MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Australia woos Chilean students

Chilean graduates and undergraduates will be wooed over the weekend to continue their degrees and/or trainings in Australia.

The education fair "Study in Australia" organized by Australia's International Division of the Ministry of Education, Science and Training and taking place in Santiago's Sheraton Hotel will be providing information on twenty government and private institutions covering a wide range of academic opportunities.

Besides the stands of each university, technical school, college, professional and language institutes, visitors to the fair can listen to conferences given by Australian staff who will inform about scholarships and working possibilities for those who are interested in the Australian option.

According to Australian Education Counselor for South and Central America Tony Crooks all those wishing to travel to Australia for a maximum course of three months can do so with a tourist visa.

However with a student visa, candidates are entitled to twenty hours work a week and during holidays "full time which makes it easier for foreigners to sustain themselves financially", added Crooks.

Apparently last year 350 Chilean students travelled to Australia and this year's target, with the help of the fair, is 500.

The roving fair is also scheduled to visit Colombia and Brazil.