Education System In Australia
Levels of Education
The education system in Australia follows the Australian Qualifications Network and falls into three main categories. The language of instruction in all Australian institutions is English.
Schools
Primary and secondary education is compulsory for all children and consists of 12 years of education. Students who bring school-age children with them as dependants to Australia will be required to enroll them in school and pay tuition fees.
Vocational Education & Training (VET)
Vocational courses in Australia are offered both by private institutions and TAFE colleges (Technical and Further Education). Usually 1-2 years in duration the courses are closely aligned with industry, providing students with the practical skills and knowledge that enable them to enter the work force. Universities also offer credit towards Undergraduate degree programs to students who have completed VET studies.
VET programs lead to the following qualifications:
Certificates I – IV
Diplomas, Advanced Diplomas
Vocational Graduate Certificates and Diplomas
Higher Education
Higher Education is offered by Universities and other accredited higher education institutions.
Institutions offer both Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses leading to the following qualifications:
Australian Qualification Duration Entry Requirements
Diploma
Advanced Diploma
Associate Degree Pathway Programs 1 – 2 yrs Year 12 (10 + 2)
Bachelors degree 3 yrs
4 yrs (Honours) Year 12 (10 + 2) with good marks
Graduate Certificate
Graduate Diploma 1 semester – 1 yr Bachelors degree from recognised University
Masters degree 1 – 2 years Bachelors degree from a recognised University with good marks (Section 1 or 2)
Doctoral degree 2 – 5 yrs Masters degree + research proposal
Pathway Programs
A number of Australian institutions offer pathway programs. These are designed for students who may not be eligible for direct entry into a University bachelor’s degree. Commonly taught as a Diploma, students study the first year of the bachelor’s degree in a private institution and after 1 year transfer directly into 2nd year of the Bachelors degree with the University. The time frame is the same as direct entry into a bachelor’s degree, and the cost is slightly less. This is a great option for students.
What fields of study are you interested in?
Universities offer many undergraduate and postgraduate courses covering fields of study such as agriculture, business, economics, education, environmental science, engineering, health sciences, humanities and social sciences, information technology, law, mathematics and computing, medicine, science and visual/performing arts.
Vocational education and training institutions offer practical, career oriented courses including business, computing, marketing, tourism and hospitality.
Australian schools offer an education style that is highly interactive, encourages students to participate and develops personal skills and confidence. All schools offer English, mathematics, science, arts, technology and languages. You may also be able to study such diverse subjects as digital media, agriculture, graphic design, music and accountancy.
Australia offers a range of English language studies that can cater for everyone from beginner student to advanced student to teacher training.
What level of qualification is best suited for you?
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a national structure covering 13 different qualifications linking the four education sectors and providing learning pathways and recognition for previous study. Once the status of your existing qualifications is established the AQF will help you to choose the appropriate course within Australia. Many institutions offer preparatory studies, also known as bridging or foundation courses, to help meet the academic entry requirements of Australian institutions. There are also many English language courses with starting dates throughout the year to prepare you for further study in Australia.
Do you have a preferred location?
You may wish to consider the location and environment of the institution you select (e.g. urban or rural, climate and extra curricular activities available on and off campus). You may prefer the urban environment of our city campuses, or you may prefer to explore the lifestyle and community of one of our many regional campuses.
Financial considerations
The majority of international students in Australia are full-fee paying students and are not awarded scholarships. Student loans are not available for international students in Australia.
You will need to consider whether you can afford to study at a particular institution. Fees vary according to the institution and discipline selected. For example, science and medical courses that require a large amount of laboratory and fieldwork are more costly than arts courses. To be granted a student visa you will need to declare your financial ability and in most cases you will need evidence of having sufficient funds to pay part or all of your tuition fees.
There is also the cost of living to consider. If you intend to get a job while studying in Australia then the money you earn from working in Australia should only supplement your income and not be your primary source of income. You can only apply for a new student visa with work rights after you arrive in Australia and have begun studying. You will only be permitted to work a limited number of hours. Therefore you should not expect your earnings to cover your living costs.
Course selection
Selecting a course
You have a wide range of courses to choose from in Australia. You will need to find out which institutions offer the course you are interested in. Even if you are interested in only one type of course you might find many institutions on your list.
By law, all Australian institutions and the courses they offer to international students must be accredited and registered by the Australian Government. This register provides information on institution services and locations, courses and their duration, and tuition fees.
Locating an institution
An interactive map will help you to locate your preferred institutions and then you can check the list of courses they offer. Students often seek information from more than one institution before making a decision on a particular one.
Do you meet the entry requirements for the selected course?
Students must meet minimum academic requirements to be accepted into specific courses. Each institution sets its own entry requirements so they may vary from one institution to another and from one course or faculty to another. Some courses also require relevant work experience and this may be particularly important in relation to MBA and other postgraduate studies.
You may be asked to provide evidence of your academic achievements and English language proficiency to assess whether you meet the entry requirements for your proposed course of study in Australia. Institutions will look at the level and content of the study you have completed in Australia or your home country.
If you do not meet the entry requirements for further study you can enroll in secondary school in Australia. If you do not meet undergraduate course entry requirements you may be able to enroll in Foundation Studies which prepare you for further study in Australia and reserve a provisional place in your proposed course. Bridging courses, such as a Master Qualifying program, are also offered. It is recommended that you seek advice from the institution about meeting their entry requirements before applying for admission into your selected courses.
Do you meet the English language requirements?
Evidence of English language proficiency is required when applying for a student visa. Depending on your proposed study sector you will need to have a minimum score in the IELTS English language proficiency test and/or a period of English language tuition.
Most university and vocational education and training courses also require students to have a sufficient level of English language proficiency. You should check with each institution what English language proficiency tests are recognized by that institution and what the minimum scores are for each course. There are many English language courses with starting dates throughout the year to prepare you for further study in Australia.
Entry requirements
Students need a sufficient level of English language proficiency and must meet minimum academic requirements to study in Australia. Institutions will assess whether you meet the selection criteria set for your proposed course of study. They will look at the level and content of the study you have completed in Australia or your home country.
English language proficiency
English language proficiency is now a requirement when applying for a student visa. The IELTS is the only test accepted by the Australian Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs for student visa purposes. Some visa Assessment Levels accept the IELTS entry levels required by the education institution.
Australian education institutions can only accept students with an appropriate level of English proficiency. Institutions set their own English language requirements and may have different IELTS entry levels for the proposed level of course than those required for a student visa. You should check the entry requirements with your proposed institution.
Academic
Undergraduate
Undergraduate courses require an Australian Senior School Certificate of Education (Year 12) or the overseas equivalent of Australian high school matriculation, such as three passes at GCE A Levels in appropriate subjects. Some courses may also have certain pre-requisite subjects.
Postgraduate
Entry to postgraduate courses requires satisfactory completion of a first degree at undergraduate level. Demonstrated research ability or relevant work experience may also be taken into consideration.
Vocational education and training
Usually there are no other entrance exams to VET institutions. However some courses may have certain pre-requisite subjects or demonstrated work experience.
Schools
Entry requirements can vary between schools throughout Australia. Academic performance and ability is taken into consideration during the selection process. Some schools are more selective in their student intake and place higher emphasis on academic or sporting excellence. School enrolments may be limited simply because the availability of spaces is at a premium.
What if you do not meet the entry requirements?
If your English language proficiency score is not high enough, there are many English language courses with starting dates throughout the year to prepare you for further study in Australia. All Australian universities have their own English language centre or have links with English language colleges.
If you do not meet the entry requirements for further study you can enroll in secondary school in Australia. If you do not meet undergraduate course entry requirements you may be able to enroll in Foundation Studies which prepare you for further study in Australia and reserve a provisional place in your proposed course. Bridging courses, such as a Master Qualifying program, are also offered. It is recommended that you seek advice from the institution about meeting their entry requirements before applying for admission into your selected courses.
Working while you study in Australia
International students studying in Australia on a student visa can apply for permission to work once they commence their course.
A visa with permission to work enables you to work up to 20 hours a week on a casual basis during course time and full-time during vacation periods. In some cases family members can also apply for permission to work up to 20 hours a week throughout the year. In the case of masters and doctorate students, family members can apply for permission to work unlimited hours. If you are the family member of a student who has commenced a masters or doctorate course, you must bring evidence from the education provider that the student has started this course. Under certain circumstances dependants of students are permitted to work.
The money you earn from working in Australia should only supplement your income and not be used as your only source of income. Before you come to Australia, you must show that you have enough money to pay for living expenses, education costs and travel for the duration of your study.
Most students take part-time or casual jobs at some time during their studies. Some jobs are closely tied to courses of study (such as formal cadetships and informal arrangements such as part-time work by law students in solicitors' offices). Some students tutor school children or get jobs on campus in the canteen, the bookshop, in the institution's offices and as laboratory assistants. Some jobs are entirely outside the education community such as bartending, babysitting, gardening, hospitality, sales, information technology, restaurants, checkout work or fruit picking.
Some institutions offer a job placement service. If work is available you will need to obtain a tax file number (TFN) from the Australian Tax Office.
A TFN is a unique number issued to individuals and organizations to help the Tax Office administer tax and other Australian Government systems. It’s one of your most important forms of identification in Australia. It’s yours for life and keeping it secure is a good defence against identity theft.
While it is not compulsory to quote a TFN without one you may:
• Pay more tax than necessary, or
• Not be able to get government benefits you are entitled to receive.
A TFN will also help you:
• Lodge a tax return
• Ask the Tax Office about your tax affairs
• Start or change jobs
• Limit the amount of tax you pay on interest or dividends earned if you have savings accounts or investments that earn income.
Your TFN is valuable. Don’t share it with friends and don’t provide it on the internet when applying for work. Keep it secure.
Applying for a TFN
If you are a permanent migrant or temporary visitor to Australia you can apply for a TFN online after you arrive in Australia if you have a:
• Visa that allows work rights
• Visa that allows permanent migration
• Valid overseas student visa, or
• Valid visa to stay in Australia indefinitely.
Applying for a TFN using false or other peoples’ identity details, or misusing your TFN, can mean heavy fines or jail!