Traveling in the winter doesn’t always mean facing horrible, miserable weather. Whether you’re after a snowy holiday or a tropical getaway, there are a ton of places in Australia that are perfect to travel to in the winter months (and actually a lot more desirable to do so than in the summer). And the best part is, you’ll almost always pay less for accommodation, tours, plane tickets, and pretty much everything else. The only question you should be asking yourself is: what are you waiting for?

1. Hit the slopes in New South Wales & Victoria

Snow in Australia? Say what?! It’s true! Whether you visit the Snowy Mountains in New South Wales or the Victoria Alps in Victoria, you’ll be sure to have an epic ski holiday. Falls Creek in Victoria has some of the country’s steepest terrain and the Snowy Mountains are the highest Australian mountain range. So, you really can’t go wrong.

2. Go hiking in Tasmania

Winter in Tasmania brings crisp winter air, frozen lakes and frequent snowfalls, which complement the landscapes of the region beautifully. And the colder weather brings less crowds to fight with for that perfect Insta picture. Discover Tasmania’s must-see sights here.

3.  Visit Ayers Rock in Uluru, NT

If you’re going to visit Uluru in the summer months, get ready for intense heat, a ridiculous amount of flies, and a whole lot of sweating. I mean, you are in the Australian outback of course. In comparison, the winter months bring the perfect temperatures in order to explore the region to the fullest, without having to stop for a water break every five minutes.

4. Soak up some rays in the Whitsundays

Temperatures in the Whitsundays average around 22-25°C (71.6-77 °F) during winter, meaning you can still witness the islands in all their beauty without worrying about the blistering heat. You will also probably snag some cheap boat tours with the off-peak pricing, less crowds, and chances to spot whales from June onwards!

5. Explore the bustling city of Sydney, NSW

There is so much to do and see in Sydney no matter what the time of year is. You definitely don’t need to visit in the warmer months to experience all that this amazing city has to offer. In July, Darling Harbour is transformed into a winter wonderland with an actual skating rink, as well as the stunning Vivid Sydney Festival, which illuminates the city with colorful light displays.

6. Step back into summer in Broome, Western Australia

Winter isn’t a thing if you’re on holiday in Broome. In this outback coastal town you’ll find great restaurants, nightlife, and temperatures that will have you believing you’re in the middle of summer.

7. Go four-wheel driving on Fraser Island, Queensland

This region is one of the best spots on the east coast to see whales migrating through the waters, which can be spotted right from the beach! You get hop on a 4WDing tour and visit some of the 100 freshwater lakes, ancient rainforests, and some pretty stunning lookout points. You can read more about what Fraser Island has to offer here.

8. Visit the chilled coastal town of Port Douglas, Queensland

Port Douglas is a warm, tropical destination that is very hard to beat. It’s the gateway to the Great Barrier Reef and the iconic 140-million-year-old Daintree Rainforest, which makes for some epic day trips. The winter in Queensland brings warm temperatures and low rainfall, compared to the summer months that bring heavy rain. Seems like a no brainer to visit in the winter!

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It’s no secret that celebrities aren’t exactly short of cash, and in recent years more and more have been opening their hearts (and wallets…) to offer scholarships to students in need.  So if you’re looking for a scholarship and wouldn’t mind gaining major bragging rights by scooping funding from a celeb, read on to find out what you could apply for.

Scholarships from celebrities to study in the UK

Stormzy Cambridge Scholarships

Stormzy is sending black students to @Cambridge_Uni pic.twitter.com/X0c227AszQ

— BBC Newsbeat (@BBCNewsbeat) August 16, 2018

Open to: Black UK students studying an undergraduate degree at the University of Cambridge in autumn 2019

British rapper Stormzy is helping to address the often-criticized lack of diversity at the University of Cambridge by offering two scholarships for black undergraduate students. First offered in 2018, these scholarships will cover full tuition fees and also provide a maintenance grant, reducing the need for students to take out loans. Applications are judged based on students’ household income, socio-economic background and personal statement.

Scholarships from celebrities to study in the US

BMI Foundation John Lennon Scholarships

Open to: Current students/alumnus of US colleges or universities, aged between 17 and 24.

Although John Lennon may no longer be alive to make music or offer scholarships himself, his legacy lives on in many ways, with his widow Yoko Ono having established the John Lennon Scholarship in 1997 in conjunction with the BMI Foundation. To enter, you should submit an original song that no major music publisher or record label has the rights to. Three scholarships of US$20,000 are awarded every year to the best original songs.

David Geffen Medical Scholarships

Open to: All applicants to the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Thanks to an incredible US$300 million donation from business magnate David Geffen in 2002 and 2012, up to 20 percent of students at UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine are granted a full scholarship every year, covering tuition, room and board, books and supplies and other expenses for the entire four-year period. International students are eligible, and scholarships are awarded based on academic merit.

David Letterman Telecommunications Scholarship

Open to: Ball State University students studying a major or minor in telecommunications.

First launched by American talk show host and Ball State University graduate David Letterman in 1985, the winner of this scholarship is awarded US$10,000, with the first runner-up receiving $5,000 and the second runner-up receiving $3,333. To apply, you’ll need to submit a creative project and meet the eligibility requirements.

The Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund (SCSF)

Open to: US high school seniors/undergraduates aged 25 or under

Shawn Carter who, you may be wondering. This scholarship is actually an initiative set up by rapper Jay-Z (real name Shawn Carter) and his mother Gloria in 2003. The Shawn Carter Scholarship Fund (SCSF) was set up to enable motivated individuals in need to further their education. The SCSF provides grants, paid directly to the student’s university, to cover tuition fees, stationery and other study costs. If you’re granted this scholarship, you’ll be asked to give back by taking part in community work and serving as a mentor for aspiring Shawn Carter Scholars. Beyoncé also offered her own scholarships in 2018, but it’s so far unclear if these will be available again in 2019.

Oprah Winfrey Endowed Scholarships Program

Open to: Freshmen students at Morehouse College who demonstrate both academic merit and financial need.

Students at Morehouse College, a liberal arts college in Atlanta, Georgia, can apply for four different scholarships from Oprah Winfrey, including the Oprah Winfrey South Africa Leadership Program, which allows Oprah Winfrey scholars to take part in an international exchange opportunity with South African partner institutions. To apply for these scholarships, you’ll need to meet the minimum GPA/SAT requirements and have completed community service.

Scholarships from brands

It's not just celebrities offering university scholarships - some of the world's most famous brands and corporations are offering money to help lucky students pay for their education. Here’s a small selection.

• L’oreal – The L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science Fellowships, created to recognize and promote women in science, award five international fellowships worth £15,000 each year to women pursuing postdoctoral research in the life sciences at any UK or Irish university or research institute. (You can view more scholarships for women here.)
• McDonald’s – The McDonald’s HACER® Program awards scholarships ranging from US$5,000 to $100,000 to Hispanic US students to enable them to study any course full time at a US college or university. Applicants will be assessed on their financial need, academic achievement, personal qualities and community involvement. More scholarships for Hispanic students can be found here.
• Microsoft – Open to all students (including international students) studying a degree in computer science or another STEM subject. You can find more computer science scholarships here.
• Starbucks – Starbucks is offering to pay the tuition fees of members of staff in the UK and the US who study a first-time bachelor’s degree taught online by Arizona State University.
• Taco Bell – The Taco Bell Foundation has announced its intention to award US$4 million in Live Más Scholarships in 2019. To apply, candidates simply need to submit a two-minute video talking about their passion – no test scores are required. However, this is only open to US citizens aged between 16 and 24.

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Sponsored by emlyon business school

Thanks to wearable fitness trackers like Apple’s iWatch and the Fitbit, keeping track of your own health has never been easier. From counting how many steps you walk each day, to monitoring your sleep pattern, technology is allowing us to monitor our health like never before. 

Practically every sector and industry in the world is jumping on the data intelligence bandwagon – and with good reason. It’s a lucrative market that can offer a wealth of innovative and sophisticated solutions, particularly to the health sector. The impact data intelligence can have on patients’ experience as well as the productivity of healthcare professionals is revolutionary.

So, how far can data intelligence in the healthcare sector actually go?

We spoke to Benjamin Dalmas and Florencio Travieso, the program co-directors of the new MSc in Health Management and Data Intelligence ran by emlyon business school and Mines Saint-Etienne to find out.

What was the motivation behind the introduction of the MSc in Health Management & Data Intelligence degree program?

Dalmas: “In the last few years, we have witnessed a boom in the development of intelligent technologies. The healthcare sector is a suitable place for concrete applications and several breakthroughs have been achieved with the help of these technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine and deep learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT).

“However, while they provide enormous amounts of help in decision-making processes, they must also be controlled and monitored from a human and managerial perspective.

“This program answers the need of training active experts with a dual competence who are able to be the link between the high-tech and healthcare domains. They’ll also be able to exploit the power offered by technology while meeting the ethical and human requirements necessary within the healthcare sector.”

What will students learn and what skills will they gain?

Travieso: “Students will be challenged from a management and a technical point of view. The MSc will provide them with the tools to understand the new challenges of a constant changing industry, as well as acquire powerful methodologies to manage innovative and collaborative projects, and be knowledgeable and agile on new technologies such as IoT and AI.”

Dalmas: “The first part of the program is intended to make them discover the healthcare ecosystem, its stakeholders and its current and future challenges. A major focus will be made on how to manage such an organization and how to implement digital transformation projects. The second part of the program delves into 'data intelligence' technologies, such as AI and big data, as well as nanotech and omics technologies.

“The objective of the program is to make students aware of the existing technologies on the market, their pros and cons, and how to implement them in the healthcare sector. A major focus will be set all along the program on the ethical, compliance and regulatory aspects of such technologies in order to ensure fairness and transparency in their everyday use.”

And what about jobs?

A new market research report by MarketsandMarkets predicts that by 2025, data intelligence in the healthcare sector will be worth an estimated $36.1 billion. As these advances become more ingrained and instrumental across the health sector, it’s critical humans and machines are able to collaborate well together and offer solutions that are beyond what was once thought possible, and not just for patients, but for those working in the sector too.

As Travieso explains: “The aim of this program is for graduates to have a position that acts as a connector between both domains. This also means the MSc degree will turn students from diverse backgrounds, such as biology, pharma, legal, as well as data sciences into broad professionals with technical and management competencies.”

Digital transformation consultant

Digital transformation consultants analyze and interpret important data and information in order to offer advice on how to plan and commission technology-based healthcare provisions.

Creating more accurate analytics for radiology and pathology imaging, improving the optimization of patient electronic health records, as well as developing more personalized interactions with patients through chatbots are just some examples in which digital transformation consultants may be able to do this in the future.

AI project manager

Echoing the job of a digital transformation consultant, AI projects are used to help optimize resources and processes used within the health sector to make it more effective and, of course, affordable.

It’s the job of the AI project manager to navigate, organize and integrate new technology projects in a safe and controlled manner. AI project managers need to have an in-depth knowledge of various AI technologies, such as machine learning, automation, and robotics in order to confidently and effectively oversee the running of such AI-related projects from start to finish.

Data intelligence business developer

Much like digital transformation consultants and AI project managers, data intelligence business developers are highly tech-literate with extensive knowledge of digital technologies including data, IoT (internet of things) as well as AI (artificial intelligence). This is crucial as you work to develop various projects and solutions within the health sector. Progression in this role can lead you to working as a chief digital officer.

Interested?

The MSc in Health Management and Data Intelligence starts September 2019 at emlyon business school and aims to equip students with the emotional aptitude and strategic abilities to overcome challenges and navigate their way in and around the healthcare sector.

Sponsored by EDHEC Business School

Business schools across the globe receive thousands of applications each year, so one of the surest ways to land a place at a top business school is to know how to make your application stand out.

Applying to business school is a rigorous, time-consuming process, so preparation and research can go a long way towards ensuring you show off your best qualities to the admissions staff who handle your application. So, what exactly is it that business schools are looking for? We spoke to those in the know at EDHEC Business School to find out – read on and get ready to impress.

Strong academic abilities

First things first, a strong grade point average and a top-class undergraduate degree are the most significant aspects of your application. Your performance on the GMAT will also be scrutinized so preparation is key.

In fact, the Master in Management program at EDHEC Business School lets prospective students practice for the GMAT by taking a mini, micro and full GMAT test online. Scoring highly on the GMAT can help make up for poorer academic performance elsewhere, so take every opportunity available to do well on the GMAT.

Of course, don’t forget to highlight your non-academic achievements as well – schools such as EDHEC Business School like to know about your wider accomplishments and it can help them decide if you’ll fit the school’s ethos.

A wealth of work experience (almost)

Don’t panic! You’re not expected to have held the position of a high-level executive or anything like that. However, business schools do want to see evidence of high-quality work that you’ve carried out over the last few years. While some postgraduate business programs are opening themselves up to people with little in-work experience, most programs still expect you to have at least three to five years’ professional experience working in a business setting.

Your long-term professional prospects

Speaking of work experience, it’s important to emphasize what your long-term career goals are. If you’re hoping your newly-gained knowledge and skills will assist you with a career change or with starting your own business, then communicate that information.

It’s important to give details too, as many students will have similar ambitions. You’ll need to elaborate your personal goals and targets. As tempting as it is to say you’d like to one day be the CEO of your own company (which may be the truth!) it may be better to set realistic targets and goals which allow for greater individuality.

Soft skills as well as technical skills

The capabilities of a business school candidate have extended beyond traditional, technical business skills. Schools now want to see that students can demonstrate impressive soft skills, particularly leadership skills, as these are valued highly by today’s employers.

Find ways to emphasize teamwork, communication and other soft skills in your application, and it will help you come across as a well-rounded, capable student who is already well-suited to working and leading in business.

Honesty and motivation

As tempting as it is to only highlight your achievements, business schools appreciate honesty. Demonstrating ways in which you’ve managed to overcome setbacks and obstacles in your academic life, personal life and professional career can demonstrate resilience and your ability to learn from mistakes. 

They also like to see commitment and motivation. One way to showcase your enthusiasm is to visit the school itself before you apply. Many business schools either run their own events or are part of third-party fairs and tours around the world such as those organized by QS, allowing prospective students the opportunity to meet the professors, current students and other faculty members. The Master’s in Management program at EDHEC Business School does just this. 

Sponsored by Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

Milan may be a city renowned for being a global fashion capital, but that’s not all it has to offer. It’s also home to one of the most bustling business districts in Europe. So, whether you have a burning ambition to work for a large corporation, or want to keep it local and give back to the community, Milan is full of opportunities for ambitious management graduates.

You’ll acquire an international outlook

Given the possibilities to move between local and global career spaces, the more international experience you have in management, the better.

Many leading universities and business schools around the world offer students unique opportunities to allow them to think globally in order to become professionals within the management industry. For example, students who study the MSc in Management at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore can also study an MSc in International Marketing at Boston University in the US, or at the University of Western Australia to better their international management awareness and perspective.

It’s important to realize that in every business organization, from luxury retail to healthcare, aspiring managers are going to have to understand not just how management works today, but how it’s changing and will continue to change in the future.

Experiential learning opportunities

In today’s competitive job market, just having a degree qualification may no longer be enough. Graduates need to have a wealth of practical experience as well, so they can put classroom theory into real-life practice. This is why the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Milan has its very own business labs which are an integral element of the MSc in Management program.

These business labs give you the opportunity to get hands-on experience and gain a genuine understanding of a particular business setting, whether it’s in a consulting firm, multinational firm, luxury and fashion, healthcare organization or small and medium enterprises.

If that wasn’t inspiring enough, some students at Cattolica have interned at companies and seen their ideas and plans go on to be implemented within the company. You’ll struggle to find other management programs which allow you to have such a direct impact on major companies.

Excellent employment prospects

A fast-paced city with a vision for the future, Milan is the leading financial and economic hub of Italy. Given its fortunate strategic location in the heart of Europe, it’s no wonder the city is a very attractive destination for corporate-minded individuals and organizations.

Employment prospects are so good here that the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is ranked just outside of the world’s top 100 universities in the QS Graduate Employability Rankings 2019, and the graduate employment rate for the Master of Science in Management program at Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore is 100 percent.

One of the best student cities in the world

Milan is full of cultural delights that make it worthy of its place in the top 50 in the QS Best Student Cities 2018 ranking.

From its fancy cuisine to its infectious passion for football, and not forgetting the sophisticated art and fashion districts that dominate the city’s classicism landscape, it’s easy to see why so many international students have fallen in love with Milan and have decided to call it home.

Of course, immersing yourself in the local culture means getting to grips with the language too. Although many Italian universities offer English-taught degree programs, it’s still courteous to at least learn the basics. In fact, it’ll be almost impossible to not find yourself speaking in Italian once you get to know it.

Fortunately, universities such as Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore offer its international students the opportunity to enroll in Italian language courses, so you can work on your vocab alongside your studies. Bellissimo!