructure.gov.au
- Clothing
On most campuses, students usually dress informally. Jeans or pants with t-shirts or blouses, sneakers or “running shoes” are standard dress. Shorts are often worn during the summer months and sandals are the most common footwear. Men and women commonly wear shorts and sleeveless t-shirts in summer.A nice jacket or suit and tie for men and appropriate dress for women is necessary for some functions such as formal dinners, a graduation ceremony, etc.For festive occasions, you may want to bring traditional dress and accessories.
Australian Academic Year
Many courses have start dates in either Semester 1 (February – March) or Semester 2 (May – July) and there is often an orientation week for new students prior to the course commencement.
The class timetable follows the school holiday calendar with a two week break in March / April, June/ July, September / October and a long summer holiday from December through to February.
Time Zones
There are three different time zones that stretch across this vast country.
Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST (UTC +10)) covers New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (QLD), Victoria (VIC), the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and Tasmania (TAS). Australian Central Standard Time (ACST (UTC +9.5)) covers South Australia (SA) and the Northern Territory (NT).
Australian Western Standard Time (AWST (UTC +8)) covers Australia’s largest state, Western Australia (WA). Daylight saving (moving clocks forward one hour) occurs during summer months (Oct – Apr) in the ACT, SA, NSW, TAS and VIC
Money Matters
Australian currency uses the decimal system of dollar and cents. The Australian dollar ($) is a national currency and accepted across all states and territories.
If you plan to transfer funds to Australia then make sure to take notice of exchange rates and any associated fees.
- ATMs
Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) are located everywhere, including at the airport. You can immediately withdraw cash from your overseas bank account at ATMs displaying the Cirrus Logo if your ATM card has international access. Check this with your financial institution before leaving home.
- Credit cards
All major international credit cards are accepted in Australia but often repayments to these cards can only be made in the country where they were issued. Do not rely on being able to get a credit card once you arrive in Australia because this is very difficult due to credit and identification laws.
- Electronic transfer
You can transfer money into Australia by electronic telegraph or telegraphic transfer at any time. This is a fast option and will take approximately 48 hours, but the bank will charge a fee on every transaction. You are able to pre-open a bank account before you arrive.
- Initial Expenses
Here is an example of some of the set up costs you might encounter when you come to Australia.
Cost of Living
Please visit: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500#HowTo for a full breakdown on cost of living in Australia.
Orientation & Student Services
When to Arrive
Admission and Enrolment
After you return your ‘Acceptance of Offer’ to Ikon, staff will enrol you into your chosen qualification and advise you via email.
Student Services
Most international students look back on the time they spend studying and living in Australia as a challenging yet rewarding adventure. Remember, getting used to anything new or different takes a while. Our friendly staff and students will be waiting to answer your questions and to help you with more information about studying at Ikon and living in Australia once you arrive.
Ikon International Student Orientation
The Ikon International Student Orientation is a compulsory introduction to studying at Ikon.
The briefing covers:
- Campus services
- IKON policies and procedures
- Obtaining your student card
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
- Enrolment
- Culture, social and academic adjustment
You will receive your booking confirmation for compulsory orientation by email. All international students must attend their scheduled orientation. There will also be a welcome event.
Campus Facilities
Transport Discounts
Some international students within certain campuses will have access to discounted travel on public service, through their Ikon student card. For further details see links below
Adelaide https://studyadelaide.com/live/transport/#
Brisbane https://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/concessions/tertiary
The Ikon Institute is committed to providing a supportive and positive environment for all members of its community and beyond. This extends to providing student support throughout the entirety of a students’ journey with us. You can view more details about the services we provide here.
Accommodation
We recommend that you decide on where you would like to live, based on the campus you choose to study at. Please click on the links below for further information.
Temporary Accommodation
If you have not arranged long-term accommodation in Australia, it is essential to book temporary accommodation before your arrival. Please make your own temporary accommodation arrangements and bookings, as IKON does not run a temporary accommodation booking service. You can search for temporary accommodation through:
How much will it cost?
When should I book?
We recommend that you book your temporary accommodation at least two weeks before you travel to Australia.
For how long should I book accomodation?
Long-term accommodation?
How to Apply
Once you make an initial enquiry into studying with the Ikon Institute of Australia, our course advisors and support team will take you through the detailed steps from the initial submission of your application to starting the first day of your learning journey!
Here is a snap shot of the application process. Apply using these forms:
Once we process your application, if you meet the education / eligibility requirements, you will be sent a Letter of Offer. At this stage, we invite you to Accept your Offer.You will be sent a Confirmation of Enrolment (COE). You will need to apply for a student visa. You organise your travel and other arrangements in Australia. This is likely to include travel and temporary accomodation. Have a look at the orientation activities. Start Learning!
Entry Requirements
All applicants must satisfy Ikon Institute of Australia’s English language entry requirements by achieving an English test score as follows:
- International English Language Testing systems (IELTS) overall result of 6.0
Other tests may include;
- General Certificate of Education (GCE)
- English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
- MIT English Placement Assessment
International Policies
The Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000, or ESOS Act, establishes legislative requirements and standards for the quality assurance of education and training institutions offering courses to international students who are in Australia on a student visa. ESOS also provides tuition fee protection for international students. You can view the ESOS framework here.
The following polices have been designed in the best interest of our international students and the organisation alike, to ensure the highest standard of services provision and learning outcomes possible.
International Student Refund and Tuition Assurance Policy
International Deferral and Withdrawal Policy
International Student Services Policy
International Course Progress Policy
International Student Selection and Admission Policy
International Student Transfer Policy
International Education Agent Policy
FAQs
You can view our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) here.
Alternatively, you may wish to view the following Useful Resources:
Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP)
Migration agents
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
In your home country, all matters relating to your student visa are managed by the immigration section of the Australian Diplomatic Mission (the Australian High commission, consulate or Embassy), visit: https://www.dfat.gov.au/
Education agents
Education agents are experienced in making international student applications and applying for visas. Most do not charge for their service as they collect a commission from the institution you choose to attend.
However, some agents do charge small amounts or offer additional services for which they charge. You can check with the IKON Institute for contact details of agents we recommend.
Agents
Ikon welcomes the opportunity to work with approved education agents from different cultural backgrounds both locally and internationally Through its written policies and procedures, Ikon ensures the integrity and practices of its appointed and prospective agents and endeavours to ensure all communication channels between Ikon and agents is timely, efficient, relevant and transparent.
Become an Ikon Education Agent
Please submit an Ikon Agent Application Form and supporting documentation via Agent Application