Higher Education

Tertiary Education - Vocational Education and Training (VET) Sector

Tertiary education programs can be divided into two main types:

• Vocational education , which are programs offered by institutions and industry within the vocational education and training (VET) sector. VET is competency-based and offers a wide variety of programs under a national training framework. The progressive developments in Australia's Vocational Education and Training system, for example its industry-based training packages and national recognition framework, are generating considerable international interest.
• Higher education programs , which are mainly offered by universities and other higher education institutions. Higher education offers programs leading to Bachelor degrees and a range of Postgraduate awards. Universities also offer some shorter undergraduate programs.

Technical and Further Education (TAFE)

Australia ’s vocational education and training system provides individuals with the skills required in a modern economy and delivers competency-based training that is practical and career-oriented. Australia’s VET system is highly advanced, following a decade of continuous reform. In the regulated VET system, industry-based qualifications are delivered by registered training organisations, which include public institutions, called TAFE institutes, and private colleges. Australian VET qualifications are designed to provide students with nationally recognised competencies that employers have identified as critical to their needs. Students graduate when they achieve the set competency standards.

The VET sector is positioned between secondary schools and universities and prepares students for employment or further study. This sector consists of public institutes of Technical and Further Education (TAFE), and private colleges specialising in one or more areas of study related to future work.

TAFE Institutes are nationally-recognised, government-funded 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 colleges include Business colleges, Computer Training Firms, English Language Centre, 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.

Universities

The Australian higher education sector comprises 37 public universities; three private universities, which are autonomous and self-accrediting; four other self-accrediting higher education institutions; and over 100 other institutions, such as theological colleges and providers specialising in professional and artistic courses of study.

University studies can be undertaken at the undergraduate or postgraduate level, leading to awards ranging from Graduate Certificate to Doctorate. Many institutions also offer additional programs such as Foundation Studies, Study Abroad and English language courses.

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 degrees and a range of postgraduate awards, including higher degrees by research. Universities also offer some shorter undergraduate and corporate development programs.

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.

Course Qualifications and Entrance Requirements

Australia has a national set of qualifications, which are endorsed by the Australian government. This means that there is national and international recognition of each qualification and the education level it serves.

The types of awards offered by most institutions include:

Undergraduate

Bachelor degree (pass): provides initial preparation for professional careers and postgraduate study, and involves a minimum of three years full-time study. Entrance generally requires the completion of an Australian Secondary School Certificate of Education (Year 12) or the overseas equivalent, or a Diploma or Advanced Diploma from the vocational education sector.

Bachelor degree (honours): may be taken as an additional year following the three year degree or is awarded on the basis of meritorious achievement in degrees of four or more years.

Postgraduate

Graduate Certificate / Diploma: generally designed for specific vocational purposes, either the broadening of skills and knowledge already gained in an undergraduate program, or the gaining of vocational skills and knowledge in a new professional area. The typical requirement is six months of full-time study for the Graduate Certificate and twelve months of full-time study for the Graduate Diploma. Entrance usually requires a Bachelor Degree or Advanced Diploma and may also be accessed in part by recognition of prior learning.

Masters degree: provides a mastery or high-order overview of a relevant field of study or area of professional practice. Typically they involve two years of study after a Bachelor degree or one year after a bachelor honours degree. The Masters degree may be offered in three main formats:

• Coursework: comprised of coursework, project work and research in varying combinations. Entry normally requires the prior completion of a Bachelor degree, a Bachelor honours degree or a Graduate Diploma.
• Research: comprised of at least two-thirds research with a substantial, often externally assessed, thesis outcome. Entry typically requires a Bachelor Honours degree or Masters preliminary year, a research-based Graduate Diploma or equivalent research experience.
• Professional: which may involve a work-based project. Entry requires a relevant qualification and professional experience or extensive relevant professional experience.
• Doctoral degree: recognises a substantial original contribution to knowledge in the form of new knowledge or significant and original adaptation, application and interpretation of existing knowledge. The doctoral degree comes in two forms:
• Research: which consists mainly of supervised research. Entry requires a research or part-research Masters degree or a Bachelor honours degree.
• Professional: which is achieved though a combination of coursework and research. Generally applicants would be expected to hold a combined research and coursework Masters degree or a Bachelor Honours degree. The program requires professional practice experience either before or during the course.

Starting Dates

These vary, depending on the course. Higher education courses generally run from early March to late November, with the year divided into two semesters. However, some institutions offer a trimester system and/or run summer schools from December to February.

Undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students enrol for their courses at the beginning of the year (that is, in January or February). Some providers do allow mid-year enrolment (for example, in July) for certain courses. Students studying towards a doctoral degree or other postgraduate research awards may be able to negotiate an alternative starting date with their study supervisor.

Average tuition costs

• Bachelor degree: AU$10 000-AU$13 500 a year (based on arts, accounting, business and management, and at the higher range, on law courses)
• Laboratory-based bachelor degree: AU$11 000-$A16 500 (based on science and engineering courses)
• Graduate Certificate / Graduate Diploma: AU$9000-AU$16 000 per year

Masters and Doctoral degree: AU$11 000-AU$18 500 per year

Entry requirements

Entry into most higher education courses in Australia is highly competitive. A high standard of English is required for entry into both undergraduate and postgraduate courses, although individual institutions create their own benchmarks for entry. It is important to check the entry requirements with the institution.

Course information sourced from the Australian Qualifications Framework website, viewed 27 April 2004, (http://www.aqf.edu.au)

Figures sourced from AEI - International Education Network 2004, Department of Education, Science and Training, viewed 27 April 2004, (http://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au)