When you choose to study in Australia, you can be assured of unparalleled quality of education, internationally-recognised qualification and immense employment prospects. Universities in Australia are renowned for their research and training methodologies, and this makes it a popular destination among Indian students.
The academic excellence, campus life and qualified instructors are other key reasons behind Australian universities being ranked in the QS World Ranking and Times Higher Education Rankings consistently. It has well-structured curriculum that focuses on varied skills such as critical thinking, creativity, communication, literacy, analytical thinking ability, ethical understanding and more.
The education system in Australia is three-tiered with primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education.
School education (Primary and Secondary)
School education is similar across all of Australia with only minor variations between states and territories. School education (primary and secondary) is compulsory between the ages of six and sixteen (Year 1 to Year 9 or 10). School education is 13 years and divided into:
Tertiary education
Tertiary education includes both higher education (including universities) and vocational education and training (VT).
Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
The unique factor of the Australian education system is its implementation of Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), the national policy established in 1995 that specifies the standards of qualifications for the tertiary education sector (higher education, vocational education and training) in addition to the school leaving certificate, called the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. With AQF, your degree is recognised and authorised by the government.
The unique factor of the Australian education system is its implementation of Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), the national policy established in 1995 that specifies the standards of qualifications for the tertiary education sector (higher education, vocational education and training) in addition to the school leaving certificate, called the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. With AQF, your degree is recognised and authorised by the government.
Here’s an overview of the different levels and qualifications available as per the AQF.
| Level | Certificate Level | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Level 0 | Senior Secondary Certificate of Education | |
| Level 1 | Certificate I | Graduates at this level will have knowledge and skills for initial work, community involvement and/or further learning |
| Level 2 | Certificate II | Graduates at this level will have knowledge and skills for work in a defined context and/or further learning |
| Level 3 | Certificate III | Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for work and/or further learning |
| Level 4 | Certificate IV | Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for specialised and/or skilled work and/or further learning |
| Level 5 | Diploma | Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for specialised and/or skilled work and/or further learning |
| Level 6 | Advanced Diploma Associate Degree |
Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for specialised and/or skilled work and/or further learning |
| Level 7 | Bachelor Degree | Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for specialised and/or skilled work and/or further learning |
| Level 8 | Bachelor Honours Degree Graduate Certificate Graduate Diploma |
Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional highly skilled work and/or further learning |
| Level 9 | Masters Degree (Research) Masters Degree (Research) Masters Degree |
Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for research, and/or professional practice and/or further learning |
| Level 10 | Doctoral Degree | Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for research, and/or professional practice and/or further learning |
The highest level of education in Australia is the university level. You can choose from 43 universities, 40 out of which are government funded, two are international universities and one is a private university. You may opt for bachelor degrees or postgraduate courses which can comprise certificate, postgraduate diploma, master and doctoral programs.
Students can also enrol for vocational courses that work as a gateway to university education or industry for work. These courses focus on practical skills and industry training and are offered by government- funded institutions (including TAFE - Technical and Further Education) and private establishments.
Higher education
Provided at university level, higher education comprises bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. The skills and knowledge acquired at these levels makes a student ready to work in the industry eventually.
| Degree | Duration | Completed | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 2 Years | Year 12 or equivalent, Certificate III or Certificate IV | The Associate Degree is a short-cycle Degree program that can help with career development if you're already working and don't have time to complete a full Bachelor Degree. It can be a pathway to a Bachelor Degree or prepare you for an Advanced Diploma in specialist industry training. An Associate Degree will be about the basics or foundations of your field. It will cover the broad theory and enable you to develop the basic employment-related skills. |
| Bachelor Degree | 3 – 5 Years | Year 12 or equivalent, Certificate III or Certificate IV | A Bachelor Degree is the basic qualification for entry to a field. It will give you a systematic body of knowledge, the underlying principles and the problem-solving techniques you'll need to work in the discipline. With deeper content than an Associate Degree, your Bachelor Degree will develop your skills and knowledge to the point where you can pursue postgraduate studies if you want to. |
| Bachelor Degree (Honours) | 4 Years | Bachelor Degree | If you do particularly well in your Bachelor Degree, your institution might grant entry to an additional year of study to enable you to graduate with honours. |
| Graduate Certificate | 6 Months | Bachelor Degree | Your Graduate Certificate will broaden individual skills you already have from an undergraduate program, or develop your knowledge in a new area. |
| Graduate Diploma | 1 Year | Bachelor Degree | A Graduate Diploma will apply a body of knowledge in a range of contexts for you to undertake professional or highly skilled work and as a pathway for further learning. |
| Masters Degree (Coursework) | 1 -2 Years | Bachelor Degree (Honours) or Bachelor Degree | A Masters Degree (coursework) involves traditional coursework that will develop your expertise in your field. A Masters Degree takes either one year after a Bachelor Degree with honours, or two years after a Bachelor Degree. |
| Masters Degree (Research) | 2 Years | Bachelor Degree (Honours) or Bachelor Degree) | A Masters Degree is a course of independent research that will further your position as an expert in your chosen field of study. |
| Doctoral Degree | 3 – 4 Years | Masters Degree | The highest award offered by Australian universities, the Doctoral Degree is a research program, although it can have some coursework. The three components of your Doctoral Degree are: 1. A review of literature, experimentation or other methodical approach to a body of knowledge. 2. An original research project that makes a contribution to understanding and knowledge in your field. 3. A substantial, well-ordered thesis that shows a relationship between the research and the field of study. |
There are only 43 universities (public, private, and international). In addition to universities, other institutions offer higher education programs. For example, TAFE (Technical and Further Education) colleges teach students a specific profession, their training courses are mainly focused on practice. After college, students can work or go to university to obtain a bachelor's degree. Almost all universities in Australia are public. They are funded, supported, and accredited by the Australian government. Here you can find a list of Australian universities.
When choosing a university, a student must consider not only the cost of training and the location of the campus, but also the focus of the course of interest: practical or research. A distinctive feature of Australian universities is a high academic level of teaching, where great attention is paid to the practical side of learning.
Colleges in Australia
Australian colleges TAFE offer training in a wide range of specialties. The advantage of colleges is that students can apply for admission after grade 11. The requirements for English proficiency are lower than for admission to universities. After college, graduates can continue their studies at the university or start working. By choosing further education, the student saves a significant amount of time and money, since after studying in college, you can transfer directly to the second year of the partner university.
Public and private universities
The vast majority of universities in Australia are public. There are also 3 private universities in the country:
Australian universities adopted the British system, so education here is relatively complex and focused on research that starts early, practically from the 1st year. The process of admission to public and private universities is approximately the same, but the requirements and criteria depend on the specific university and program.
Most private educational institutions have small campuses, unlike public universities. This allows students to receive more personalized attention from staff and professors. Private universities also tend to offer a narrower range of subjects and are more focused on teaching than research.
Public universities receive most of the funding from the government, while private education providers mainly work based on tuition fees from students, while additionally receiving financial assistance for grants from the authorities.
In Australia, universities are self-accrediting institutions. They have their own laws and receive funding from the Australian government. Local universities enjoy a high level of autonomy within the requirements related to government funding. Most universities are created or recognized in accordance with state and territory laws.
Groups and associations of higher education institutions
Universities Australia (UA) is the voice of Australian universities. The organization is the highest authority in the sector and advocates for the social, economic, and cultural value of higher education and research for Australia and the world. On behalf of 39 member universities, UA provides expert policy advice, analysis and statistics on higher education. The organization develops policies, represents Australian universities in government and industry, and collaborates with universities in other countries.
Go8 focuses on developing long-term sustainable national higher education and research policies as well as developing elite international alliances and research partnerships. Go8 makes a significant contribution to the Australian economy: London Economics 2018 report found that the revenue from G8 adds about 66.4 billion USD a year to the country's treasury. And Go8 research brings in 24.5 billion USD annually.
Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN) unites 4 universities of technology in Australia: University of Technology Sydney, Royal Institute of Technology Melbourne, University of South Australia and Curtin University. ATN is recognized as a global leader in a new generation of universities focused on industry collaboration and effective research, as well as graduating ready-to- work specialists.
Innovative Research Universities (IRU) is a network of 7 Australian universities. Its main purpose is to promote higher education and research. In addition, the IRU is committed to strengthening Australia's integration with Asian countries.
Regional Universities Network (RUN) unites 7 universities, mainly from regional Australia, as well as the Australian major cities and some international universities. The network provides government policy advice on higher education and regional development, strengthens institutional capacity and resilience through the sharing of best practices, considering regional conditions.
Open Universities Australia (OUA) online organization of higher education, based in Australia. The ownership of the organization is split beyond 7 Australian universities. The OUA is governed by a board of directors made up of candidates from the universities to which the organization belongs. The platform offers students hundreds of online courses from leading Australian universities.
Australian-European Network (AEN) consists of 6 Australian universities and 31 European universities that collaborate on student exchange programs.
Free universities in Australia
There are no free universities in Australia. Moreover, they are all not only paid, but some of the most expensive in the world. However, wealthy universities and the Australian government provide generous grants and scholarships to both local and international students. Almost all of them are based on the student's academic performance and abilities. To receive financial aid, the applicant needs to carefully study the websites of universities in the sections Scholarships / Financial aid and the website of the Australian Department of Education.