One of the most individual and iconic countries in the world, Australia is also home to some of the world’s leading educational institutions. With a warm climate, over 50,000 kilometres of coastline and a reputation for being one of the most friendly countries worldwide, it's easy to see why it's a popular destination for international students.
"It was really interesting and
helpful to see your company's
resources... You truly have some
great resources for students."
"I particularly like the page
turning function. Easy to use
and easy to read."
"This type of advice is so necessary and useful for our students... A magazine such as this has been long overdue."
"This material really supports
the research and planning processes
that the students and their
families undertake."
"Very creative and with
useful information."
"I really enjoyed the modern and interactive style of the magazines
and think that it is very clever."
"With each passing day, students everywhere are using technology with greater frequency and ease... i-studentgroup is breaking new ground in getting information about colleges and universities to students, parents, and guidance counsellors around the world."
"I went through some of the magazines on offer and was very impressed. The wealth of information on hand will certainly be very useful."
"I believe that your online resource is
a tremendous help to students and
even parents who are anxious about
university attendance."
"What an outstanding resource! I'm truly impressed, this perhaps is the best resource I've seen for students to identify schools outside going there personally."
"The site is extremely helpful and a very
useful tool for us. Looking forward to
new issues of the web magazine."
"I truly think you've done an excellent job
on i-studentadvisor. It is colourful,
informative and user-friendly."
"Terrific, fantastic, informative, appealing,
attractive, effective and wonderful!"
"We recommend the i-studentadvisor magazines and websites to our
students and families as a great research companion."
"The site was not only strictly business, but also had the type of information that students, and future scholars, want to know about. I very much enjoyed the articles and found it quite resourceful."
"I really enjoyed the way the site separates each category. This makes students able to analyse the things offered in each region."
"i-studentadvisor supplements our programme with web resources that
give up-to-date, user-friendly guidelines to make the application process
more manageable."
"The online magazine was not only organised and detailed, but also very helpful in providing a glimpse of what a student’s life would be in college."
In Australia you are able to choose the kind of institution and course that suits you best. The main types of higher education institutions are universities, technical and further education institutes (TAFE) and private colleges.
Higher education providers in Australia are institutions that have been approved as such by the Australian Government Minister for Education to receive grants or assistance from the State. Australian higher education providers are either universities, or self-accrediting or non self-accrediting institutions. Private higher education providers are also either universities, self-accrediting providers or non self-accrediting providers.
Universities
The most popular programmes offered by Australian universities are bachelor degrees or bachelor degrees with honours. The duration of a bachelor degree can be three or four years.
Australian universities also offer the following awards:
University courses usually begin in March and end in late November, though some mid-year courses are also available on selected courses.
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) quality assures all awards offered by Australian universities. Institutions which self-accredit courses are not permitted to use the title of 'university'. To learn more about the Australian Qualifications Framework, visit - www.aqf.edu.au
After obtaining a bachelors degree, postgraduates can enroll on the following courses:
Technical and further education institutes (TAFE) or VET
TAFE institutes offer vocational programmes for students. Vocational courses offer students practical experience and a more hands-on approach to learning. Australian vocational education and training institution courses are referred to as VET.
VET programmes of study can last between four and 36 months depending on the level of study you choose. VET courses are offered in a range of subjects and, depending on the course, students can sometimes be granted credits towards a degree programme. TAFE courses usually begin in February and end in December. Universities and private colleges may also offer vocational courses.
Foundation courses
If students do not meet the academic requirements of a university or TAFE institute, they can enrol on a foundation programme. Often referred to as bridging courses, foundation courses are one-year-long, intensive study programmes offered by universities and VET institutes as well as high schools.
English language schools
The main types of English language courses include:
English language courses range in length from four weeks to one year. To learn more about English language courses, visit - www.englishaustralia.com.au
Useful links
Study in Australia
www.studyinaustralia.gov.au
The Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET)
www.acpet.edu.au
Universities Australia
www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au
Last updated: 15 December 2011
