OVERSEAS STUDENT INFORMATION

The school has government approval from the Department of Education Science and Training to offer training to overseas students who will be able to apply for an Australian student visa

   Our provider code is 02438J

   Einstein's Moon Pty Ltd trading as The School for F.M. Alexander Studies

 THE DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION WEBSITE                 FURTHER STUDENT IMMIGRATION LINKS

APPLICATION GUIDE FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS

Below are details on the policies and procedures required by the School for F.M. Alexander Studies to accept an international student or intending international student.

You should study them carefully as you will be entering into a legally binding agreement with the School once you accept your Offer of Enrolment as an international student and pay your tuition fees.

All quoted fees and charges are in Australian dollars.

FEES 2007

The fees for overseas students in 2007 are $11,495 per annum payable as $2,873.75 per term. For students taking the horse riding specialist option the fee would be $14,695 per annum or $3,673.75 per term.

This amount is a fixed fee for three years and will not rise unless the consumer price index rises by more than 5%.

1. Payments

2. The School's Refund Policy

Refund Policy
Please note that Government Legislation requires tuition fees and application fees to be refunded in full if:

• The course does not start of the agreed starting date which is notified in the Offer Letter
• The course stops being provided after it starts and before it is completed
• The course is not provided fully to the student because the college has a sanction imposed by a government regulator
• If the course defaults, refunds will be granted in accordance with the provisions of the ESOS Act 2000 and the ESOS Regulations 2001

Refunds under the above conditions will be paid in full to the student within 14 days.

The College may arrange for another course, or part of a course, to be provided to students at no (extra) cost to the student as an alternative to refunding course money.
Where the student agrees to this arrangement, the College will not be liable to refund the money owed for the original enrolment.

College Enrolment & Refund Agreement

In making a contract to enrol in a course(s) at the College the Applicant acknowledges:

• 1. That the information provided by the Applicant in their application is complete and correct.
• 2. Agrees to be bound by the College rules and regulations and any amendments made to the rules and regulations.
• 3. Agrees to undertake a testing requirement prior to any course entry, if deemed necessary by College.
• 4. Agrees to observe DIAC student visa requirements.
• 5.Agrees to pay all fees required on or by the due date as notified in writing by College or as per the invoice. A penalty of $50 per week applies for late payment.
• 6. College will access these fees in accordance with the procedures established by the State Government and the Australian Department of Education, Science and Training.
• 7. Changes or variations to this contract attract a $25 administrative fee.
• 8. College reserves the right to accept or reject any application for enrolment at its discretion.
• 9. College reserves the right to cancel any course prior to the commencement date of the course should it deem it necessary and in that event, shall refund all payments received from the Applicant.
• 10. Refunds are made in accordance with the policy below and full refunds of amounts owed to the student will be made within 14 days.

NOTE: All applications for refund must be made in writing and submitted to the Student Administration Manager by Registered mail, Courier or personal delivery as soon as practicable.

Prospective students who are overseas should contact Student Administration

• The College reserves the right to withhold granting the Award attained by the student, if student fees remain outstanding.
• The Refund policy applies equally to all students including students who have Permanent Residency or Australian Citizenship.**
• This agreement, and the availability of complaints and appeals processes, does not remove your right to take action under Australia's consumer protection laws
• The School's dispute resolution processes do not circumscribe the student's right to pursue other legal remedies.
• Refer to the Student Complaints & Appeals Procedure on the College website if you wish to appeal the Refund Policy.
• Any information that you provide to College or that the College collects about you can be given to authorised State and Commonwealth Agencies and ESOS Assurance Fund Manager.

      ** Except Visa refused prior to course commencement

3. Protection of fees paid in advance
The School for F.M. Alexander Studies will at all times maintain membership of the Overseas Students Tuition Assurance Scheme (OSTAS) in order to safegaurd all fees paid in advance

4. English Language Requirements
Participating in the course requires a minimum proficiency in English. The school will require evidence of your proficiency. Evidence required will include one of the following

a) An minimum score in IELTS Academic English of 5.5

b) Documentary evidence that you have studied at secondary level at an English language school

c) Documentary evidence that you have completed at least one year of study in a tertiary educaion course delivered in the English language.

5. The Education for Overseas Students Act (ESOS) and associated legislation is the legal framework governing the responsibility of education institutions towards overseas students.

Here is a link to       An Easy Guide To ESOS

LIVING IN MELBOURNE

Melbourne is the capital of the state of Victoria. Situated on the Yarra River and around Port Phillip Bay it has good beaches and water sports facilities. It is a beautiful spacious city with all the parks, gardens, sporting venues and scenic places that Australian space and natural resources allow and has easy access to wilderness, national parks and ski-fields. It is a safe city with Australia's lowest crime rate. With an abundance of fine universities and colleges with international reputations, Melbourne is considered Australia's premier university and education city and is an ideal place to study.

Melbourne has an excellent, easy to use, public transport system with trams, trains and buses providing an extensive network throughout the city and suburbs.

Melbourne's population of over 3.5 million people enjoys a good life. The city hosts a huge variety of festivals, cultural and sporting events including the Australian Tennis Open, International Comdedy Festival and International Arts Festival, Fringe Festival and has active performing arts, academic and literary communities.

One quarter of Melbourne's population was born overseas, making it one of the world's most multicultural and tolerant cities. There are now people from 140 nations living harmoniously together. This broad ethnic mix has brought many benefits to the city, including a wide range of cuisines and over 2,300 elegant restaurants, bistros and cafes.

Weather

Melbourne has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons: Winter is from June to August and the temperatures range from 10-15oC. Spring occurs from September to November and is a beautiful time to travel throughout Victoria. From December to February are the summer months and the temperature ranges from 16-35oC. Autumn occurs between March and May when the mornings are crisp and the days are sunny.

What others have said about Melbourne

Population Growth Council (Washington DC) in l994 the acclaimed Melbourne as "the world's most liveable city".

Economnist Intelligence Unit: Melbourne was voted the best city in which to live in a survey undertaken by the Economist Intelligence Unit in 2002, with three other Australian cities making it into the top 10. Listing major cities of the world for cost of living in March 2002 places Melbourne 81st on a list of 131 cities, with a score of 68 - London is 102, New York 100 and Tel Aviv 97.

The Utne Reader in its Nov/Dec 2001 issue ran an article titled "Seven Urban Wonders: what America can learn from seven enlightened cities, including Bologna Italy, Melbourne Australia, and Freiburg Germany. Noting the excellent public transport, the fine old buildings and the pulse in the city the article concludes: "Add a long tradition of civic pride, communities of new immigrants from around the world, and the best food in Australia, and you have a recipe for what many claim is the hippest city in the Southern Hemisphere."

With an abundance of fine universities and colleges with international reputations, Melbourne is considered Australia's premier university and education city and is an ideal place to study.

Cost of Living

Melbourne is a reasonably priced city providing good quality affordable living and abundant accommodation. Students will need $12,000-$15,000 (excluding tuition) per academic year to cover accommodation, daily travel, books & materials for their course and general living expenses. Accommodation costs range from $120-$180 for a flat/apartment to $200-$400 for houses. Rent is less if you decide to share. Allowance should also be made for 1st month's rent and bond (1 month rent.) Hostel costs are from $20-$30 for a dorm or $60-$150 for doubles.Often hostels will offer weekly stay discounts. Food costs can range from $50-$100 per week and public transport costs from $20 per week.

Employment

Students are permitted to work 20 hours per week during term time and full time during the vacation period. Students who choose to work are required to apply for a Visa with Work Rights after their enrolment at the School for F.M. Alexander Studies. The School does not organise employment - students should find their own. Many international students work part-time in the retail, tourism and hospitality industries.

Currency & Banking

Australian currency is the only legal tender in Australia. Money from other countries can be changed at the exchange facilities located at international airports, banks and major hotels. Travellers cheques are easier to use if already in Australian dollars; however, banks will cash travelers cheques in virtually any currency.

Normal bank trading hours are 9.30am to 4.00pm Monday to Friday. Most shopping centres have Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) facilities. These machines can be used for deposits and withdrawals 24 hours a day. Many department stores, supermarkets and shops have electronic transfer terminals (EFTPOS) where cash withdrawals can also be made in addition to purchasing goods.

Credit Cards

The most commonly accepted credit cards are MasterCard and Visa. American Express and Diners International are fairly widely accepted also.

GENERAL INFORMATION FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS STUDYING IN AUSTRALIA ON A STUDENT VISA

The Australian government has put in place strict requirements, both to protect the interests of overseas students and to make sure that student visas are not misused. The school has a duty to report any student who is in breach of their student visa requirements, and breach of these requirements may result in the cancellation of the student visa.

To this end the school is required to keep detailed records of attendance and to require a medical certificate in the case of absence from the school which are to be kept on file with the attendance records.

The school is also required to inform the immigration department if a student is consistently missing classes or has stopped attending classes, or if their academic progress is unsatisfactory.

Students need to be aware that information about them may be made available to Commonwealth and state agencies

All overseas students are required to give the school full contact details and to promptly advise the school of any change in their contact details.

Students with school age children are advised that they will need to pay school fees for their children's education, whether their children attend state or private schools in Australia.

The school requires all students enrolling at the school to be over 18 years of age.

Working in Australia

Students with student visas are able to apply to the immigration department for permission to work while they are doing their course in Australia. Students are limited to working 20 hours a week during term times.

RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING

The school will give credit for prior learning for students who have undergone training at overseas Alexander training which have been approved by societies affiliated with the Australian Society of Teachers of the Alexander Technique (AUSTAT), subject to receiving in writing, notification from the director of the training school concerned.

Student requesting recognition of prior learning, who have attended training schools which are not approved by a society affiliated with AUSTAT, will need to undergo an assessment procedure on their commencement of the course. The school can make no guarantees as to the outcome of such an assessment process. This assessment will be carried out by the director and two senior teachers who are members of AUSTAT and there will be a fee of $500 for thisassessment process. This assessment can only be carried out in Australia, and if recognition of prior learning is given the immigration department must be notified on the resulting change of course duration.

Students will may also apply for RPL in respect of the Certificate IV in Assessment & Workplace Training Modules, the modules from the Health Training Package and the First Aid Certificate.

Students who have been credited with recognition of prior learning will still be required to attend the school on a full-time basis, but they will be able to complete the course in a shorter time.

QUALIFICATIONS

• The College reserves the right to withhold granting the Award attained by the student, if student fees remain outstanding.
• Whilst local students will normally complete the course in four years,overseas students will be able to finish the course in three years.
• At the end of the course the graduate will have the following government accredited qualifications:
  • An Advanced Diploma in the Alexander Technique
  • Certificate IV in Workplace Assessment and Training
  • First Aid Certificate II
  • As well completion of the course will give an AUSTAT approved diploma which is internationally recognised.

FACILITIES

• The school is a small provider providing a large ratio of teachers to students and a comfortable work and study environment easily accessible by tram, bus and train.
• The school has a small lunch room with tea and coffee making facilites plus a microwave and hot-plate.
• The school provides a library which contains most of the books written on the Alexander technique (you will need to purchase Alexander's four books).

Homestay Accommodation

The School can arrange homestay accommodation with carefully screened Australian families.

Homestay weekly fees for full board range from $200-$250 and must be paid two weeks in advance. Homestay is an excellent way to commence your stay in Australia as your host family can assist you with day to day issues such as transport and banking.

An Accommodation Placement Fee of $150 is charged for this service, which also includes airport reception and transport to the homestay accommodation.

In addition, students are required to forward a $200 bond which is fully refundable when the student leaves the accommodation after any outstanding bills have been settled.

If you wish to take this option you will need to give us plenty of notice for us to be able to organise this. Most Melbourne families live a short distance from the city, so students can usually expect to travel at least 20 to 30 minutes to school.

Melbourne's excellent transport system takes you practically to the door of the School.

Temporary Accommodation

The School can arrange short-term hostel or hotel accommodation for students. This type of accommodation is suitable for students who wish to arrange their long-term accommodation after they arrive in Melbourne. Hostels offer clean, comfortable, dormitory style accommodation from $160-190 per week or a budget single room for $60 per night. Hotels are located in the city and surrounding suburbs and offer both standard/economy rooms with shared bathroom facilities and also superior rooms with en-suite bathroom. The School can arrange temporary accommodation for international students; an Accommodation Placement Fee ($120) is charged for this service (airport reception and transport to the hostel/hotel included). All rental payments are payable directly to the hostel/hotel. A bond may be requested for long-term stays (more than 2 weeks). Many newly arrived students choose to stay at the Nunnery from which the school can be easily reached by public transport.

The school may can also try to arrange temporary accommodation with one of the students or graudates for the school, but there is no guarantee that this can be arranged. A spare room in a house will normally be $120 - $150 per week.

Independent Accommodation

Many students share flats (units) or houses which are rented through real estate agents. You may pay anything from $90 - $200 a week for a room in a shared house. A onebedroom flat may cost about $200- $250 per week in rental, and a 3 bedroom about $250-$350 per week. A month's rent in advance and bond money equivalent to one month's rent is required when renting a flat or house. An unfurnished flat or house will need to be furnished with a refrigerator and furniture. You will need about $2,000-$2,500 to spend on household goods, gas, electricity and telephone connections. The School does not arrange this independent accommodation.

Another option is a fully furnished apartment located in the city or surrounding suburbs. These apartments may offer services such as 24-hour security, monthly cleaning and telephone connection. Please contact the School for further details.

On Arrival Service

Students who have used the School's Accommodation Placement Service will be met at the airport and transported to their lodgings.

Other students who have arranged their own accommodation and wish to be met at the airport and transported to their accommodation can have this service provided for a fee of $70.

PLEASE NOTE IF YOU WISH FOR THE SCHOOL TO ARRANGE ACCOMMODATION FOR YOU FOR WHEN YOU ARRIVE WE NEED AT LEAST 30 DAYS NOTICE