Australian EducationInternationally recognised qualifications
Australia has an international reputation for excellence in all areas of education and training. Australian schools, academies, colleges and universities enjoy an international reputation for excellence. Academic staff in universities are recruited internationally, and graduates from Australian academies, colleges and universities are employed all over the world.
Australian courses are very high quality and recognised around the world. Major employers around the world recognise Australian qualifications and employ graduates with Australian qualifications.
Australian universities and Registered Training Organisation (RTO) are widely known for the quality of their teaching, research and training. You’ll learn from teachers and trainers who are experts in their industries and who can provide you with a sound understanding of your chosen field. You’ll develop strong academic and training skills that can be applied to other areas, and learn to think creatively and independently.
Australian Education System
Overview
The Commonwealth of Australia has 6 states and 2 territories – New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. There are 3 levels of government: Australian (Federal), state and territory and local.
Why study in Australia?
- Excellence - education standards rank amongst the highest in the world
- Recognition - qualifications are widely recognised and accepted when seeking employment or further study
- Flexibility - multiple institutions offering a wide variety of courses with flexible delivery methods
- Protection - government legislation and codes of conduct operate to regulate the industry and protect students
- Value - the combination of competitive tuition fees and low cost of living represent good value for money
- Lifestyle - favourable climate, safe and stable environment, attractive surrounds and friendly people make it an enjoyable place to study
- Multicultural - overseas students are welcome in Australia’s multicultural society
- Support - networks of support exist to help students in all aspects of their stay in Australia
- Work/travel - there are opportunities for students to travel and/or work whilst studying
School Education
The Australian school system starts with a preparatory year followed by 12 years of primary and secondary schooling. Schooling is compulsory until the age of 16 or completion of Year 10. An additional two years of study are necessary for those wishing to proceed to tertiary studies. In the final year (Year 12), students can study for a government-endorsed certificate which is recognised for further study by all Australian universities and vocational training institutions.
There are two broad categories of schools in Australia – government and private. Both accept international students. The school year in Australia is divided into four terms and runs from late January until December.
Tertiary and further education
There are two types of post-school education programs: those offered by institutions and industry in the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector; and those offered by universities and other higher education providers.
Australia’s VET system delivers practical and career-oriented training, equipping individuals with the skills required in a modern economy. Its key roles are to drive economic growth and address skills shortages by bringing together students, employers, governments, and registered training organisations. Through strong industry leadership, the national training system provides Australians with the skills needed to enter the workforce for the first time, re-enter the workforce, retrain for a new job, upgrade skills for an existing job, and engage in lifelong learning.
1.Vocational education and training (VET)
The VET sector is positioned between secondary schools and universities and prepares students for employment or further study. This sector consists of private institutes of Registered Training Organisation (RTO) specialising in one or more areas of study related to future work, and public institutes of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) and a number of schools and universities. Industry and Government work together to develop training outcomes, which are then implemented according to nationally endorsed training packages.
RTO and TAFE Institutes are nationally-recognised institutions offering vocational education and training over a wide range of occupations. Courses vary in duration from several hours to three year full-time courses. They are usually cheaper than university courses, and students may progress to university later on with credits for their TAFE studies. Qualifications include certificates, diplomas and advanced diplomas.
Private academies, colleges include sport and recreation academies, business colleges, computer training firms, English language centres, and colleges specialising in a particular field such as aviation, photography, interior decorating, multimedia, hospitality management and tourism.
Many institutes also provide accredited English language training and Foundation Studies for entry into university diploma and bachelor degree courses. All institutes and colleges are subject to Government monitoring to ensure high standards.
2.Universities
Australian universities have an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research, with academic staff recruited from Australia and around the world. Universities and other higher education institutions offer programs leading to bachelor and a range of postgraduate degrees, including higher degrees by research. Some universities also offer shorter undergraduate and corporate development programs.
In 2007, the Australian Government announced a $6 billion Higher Education Endowment fund. This, together with an additional $1.7 billion in funding for other measures, will ensure the development of more world-class universities, and foster excellence, diversity and specialisation in the sector.
As part of the Education Revolution, the Government has also announced that the number of national undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships will be doubled over four years from the start of the 2009 university year.
The Australian higher education sector consists of 37 public universities and two private universities that are autonomous and self-accrediting; four other self-accrediting higher education institutions; and about 150 other institutions accredited by state and territory governments (such as theological colleges and providers specialising in professional and artistic courses of study). An American university, Carnegie Mellon, has a branch in Adelaide. Australian universities have campuses overseas in Malaysia, South Africa and Vietnam.
All Australian higher education institutions have mechanisms in place to ensure that the high quality of their courses and services is maintained at an international standard.
Foundation studies
These programs (usually taken over one academic year) prepare international students for entry into Australian universities. Students undertake subjects directly related to their preferred university course, as well as English language training for academic purposes. Successful completion of a Foundation Studies program provides students with a guarantee of admission into specific degree courses within participating institutions. Many schools and vocational institutes, as well as universities, offer Foundation Studies programs.
Study abroad
These programs give overseas students the opportunity to undertake courses at Australian RTOs and universities for one or two semesters and have them credited at their home institutions. Students must gain prior approval for the subjects they wish to study abroad, and must also meet the normal pre-requisites for individual subjects.
English language training
English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) may be undertaken at a variety of government and private institutions. There are currently over 100 accredited and registered English centres throughout Australia.
Courses are designed to include general English language training, English for academic purposes (in preparation for further studies), English for specific purposes (eg, business or computing studies), secondary school preparation, and preparation for international exams (such as the Cambridge Certificate or IELTS).
Full-time English courses are available for periods of study from four to 48 weeks. Study tour programs are available, either full or part time, for periods of between one and six weeks.
Our vocational education advisor will help you make the first step.
Suggested pathways:
Australian VET graduates are able to seek employment with the knowledge that their skills are those in high demand by employers. Under Australia's national qualifications framework, graduates can also progress into higher level courses including entry into universities for Diploma and Bachelor degree courses. Australia's VET providers offer a wide range of training options in the fields of sport and recreation, computing, business studies, marketing, tourism and hospitality.
The qualifications offered at vocational education and training institutions are Certificates I - IV, Diploma and Advanced Diploma. They meet national industry standards and will prepare you for employment in a host of occupations or further studies. Almost all Australian secondary schools offer vocational education programs in addition to the standard school curriculum. These programs are based on the same competency test and lead to a recognised national qualification. Many institutes also provide accredited English language training and Foundation Studies for entry to University Diploma and Bachelor Degree courses.
English Speaking Country
English language studies can prepare you for further studies and a global career.
The best way to learn English is to live among, and converse with, native speakers. Students from around the world come to Australia every year to do just that. While some students study to prepare them for academic challenges, others study to improve their English for business, travel or personal reasons. Australia’s flexible English language institutions cater for everyone from beginner to advanced, and you can enrol at virtually any time of the year.
Guarantee of Quality
You can be sure that you’ll receive quality training. In Australia, English language courses are closely regulated to ensure the highest standards of education delivery are maintained. These standards extend to class sizes, professional teacher qualifications, curriculum, teaching methods and materials.
Recognition of Your Skills
When you finish your English course you can choose to sit for one of the major internationally recognised tests, including the Cambridge Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), and the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). IELTS is the test preferred by most Australian institutions and is also a requirement for many student visas.
Qualifications Recognition
More than 400,000 international students were enrolled at an Australian education institution in 2007. When you graduate, your qualification will be recognised by international employers and leading education institutions around the world.
This is because all Australian education qualifications are included under one national system - Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The AQF links school, vocational and university qualifications, making it easier to progress to the next AQF level anywhere in Australia.
The AQF also makes it easy for overseas governments to recognise your qualification. When international employers see it, they know what it stands for: a world class education in a modern, democratic and technologically advanced society.
Australia even has a system to recognise your qualifications from other countries. The Australian Government organisation, National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) helps Australian institutions to recognise qualifications from overseas, allowing for recognition of your previous studies
The AQF also makes it easy for overseas governments to recognise your qualification. When international employers see it, they know what it stands for: a world class education in a modern, democratic and technologically advanced society.
Australia even has a system to recognise your qualifications from other countries. The Australian Government organisation, National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) helps Australian institutions to recognise qualifications from overseas, allowing for recognition of your previous studies
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What We Do
The AFC Provides Academic Qualifications for:
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