If you are a student in Australia, Victoria then its time to rejoice. The Victoria government has extended travel discounts for students that are studying in selected institutions there. As a part of this, each student irrespective of your educational institution will get a discount of 25 per cent in travel expenses. If you are studying the specified institutes then an additional discount of 25 per cent will be provided.
In the budget announced this week, a total of $3.75 million for travel discount was made available to international full time undergraduate and eligible VET students who attend a participating institution. Currently the students were eligible for 50 per cent discount on using public transport by the iUse pass. This facility too has been further extended till the end of year 2018.
Minister for Small Business, Innovation and Trade Philip Dalidakis said, “This extension is another way we can ensure international students have a great experience while in Victoria.” “We have a world class education system and these measures help make sure our international students go home as ambassadors for our state.” “We will continue to grow our international education sector, as students flock to Victoria for a great education and a great lifestyle.”
Students who study in Victoria enjoy all these discounts when it comes to travel. This is often claimed as a reason by the government that around a third of all international students who came to Australia chose Victoria over other states. There are no such discounts available in New South Wales. No doubt that this can be one of the reason as this sure takes away some of the financial pressure.
To be eligible for taking benefits of these travel discounts you must be an international student enrolled in a full-time undergraduate course (Bachelor Degree or Associate Degree) or a higher VET course (Advanced Diploma or Diploma). This will mark the first 25 per cent discount. If you are studying in one of the participating institutes you get 25 per cent more.
The universities covered under this scheme are: (participating institution)
- Australian Catholic University
- Box Hill Institute
- Chisholm Institute
- Danford College
- Deakin University
- Education Access Australia
- Holmesglen Institute
- Job Training Institute
- Kaplan Business School
- La Trobe University
- Melbourne City Institute of Education
- Melbourne University
- Monash University
- Photography Studies College
- RMIT University
- SAE Creative Media Institute
- South Pacific Institute
- Swinburne University
- Universal Institute of Technology
- University of Divinity
- Victoria University
