Business, accountancy, engineering and mass communications are some of the more common programmes that Singapore students take in polytechnic or university, but there are others who take paths less well trod.

Take for example Deon Ning, 21, who is majoring in the piano and minoring in the harp at the University of Melbourne, and Kelly Chai, 23, who is majoring in Fashion at Queensland University of Technology.

They are among the around 32,000 students who have headed to Australia for further studies since 2002.

Close to 8,000 Singapore students enrolled in Australian tertiary institutions in 2009 - a 23 per cent dip in numbers since 2002, but a tad above the low of 7,400 students in 2007.

However, Australia remains a popular destination for Singapore students. In contrast, The Straits Times reported that about 4,000 students headed to the US and about 3,500 to the UK each year in the same time period.

Every year, the Australian Government organises the Study in Australia fair in Singapore. Recently held at Suntec on March 20 and 21, it featured 39 Australian institutions this year.

Subjects which have seen a significant increase in enrolment of Singaporeans include health, and natural and physical sciences.

Check out this list for some unconventional courses that you can find in Australian universities.

*Course information courtesy of Australian Trade Commission.

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