400,000 international students; 200 nationalities; and over 65,000 enrolments from India…Mind-boggling numbers these, which tell the story about what an Australian education has come to signify to India and to the world. Ivor Vaz attempts to unravel the mystery

Consider this: Not so very long ago - at the turn of the millennium to be precise - international student enrolments in Australia from India amounted to a mere 10,000. Back then, Australia's principal source markets for students were China, Thailand, Malaysia, Japan, Korea Hong Kong and Indonesia. Each of these countries had more students studying in Australia than India did, and as a consequence India wasn't even part of Australia's marketing strategy.

Circa 2008: From any educator's standpoint, to exclude India from the gameplan today would be blasphemy - and certain suicide.

It's Australia's highest-ranked university. It's always featured amongst the leading universities in the world. And it's inching up the Jiao Tong rankings as well. But there's lots more about Australia's second oldest University than just impressive numbers, discovers Ivor Vaz

They say that a casual stroll through The University of Melbourne has a stimulating effect on the senses. Its very Victorian building structure, the cobbled stone walkways, lush lawns, multicultural ambience (with students from all four corners of the earth), and the University building itself - they all seem to tell of a rich tradition and a strong ethos. Established in 1853, the University boasts a grand 150 year history of innovation, with an international reputation underpinned by excellence in research, teaching and knowledge transfer.

Consider this: Melbourne's teaching pre-eminence has been rewarded two years in a row by grants from the Commonwealth Government's Learning and Teaching Performance Fund for Australian universities that demonstrate excellence in undergraduate teaching and learning.

It's only in Western Australia that you're likely to find a wide-ranging diversity of intercontinental students. Besides world-class universities that is, observes Ivor Vaz.

If you're an Indian student and contemplating where to study in Australia, you could begin by asking yourself two basic questions.

Internationally recognised, highly ranked and globally respected, Carnegie Mellon - Australia's first overseas university - is a virtual passport for a sound academic future, finds Ivor Vaz

What do astronaut Judith Resnik, pop artist Andy Warhol, actors Holly Hunter and James Cromwell, billionaire hedge fund investor David Tepper, and mathematics genius John Nash have in common?

Australia is a vibrant country with a great deal to offer students looking for an international education. Australia provides you with wonderful opportunities and a whole new view of the world, not to mention exciting and progressive world-class education programs