Not at all, in fact any of the universities from 3 to 5 stars can be a perfect fit for students depending on their situation and objectives. The two features of research output and international reputation play a major role in determining the star rankings, but these features of a university might not be relevant to a student more focused on a vocationally oriented education or having some other study objective.

One of the many examples of this is ACU which does not have a high star ranking but has excellent programs in areas such as nursing and education that produce job-ready graduates fully equiped to take the first steps along their chosen career path. Another type of example is how some universities which don’t have a high star ranking might still be highly regarded in certain areas, such as JCU’s excellent international reputation in the marine and biological sciences and the high regard La Trobe is held in for its health sciences offering

Overall the star rankings only measure some particular variables which might be more focused on theory and research and so not have significant relevance to students who are more concerned about obtaining a specific qualification to prepare them for their future life.

Of course it is okay for international students to study at any of the universities on the list whether they be 3 star or 5 star universities. All the universities are fully accredited by the Australian Government and checked every year to make sure they are maintaining appropriate standards. In fact in many cases a university with less stars might be more suitable for international students because they often put in an extra effort in supporting students from overseas.

It is also important to consider that the star ranking is based on a number of different features including research output and domestic demand. These features don’t impact on international students so much and instead overseas students should consider elements which will impact on them directly including international student support services covering both academic and general living issues geared towards a timely and successful graduation. Along with this there can be considerable savings in tuition fees from studying at one university rather than another. You can take a look at the international student tuition fees page to get an idea of the savings which can be obtained, savings which could be spent on completing another degree or on some other productive venture.

The focus for overseas students must be on finding a safe and supportive study environment where they can develop as students and as people. Many of the universities with less stars are perfect for international students to achieve this goal.