American students looking for good value in higher education in an English-speaking country with a pleasant climate could do worse than check out Australia or New Zealand. Both countries actively encourage overseas students to apply.

While somewhat different in educational system and certainly in size and culture, both Australia and New Zealand share a number of attributes that American students need to be aware of:

Distance from the US: Even from the West Coast, you’re looking at a 14 hour flight, each way. It’s not somewhere to consider if you are the kind of student who likes to come home at weekends.

Different hemisphere, different seasons: The summer break Down Under is from mid-November to mid-February. This means you’ll be home for Thanksgiving and the Winter in the USA. But you’ll be studying hard in June, July and August.

Fees are much lower than at private US colleges. But the sinking US dollar makes them less of a bargain than a few years back. Factor in the cost of airfare.

Resources: Study in Australia, Study in New Zealand

Gap Year

If you are not ready to undertake a degree program in Australia, but want to spend a Gap Year doing casual work while you travel the country, then the good news is that since October 2007, Americans between the ages of 18-30 now have the same casual employment rights as British students have enjoyed. Check out the visa news, and explore job opportunities, in the tropical Queensland region at Cairns Unlimited.

Similar opportunities exist in New Zealand, as explained on this NZ Government site.