As Australia continues to emerge as a preferred destination for Indian students pursuing undergraduate education, nearly 2,500 students across Hyderabad, Bengaluru and New Delhi recently connected with representatives of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities.
The multi-city outreach was organised by College Board in collaboration with Australia’s Group of Eight (Go8) universities, with support from the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade). The initiative gave students, parents and school counsellors an opportunity to directly interact with university representatives and learn about undergraduate admissions, scholarships, academic pathways, campus life and career opportunities.
Representatives from The University of Melbourne, Monash University, The University of Sydney, UNSW Sydney, The University of Queensland, Australian National University, The University of Western Australia and Adelaide University participated in the outreach programme.
A key feature of the initiative was the “Roadmap to Australia” session, which offered students practical guidance on the undergraduate application process, including university selection, admission requirements, scholarships and preparing competitive applications. Direct interaction with university representatives also helped students understand institution-specific academic pathways and opportunities.
Speaking about the initiative, Meenakshi Kachroo Chatta, Senior Director and Regional Head, South and Central Asia, College Board, said Indian students are increasingly taking research-driven decisions about their higher education. She noted that students are looking beyond rankings and seeking greater clarity on admissions, academic pathways and long-term career prospects. The initiative aimed to provide students with direct access to universities and help them understand how globally recognised qualifications such as the SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) can support their aspirations.
The outreach comes amid growing education ties between India and Australia. India is currently Australia’s second-largest source of international students, reflecting strong demand among Indian students for international higher education and increasing cooperation between the two countries in education, research and student mobility.
The programme also highlighted the role of the SAT and AP in undergraduate admissions at participating Australian universities. Students were given insights into how these qualifications may be considered during the admissions process and how they can contribute to stronger applications.
Through the multi-city initiative, College Board, the Go8 universities and Austrade sought to strengthen education links between India and Australia while giving aspiring students access to reliable information and direct university engagement. The programme is expected to help students make more informed decisions about pursuing undergraduate studies in Australia.
About College Board
College Board is a not-for-profit membership organisation that supports more than 7 million students each year in navigating their journey from high school to college and careers. Founded more than 120 years ago, the organisation developed programmes including the SAT and AP to expand educational opportunities and help students build essential skills.
About the Group of Eight
The Group of Eight (Go8) is a coalition of Australia’s leading research-intensive universities: The University of Melbourne, Monash University, The University of Sydney, UNSW Sydney, The University of Queensland, Australian National University, The University of Western Australia and Adelaide University. The group represents some of Australia’s most prominent institutions for higher education and research.
