Australia's Deakin University to Offer Scholarships & Charge Half Tuition Fees At Indian Campus

New Delhi: Deakin University, Australia is going to establish its campus in India. After the statement made by the Prime Minister to this effect last year, it is now the first foreign university to announce the opening of its campus in India.

The International Branch Campus (IBC) of Deakin University will be built in Gujarat's GIFT City. According to Vice-Chancellor Professor Iain Martin, the entry requirements will be the same as for its campuses in Australia.

Prof. Martin spoke extensively about a variety of topics, including placements, scholarships, and the qualifying requirements and tuition fees in an interview.

When asked about Deakin University's focus only on postgraduate programmes, Prof. Iain Martin replied that Deakin University is committed to providing programmes with a strong industry emphasis in order to meet the demand for skilled labour in the fin-tech industry at GIFT City. Future-ready professionals who can begin providing professional value after completing the course and help to boost India's economy will be produced by postgraduate courses in cybersecurity and business analytics. The employers need a skilled professional in these areas.

Deakin will help GIFT City achieve its goals by providing its target business sectors with a supply of graduates who are prepared for the workforce. "Cadetships" — research projects and internships that will be made possible through Deakin's collaboration with industries — will be the USP of the courses it offers.

As GIFT City expands, Deakin will scale its activities in response to an increase in demand for these courses. Studying in an Australian college is preferable for a comprehensive undergraduate educational experience that includes global and multicultural learning and campus life.

On the other hand, postgraduate students have more benefit from professional programs, industry partnerships, and employability/job readiness. Speaking about the eligibility criteria for admission, Prof Martin revealed that the entry requirements will be the same as those for campuses in Australia, which are a strong undergraduate degree, professional expertise, and an evaluation of one's English language skills.

The programs will be provided according to the same schedule and trimester structure (intake in February, July, and October). This will enable a student at the university's location in Gujarat to transfer easily to one of the five campuses in Australia in order to complete a trimester of study there.

Academic requirements will follow Deakin's frameworks and manuals and be in line with Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, Australia's national accreditation authority (TEQSA). The courses provided will be similar to those that Deakin offers in Australia and are accredited by the Australian Computer Society, a group of computer professionals.

Commenting on the tuition fees, Prof. Martin said that the university will initially accept 50–60 students and eventually increase the number up to 100. The tuition fees has not yet been determined, but it will be anticipated to be half of what Deakin costs on its campuses in Australia. It offers students the chance to pursue a foreign education on their home soil without paying for international relocation.

In order to recruit the teachers, Prof. Martin said that about 80% of the teachers will be employed from India, and the remaining 20% will be from Australia. A chance to learn from what is happening in Australia as well as an opportunity for Australian colleagues to learn what is happening in GIFT City will be provided to the engaged teachers from India to travel Australia once every 12 to 18 months.

Emphasising that there will be a sizable workforce involved, Prof said that the Indian teaching faculty members employed by the Deakin University campus in GIFT City will be required to complete a graduate certificate in teaching and learning methods in higher education within the first three years of their employment.

Discussing the scholarship schemes, Prof. Martin said that Deakin has helped over 20,000 people fulfil their goals of studying abroad by providing scholarships and bursaries to Indian students.

More than 10,000 alumni who are having a major global impact in their fields also had their futures shaped by the university. Deakin will keep doing the same through the International Branch Campus, and helping students with scholarships is currently a work in progress. Information on the courses, applications, scholarships, and other topics will be made available shortly.

Prof. Martin spoke about his vision behind choosing India as the destination for the offshore campus, stating that With the motto "In India, With India, For India," Deakin has a proud heritage of engagement in India that dates back almost three decades.

Deakin University actually established operations in India first among international universities. It has been a very thorough and productive interaction with Indian students, academics, researchers, business, and government organisations.

India makes up a sizable portion of the school's foreign student body. Through grants and scholarships, the Deakin India study Initiative has played a significant role in encouraging collaboration between Australia and India in important study fields, Martin said.

With more than 50% of the population under 25, India is a young nation where investing in top-notch education is essential for the nation's economic growth and development as well as to provide young people the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in a world that is constantly changing.

Finding a suitable location for Deakin to establish an international branch campus in India is a logical expansion of its business activities. The availability of schools, affordable housing, hotels, and recreational amenities within GIFT City is another element that enables Deakin to plan a launch as early as next year.

The chance for Deakin was made even more appealing by the IFSC norms, which were revealed last October for foreign campuses and call for rules and standards to be the same as the home campus.

Prof. Martin elaborated on the options for work visas available to the students, saying that while those completing their postgraduate degrees at Deakin's campus in GIFT City will not be eligible for a post-study work visa (which is only available to those who study in Australia for a period of two years), there will be some benefits when looking for employment in abroad.

Students who are qualified migrants may apply for work visas. Concluding the interview by speaking about the placement plan or strategy in place for students graduating from India campus, Dr. Martin said that the International Branch Campus of Deakin University is situated in GIFT, which has the strategic benefit of housing some of the top global financial and insurance companies where the students can be integrated into the digital economy.

HSBC, Infosys, TCS, Xebia, and HCL are a few of Deakin's clients. Alongside these partners, students will receive training, serving as an important supply of labour.

Read More:

• Deakin University Admission 2023
• Deakin University Scholarship 2023 

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