The Australian education system is regarded as one of the greatest in the world for both domestic and international students. It provides high-quality education and worldwide recognised qualifications. Students can also get fantastic employment opportunities after graduating from Australia.
Australia's higher education institutes are also well known for their research and training practices. This makes Australia popular among students who wish to study abroad.
These are why Australian colleges rank higher in the QS World ranking. The main focus of all Australian universities is to induce skills in their students like creativity, design thinking, communication, etc. They have a well-designed curriculum followed by all universities and colleges to attain this.
Table of Contents
- How Does the Australian Education System Work?
- What is the Education Policy in Australia?
- Academic Year in Australia
- Study Levels in Australia
- Academic Intakes in Australia
- Tuition Fee Structure in Australia
- Financial Aid at Australian Education Support
- Types of Higher Education Institutions
- Overseas Healthcare Insurance in Australia
- Alternative Education in Australia
- Job Opportunities in Australia
- Post-Study Work Opportunities
How Does the Australian Education System Work?
The education system in Australia follows a set of policies known as the Australian Qualification Framework or the AQF. It is a national policy first introduced in 1995 by the Department of Education, Skills, and Employment. Its main objective is to regulate qualifications in Australian education and training.
The AQF divides education into ten levels, from preschool to doctoral degrees. This gives the student the freedom to choose and be flexible in career planning. These qualifications also prepare students for future studies and work life.
Almost all government and nationally accredited institutes in Australia follow the AQF. This makes the degree genuine. Another benefit of AQF is that all the AQF following institutes are linked. This makes the transfer from one institute to another very easy.
What is the Education Policy in Australia?
The education policy in Australia, also known as the Australian Qualification Framework or AQF, divides the education system into ten levels. These levels start from certificate one and go on to doctoral degrees. This makes the education system easy to understand and flexible.
These levels can be divided into early childhood, primary, secondary, and high education. Given below are details about all these stages:
Early Childhood Education
This stage of education is for students from the age of four to five. Kindergarten or preschool is the first form of formal school for children in Australia. This education stage aims to teach children everyday skills like teamwork, friendship, creativity, communication, reading, writing, and learning.
Primary School Education
This stage of education is for ages six to 11. It provides primary education like basic literacy, intellectual, numeracy, and socio-economic skills. Basic geography and culture may also be taught at this stage.
Secondary School Education
This stage of education is for children aged 12 to 18 and consists of 7 to 12 years old. It includes the study of subjects like mathematics, history, science, English, arts, biology, etc. Students choose to drop out in year ten and enrol in vocational courses. While students who finish years 11 and 12 need to sit in an exam to get the senior secondary certificate of education.
Higher Education
This stage is for children aged 18 and above and is also called tertiary education. It includes all college and university courses that students can pursue after year 12. It has two sectors: vocational education and training (VET) and universities. VETs are registered and regulated by the Australian Skills Quality agency. At the same time, universities and colleges are registered and regulated by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.
Academic Year in Australia
- The academic year in Australia varies for each level. It depends on the course and type of study one is undertaking.
- Some institutes provide mid-year or second-semester entry, while others don't. Similarly, session dates and semesters may vary for each course.
Given below are general academic years for different levels. One may refer to this for a rough overview:
|
Level |
Length |
Semesters |
Start date |
|
Schools |
13 years |
4 |
Late January or early February |
|
Vocational Education |
1- 4 years |
2 |
February |
|
UG |
3-4 years |
2 or 3 |
March |
|
PG |
1-2 years |
2 or 3 |
March |
|
PhD |
3+ years |
No formal semesters |
Can be negotiated |
Study Levels in Australia
According to the AQF, the Australian education system is divided into ten levels. These levels start from certificate 1 to doctoral degree or PhD. Given below is a list of all the levels with their respective qualification:
|
Levels |
Qualifications |
|
Level 1 |
Certificate I |
|
Level 2 |
Certificate II |
|
Level 3 |
Certificate III |
|
Level 4 |
Certificate IV |
|
Level 5 |
Diploma |
|
Level 6 |
Advanced Diploma, Associate Degree |
|
Level 7 |
Bachelor Degree |
|
Level 8 |
Bachelor Honours Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma |
|
Level 9 |
Master’s Degree |
|
Level 10 |
Doctoral Degree |
Academic Intakes in Australia
Most universities offer two significant intakes in Australia, while others provide three. Intakes are also called semesters or trimesters. It depends on the course the student wishes to join and the university.
The three typical intakes offered by Australian universities are:
|
Intake |
Deadline |
|
Semester 1 (February intake) |
October-November |
|
Semester 2 (July intake) |
April-May |
|
Semester / Trimester 3 |
September - November |
Tuition Fee Structure in Australia
The tuition fees for international students in Australia start at 20,000 AUD per year. The average fee is 30,000 AUD per year, excluding the living cost. It mainly depends on the course a student picks and the number of units in the respective course.
|
Education Level |
Cost/Year |
|
Undergraduate Bachelor Degree |
AUD 20,000 - 45,000 |
|
Postgraduate Master’s Degree |
AUD 22,000 - 50,000 |
|
Doctoral Degree |
AUD 18,000 - 42,000 |
|
Vocational Education and Training |
AUD 4,000 - 22,000 |
Financial Aid at Australian Education Support
The cost of studying in Australia may be high for most students. To reduce this and help the students, the Australian government and universities have bought several scholarships for the students.
Students can enrol in these by applying if they are eligible. Some popular scholarships in Australia are
- Australia Awards: This scholarship is a combination of scholarships offered by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, the Department of education, and the foreign affairs department. It is especially among children from Asia, the Middle East, the Pacific, and Africa. It covers OHSC, full tuition, returns air travel, and establishment allowance.
- Endeavour PG Scholarship Award: This is for international students pursuing master's and PhD. It covers tuition fees, monthly stipends, travel allowance, establishment allowance, and health insurance.
- AGRTP (Australia Government Research Training Program): It is for international students pursuing research in masters or PhD programs. It provides a financial award of 43,000 AUD (max).
Some other scholarships provided to international students by the Australian government and institutes are:
|
Scholarship |
Award |
Partner University |
|
ANU Study Canberra India Scholarship |
AUD 10,000 |
ANU |
|
Macquarie University India Scholarship |
AUD 10,000 |
Macquarie University |
|
Sydney Scholars India Scholarship Program |
Variable |
University of Sydney |
|
Monash Business School Undergraduate Scholarship |
AUD 1000 |
Monash University |
|
University of Adelaide Global Citizen Scholarship |
15-30% fee waiver |
University of Adelaide |
Types of Higher Education Institutions
Australia has different types of higher education institutes where students can opt to study. These are the 1960s – 1970s universities, Australian Technology Network, Group of Eight, Regional Universities, and New Generation Universities.
Given below are each of these and their details:
|
University type |
Details |
Universities |
|
The 1960s – 1970s universities |
were built and established in the mid-1960s – 70s. The main aim was to provide education to children and introduce a new education pattern. |
|
|
Australian Technology Network |
These were established in 1999 as Australia’s five most innovative and enterprising universities. The main goal of these universities was to provide impactful technological solutions for the betterment of society. |
|
|
Group of Eight (Go8) |
These are the oldest universities established in Australia for research and education. They were formed in 1999 as a cluster of eight top Australian universities. Even in today’s times, these are some of the top-ranking universities across the world. They provide world-class research opportunities and strong industry connections. |
|
|
Regional Universities |
These are a group of 7 universities that come under the RUN and were established in 2011. They aim to contribute to the growth of regional economies and communities. |
|
|
New generation universities |
These colleges are established in 2002. They are built for students graduating from higher secondary school. The main aim of these colleges is to provide advanced education to students. |
|
Overseas Healthcare Insurance in Australia
In Australia, international students must have health insurance. Health care for international students is called Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC). It covers all medical and hospital costs and is essential when moving to Australia.
Thus, students must remember to purchase health insurance before moving to Australia.
Alternative Education in Australia
Alternative education in Australia is referred to as an education philosophy different from mainstream education. These are taught in schools called alternative schools. Some of the alternative schools in Australia are:
- Steiner schools
- Montessori schools.
Job Opportunities in Australia
Students in Australia can get immense work opportunities inside and outside of Australia. They can get a chance to work with some of the top companies in the world. Students can get high-paying jobs along with many other benefits.
The following are some of Australia's top recruiters, along with the salaries they offer:
|
Recruiters |
Salary (AUD/year) |
|
Wesfarmers |
AUD 270,000 |
|
Telstra |
AUD 190,000 |
|
GE Capital |
AUD 180,000 |
|
Toil Group |
AUD 165,000 |
|
Land Lease |
AUD 282,000 |
|
Toyota |
AUD 176,000 |
|
Nomura |
AUD 159,000 |
|
Clayton Utz |
AUD 172,000 |
|
PwC |
AUD 99,000 |
|
Accenture |
AUD 92,000 |
Post-Study Work Opportunities
International students can return to Australia and work for five years. According to the new post-study work stream visa, Students can study, live, and work in specific areas of Australia for up to five years.
Almost all international students can apply for a Post-study work visa, but they must remember the following points:
- One's field of specialisation doesn't act as a determining factor.
- The degree of a student must be from a CRICOS- registered course.
- Students don't need to give any skill assessment to apply for the Visa
- Students must fulfil the English proficiency test requirements.
Still unclear about anything? Well, not to worry. Contact AECC and get your queries answered today! AECC is one of the world's leading educational consultancies with versatile expert professionals ready to help you with any queries you may have. Contact us so we can be of assistance to you in your journey to achieving your dream.
