The outback of Australia is the place we all think of when we think of the true Aussie experience, with kangaroos hopping down the street, desert-like landscapes, and lush bushland waiting to be explored. It’s also a place that many think of visiting, but never actually get round to doing so. I mean, we don’t blame you…a lot of it is located in the middle of absolute nowhere. Did you know that the center of Australia is pretty much all untouched outback land?

While you may overlook a visit to the outback, here are 10 reasons why we think it should be a priority before you leave the Land of Oz. It wouldn’t be a true Aussie visit without it!

1. Witnessing iconic Aussie animals in their natural habitat

While you may not see a kangaroo hopping down the street in a Sydney suburb, the outback of Australia is a completely different story. Every animal or insect you have ever heard about before visiting the country (especially the dangerous ones) reside in the desert lands of the outback. From poisonous snakes to the famous Australian dingo, there will be no shortage of wildlife spotting.

2. You can check out one of the many movie sets

Due to its unique, Mars-like landscape, many directors have chosen to travel across the world to film in locations across the Australian outback. Mad Max 2 was filmed in Silverton, New South Wales, in a spooky abandoned ghost town. The pub, one of the main features of the town, actually has Max’s car still parked outside to this day.

3. Experiencing Ayers Rock in all its glory

The famous Ayers Rock, located in Uluru, is a rather large sandstone rock formation in the Northern Territory. It is one of the greatest natural wonders of the world, being a very popular destination amongst tourists who flock in great numbers to witness this rock in all its glory. We understand why, as it’s pretty cool to witness a rock that was formed a whopping 550 million years ago. 

4. You can enjoy views of some of Australia’s best sunsets

The outback of Australia is known to boast some of most epic sunsets in Australia. The sky fills up with shades of orange and red as it beams down on the desert landscape, creating a truly magical thing to witness.

5. ...And sunrises

The sunrises are no exception. As the sun begins to rise in the distance, the light touches the landscape for the first time, creating a truly epic start to your day. Ayers Rock at sunrise allows for some truly spectacular photo-ops as the bright orange rock explodes with color.

6. Explore the waterfalls and canyons

While the outback may seem like just a whole lot of desert (which it is), there’s also some amazing water scenery to discover. What better way to end your day in the scorching hot outback than with a swim in one of the spectacular watering holes, with a waterfall flowing into it? Just make sure to watch out for crocs… just kidding (but not really).

7. Experience complete remoteness

You could drive for miles and never see another soul, and you will likely not run into people on your hike through the Australian bushland. There will be towns that you visit that are completely abandoned, and campsites where not even a kangaroo will pay a visit. It is truly so remote that you will be able to appreciate the landscape without any distractions. Allow yourself to unplug and take it all in.

8. Enjoy the magnificent star gazing

A big plus of complete remoteness is the complete lack of light pollution from big cities, meaning that nighttime stargazing will be like nothing you have ever seen before. Prepare for a spectacular night show every single night as the stars fill the sky, creating a complete dome of stars around you.

9. Experience #VanLife

If you’re traveling throughout the outback, chances are you’re camping along the way since there are little opportunities to stop at a five-star resort. This means you get to experience #VanLife in all its glory, sleeping in the bushland, waking up to an epic sunrises, and going without a shower for longer than you want to admit. It’s the dream!

10. Enjoy views that go on forever

The flat desert landscape of the outback seems as though it goes on forever, with so much untouched land that’s waiting to be discovered. So, what are you waiting for?

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By Cim Bayer

Food at even the university cafeteria too expensive for you? Having enough money to live off as a student can be tough, so don’t panic if you’re struggling for spare cash – you aren’t alone. Here are some ways that students in Austria can make money easily.

Get a Saturday job in Austria

This job type is typical for Austria and is the most popular type of job for students to earn money on the side as it keeps a balance between earning a little bit of money and finding time to study for university.

These jobs are mostly categorized as a job where you only work a maximum of 10 hours per week. Salary ranges between 300 and 400 euros per month (which does not exceed the minor employment threshold).

Secret tip: look for a job on a Saturday at a company which operates in railway stations as their shops are also open on Sundays (which is normally restricted by Austrian law) and so the time you work on the weekend counts as double. That means that you only work five hours but it counts for 10.

However, keep in mind, you’ll work non-convenient working hours, such as Saturday night or Sunday morning.  

Get a part-time job in Austria

Part-time jobs are the big brothers of Saturday Jobs. The only thing which changes is the number of hours you have to work per week. Keep in mind that in Austria, most part-time jobs involve up to 20 working hours per week.

However, that could interfere with your interests at university and you might not be able to attend as many lectures as you wanted. You might also not be able to finish your studies within the minimum duration time.

Nevertheless, the salary of a part-time job is quite good and ranges between 800-1000 euros a month.

Get an internship in Austria

The most common way to earn some money and gain experience as a student is to apply for an internship. The range and diversity of internships are very broad. You can literally find them in every kind of field or profession. Sometimes they are even mandatory if you want to graduate from your university.

You will work up to 40 hours a week but will actually earn just a fraction of a full-time job. Internships are a good way to get a break from university and to build a solid foundation for your future professional career.

Secret tip: Hardly anybody knows that the Wirtschaftskammer Österreich (WKO) offers traineeships at the Austrian embassies for business, law and economy students around the world. In this way, they want to support students who don’t have any previous international experience. It’s on a first come, first serve basis, so be quick.

Get help from the government

There are lots of different student grants and scholarships in Austria. One of the most common ones is the family allowance. You’ll receive a certain amount of money, calculated on the income-basis of your parents, and you’re qualified to receive it up to the age of 24.

Furthermore, there’s also a scholarship for students which you can receive in addition to your family allowance. Regarding public transport, you can buy a semester-ticket for Vienna for only 75 euros and is also substituted by the government.

Take part in paid surveys and experiments

As a student you can support science and at the same time earn some money. Most surveys at university reimburse you up to 15 euros for each one you take. Also, there are a lot of experiments going on at the universities where participants get good money for a small amount of input. Keep your eyes open for these opportunities.

Donate plasma

Donating plasma maybe seems a little unconventional at first sight. But, if you consider you’ll get €25 per donation and you can donate three times a week, then it begins to add up. To be precise, you can earn up to 300 euros per month by donating plasma. At the same time, your plasma can help seriously sick people, a win-win situation!

QS World University Rankings: Masters in Management Rankings 2021

The recently published second edition of the QS World University Rankings: Masters in Management Rankings 2019 saw 135 business schools included among the world’s best for master’s in management programs, based on a methodology which considers each institution on five indicators: employability, alumni outcomes, value for money, thought leadership, and diversity.

But if you want to study at one of the top 10 business schools in the world, it’s important to be aware of how competitive admission is, and think about how you can stand out to increase your chances of gaining a place.

Read on to find out more about how likely you are to gain admission at one of this year’s top 10 business schools for master’s in management programs, and read more about master’s in management degrees here.

1. HEC Paris – MSc in Strategic Management

HEC Paris remains the world leader for its MSc in Strategic Management, an intensive 10-month program which aims to provide students with a full strategic mindset and a broad, in-depth knowledge of the logics and issues of strategy. Students enjoy frequent interactions with leading consultancy firms, and graduate with highly employable real-life understanding.

The class is made up of only 60 students, making it all the more important to stand out in your application. Applicants for the MSc in Management course should be recent graduates with a related degree from a top institution. They should also be fluent in English and able to demonstrate this with an English language proficiency test result, if applicable. You’ll also need to pay an application fee of €110. Applications for Autumn 2019 entry should be submitted no later than April 19 2019.

2. London Business School – Master’s in Management

Ranked second in the world for its Master’s in Management (MiM) program (and first in the UK), London Business School (LBS)’s MiM program aims to give students business-ready skills, an international perspective and a solid foundation in business theory to hit the ground running in their careers.

Admission is competitive, but luckily there is a relatively large class size (248). Students have an average GMAT score of 681. To be eligible for admission, you should be fluent in English, have at least the equivalent of a 2:1 in a relevant subject, and submit test results for either the GMAT or GRE.

3. ESADE Business School - MSc in International Management

Ranked third in the master’s in management ranking, Spain’s ESADE Business School aims to give students a deep insight into how business is done differently across the world, learning from leading thinkers in international business research. The course is delivered in English, with some elective courses available in Spanish.

Students with an undergraduate degree in any subject are welcome to apply, but those who haven’t studied business management or economics should enroll in the Business Integration Path (BIP).

4. ESSEC Business School – Master’s in Strategy & Management of International Business

With locations in France, Singapore and Morocco, ESSEC Business School, ranked fourth in the master’s in management ranking, offers students the chance to study at one of three partner universities, take part in an international field trip, choose a specialized track with a specific career in mind and learn French or Mandarin as a foreign language.

You should have a master’s degree to apply for this program (although strong undergraduate degrees are also accepted) and apply by no later than May 20 for August 2019 entry. Professional experience is not required but can help your application.

5. Imperial College Business School - MSc in Management

Ranked fifth for its intensive MSc in Management program, Imperial College Business School provides students with a combination of business theory and its practical application to real-world cases. Students get the opportunity to tailor the course to their interests and network with leading global organizations.

Admission is very competitive. Recent graduates with an excellent undergraduate degree are welcome to apply. As part of your application, you’ll answer career planning questions, in which you should demonstrate that you’ve thought about how the program will help you achieve your career ambitions.

6. IE Business School - Master in Management

Heading back to Spain, IE Business School’s Master in Management, ranked sixth in the world, is offered every year in September and February in English, Spanish or a bilingual format, and allows students to specialize their course in the third period to suit their goals. They can also take part in an international exchange through the Beyond Borders Experience.

According to Forbes, IE Business School overall has an acceptance rate of 34 percent. Master in Management students are 23 years old on average and have about a year of professional experience. Students are required to take either the GMAT, GRE or IEGAT during the admissions process and will be required to attend an admissions interview.

7. London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) - MSc Management and Strategy

Retaining its position of seventh, LSE’s 12-month MSc Management and Strategy program has a strong focus on economic business analysis and gives students a thorough understanding of the wider socio-economic environment in which companies around the world operate. 

Admission is highly competitive, with 6.5 applications per place. There are rolling admissions with no application deadline, but you may still wish to submit your application before the deadline for need-based scholarship applications (April 26 2019). The course is aimed at students with a quantitative background and a basic knowledge in elementary calculus and basic statistics. 

8. CEMS, the Global Alliance in Management Education – Master’s in International Management

Unique among the top universities for master’s in management degrees in that it’s actually a strategic alliance of 31 top business schools, CEMS, the Global Alliance in Management Education is ranked eighth for its Master’s in International Management in 2019. The course aims to provide valuable theoretical foundations, practical knowledge and excellent career prospects.

No work experience is required for this program, but as the course is consecutive, you must be enrolled in a selected member school’s Master of Science program prior to starting this course. You’ll also need to have gained a bachelor’s degree in management, economics or a related field. Full information on how to apply can be found here.

=9. ESCP Europe Business School - Master in Management

ESCP Europe Business School comes joint ninth for its Master in Management degree in 2019, boasting high scores for both the diversity and employability indicators. The course takes two years to complete and gives students the chance to study abroad in up to four countries. You’ll also graduate with a minimum of 40 weeks professional experience.

There are three main requirements for admission: a bachelor or master’s degree in any field, fluency in English, and an international mindset. Work experience, international experience and knowledge of other languages are not essential but will enhance your application.

=9. University of St. Gallen – Master’s in Business Management (MUG)

Concluding our look at how likely you are to gain admission to the world’s top management schools is Switzerland’s University of St. Gallen, also ranked joint ninth. Its Master’s in Business Management (MUG) degree is taught in German and is characterized by a highly entrepreneurial focus. It also aims to give students the knowledge and understanding to deal with dilemmas in business decisions that raise issues of ethics and sustainability.

As well as providing evidence of your proficiency in German, you’ll need to provide evidence of your proficiency in two foreign languages, plus evidence of sufficient accounting knowledge.  Unfortunately, the number of places for foreign applicants is limited by law, making it harder to gain admission as an international student. Foreign applicants are chosen through a selection process which considers your motivational letter, grade point average, extracurricular activities, college and curriculum.

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Balancing your studies, social life and possibly a part-time job with your university studies isn’t exactly easy, especially if you want to keep fit whilst sticking to a tight budget. We decided to ask some fit people for their tips on how to stay active without neglecting your studies.

Got any of your own tips to share? Let us know in the comments below, and subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos.

Video by Pavel Petrov for TopUniversities.com.