Study opportunities in Oceania
So if you’re dreaming of studying in paradise, you’re in the right place in Oceania. Countries like Australia and New Zealand in particular have an excellent education system in addition to wonderful landscapes. International rankings show that the universities in Australia and New Zealand are at the top of the world. Based on Countryaah, reasons for this include:
- Excellent research
- Practical study programs
- Good study conditions: The universities are generally well equipped, the course sizes are manageable and service is very important.
The study system corresponds to the British model with its division into an undergraduate and a postgraduate study section. The universities award Bachelor, Master and PhD degrees. Courses are offered from all subject areas, including subjects typical of the country such as Marine and Tropical Biology or Māori Studies.
Requirements for application in Oceania
In contrast to other English-speaking countries, applying for a degree in Down Under is relatively easy. The universities generally only require a (technical) high school diploma and sufficient knowledge of English.
Use new opportunities – TAFE institutes and transfer Bachelor
Particularly interesting for prospective students without a high school diploma : Students without a high school diploma can also obtain a degree at the Australian TAFE institutes, which are responsible for vocational training. With this, they can be classified into the second year of a regular bachelor’s degree.
The Transfer Bachelor is an interesting option for all those who are already studying. This makes it possible to continue a bachelor’s degree that has already started in New Zealand or Australia and to acquire a bachelor’s degree there. The prerequisite is that at least half of the study time is completed in Oceania.
Funding options for studying in Oceania
The diverse financing options also make studying in Oceania interesting. For example, students who only want to spend one or two semesters down under can be supported by the Auslands-BAföG. There are also organizations and foundations that award scholarships for studying abroad, such as the DAAD or talented organizations.
The Australian and New Zealand universities are particularly keen on students in the postgraduate field : the Australian government supports master students with outstanding achievements as part of the Endeavor Scholarships. For a PhD degree in New Zealand, German students only have to pay the same tuition fees as their local fellow students.
If you are not entitled to a BAföG abroad and do not receive a scholarship, you still have the opportunity to finance your study abroad in Oceania with an education or student loan. In addition to the KfW student loan or the student loan from the Sparkasse, there are now numerous organizations that support students financially through various educational funds.
| Country | Proportion of children starting primary school (per cent) | Number of students per teacher in primary school |
| Australia | 96.7 (2017) | 18 (1999) |
| Fiji | 97.2 (2016) | 20 (2016) |
| Kiribati | 95.1 (2017) | 25 (2017) |
| Marshall Islands | 77.1 (2016) | 17 (2002) |
| Micronesia Federation | 84.0 (2015) | 20 (2015) |
| Nauru | 84.2 (2016) | 40 (2016) |
| New Zealand | 99.1 (2017) | 15 (2016) |
| Palau | 99.1 (2014) | 16 (2000) |
| Papua New Guinea | 75.8 (2016) | 36 (2016) |
| Solomon Islands | 69.5 (2017) | 26 (2017) |
| Samoa | 94.5 (2017) | 30 (2010) |
| Tonga | 86.9 (2015) | 22 (2015) |
| Tuvalu | 84.6 (2016) | 17 (2016) |
| Vanuatu | 85.8 (2015) | 27 (2015) |
French Polynesia
Various historical theories exist about Polynesia’s first residents. Some believe that they are from Latin America, others that they are from Indonesia, but the question remains unresolved.
In 1840, the islands were occupied by France and, despite opposition from the indigenous population, in 1880 they were made French colony under the term “French possessions in Oceania”. In 1958, they were declared French overseas territory.
Apart from some concessions at local political level, France continues to dominate the islands. The colonial powers have used a hard hand in dealing with population and islands because of their strategic location, and especially because France has conducted nuclear test blasts on the Mururoa Atoll since 1966. In 1975, the blasts extended to the Fangataufa Atoll despite the resistance of the population and protests from other countries in the region. New Zealand.
The relentless stance of the colonial power has led to ever stronger opposition from independence groups that have brought the matter before the UN decolonization committee, without, however, having had any major impact until now.
The test blasts in the area have destroyed the traditional economy of Tahiti. It is now largely dependent on the French military budget. Just a generation ago, the islands were predominantly self-sufficient. By the late 1980’s, 80% of the food had to be imported.
The environment and population health have deteriorated in recent decades, and there has been a drastic increase in the number of cancer cases: brain cancer, leukemia and thyroid cancer. Therefore, in recent years, the French government has completely stopped publishing health statistics from the islands.
In 1985, French intelligence Greenpeace spun the Rainbow Warrior ship into the air in New Zealand. The ship was on its way to Mururoa to protest the French nuclear test. In 1992, French President François Mitterrand decided to temporarily suspend trial, and Paris began negotiations with Papetee to devise an economic plan to secure the region’s development following the closure of the Mururoa and Fangataufa military bases.
The “Progress Pact” between Paris and French Polynesia is based on the same principles as the IMF structural rationalization programs. Ie liberalization of the economy, privatization and balance of public budgets. Paris promised significant financial support in the period 1994-98 to ensure the plan’s success. Yet the Independence Party Tavini Huiraatira (“serving the people” in Polynesian) – led by Oscar Temaru and holding 15% of the vote – wants to implement nationalizations and increase free service.
In January 1996, French President Jacques Chirac announced that the trial blasts would be definitively suspended following a new series of controversial blasts. After the first of these blasts, there were demonstrations and clashes with the French police in Tahiti. Two years after the nuclear test, tourism had increased by 35%.
In May 1997, the conservative Tahoeraa Huiraatira-RPR won the elections to the Local Assembly, followed by the independence tendencies. In February 98, it was found that tourism from Japan and Italy in particular had increased by 35% in 1997. This development was thought to be linked to the declaration that nuclear tests would cease.
A French court acquitted the President of Polynesia and a member of the French Senate, Gaston Flosse, guilty of corruption. In November 1999, Flosse received a conditional sentence of 2 years in prison for receiving tens of thousands of dollars, in exchange for looking through fingers with the establishment of illegal casinos in Tahiti. However, Flosse refused to resign and declared his readiness to appeal the verdict.