UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA
Higher education in Australia enjoys a high international reputation. Australian universities are part of a recognized international community of scholarship, with academic staff recruited internationally and more students coming from overseas and across Australia.
There are 43 universities in Australia (40 Australian universities, two international universities, and one private speciality university).
Bond, Torrens and Notre Dame are private.
Carnegie Mellon and University College London have campuses in Adelaide, but since their main campuses and administrations are outside Australia, they are considered non-Australian universities.
Many Australian universities have overseas branch campuses, twinning arrangements and exchange programs for students and teaching staff worldwide.
Diversity and autonomy are central features of Australian universities. Each institution has the freedom to specify its mission and purpose, modes of teaching and research, the makeup of its student body, and the range and content of its educational programs. This variety is visible in the different goals and objectives, staff profiles and the emphasis placed on particular courses at different universities.
UNIVERSITY LOCATIONS
Australian Universities are located in all major state and territory capital cities and in many regional centres.
states and their universities
STRUCTURE OF AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES
All Australian universities are established or recognised under government legislation. The Federal Government has responsibility for funding public universities.
The formal governing body of each Australian university is the Council, Senate or Board of Governors.
Teaching and research disciplines organised in several faculties and schools with dedicated Research Centres linking to the faculties. There are also several administrative Divisions.
COURSES AND QUALIFICATIONS
Courses can vary considerably in form, entry requirements, duration and assessment methods.
The academic year is generally from early March to late November or mid-July to late June of the following year.
The year is normally divided into two semesters, although some universities offer three semesters in one calendar year for some courses.
Students studying towards a Doctoral Degree or other postgraduate research awards may be able to negotiate an alternative starting date with their research supervisor.
Diploma
Duration: 1 – 2 years.
Offered by some universities and university colleges. They are at the same level as Diplomas offered by VET Institutions.
Bachelor Degree
Duration: minimum 3 years.
The basic university qualification required for entry into a profession.
Bachelor Degree (Honours)
Duration: 4 years.
Takes an additional year after a Bachelor’s Degree with a focus on research.
Graduate Certificate
Duration: 6 months.
Typically involves broadening individual skills gained in an undergraduate program, or developing vocational knowledge and skills in a new professional area.
Graduate Diploma
Duration: 12 months.
Broadens individual skills obtained in an undergraduate program or develops vocational knowledge and skills in a new professional area.
Masters Degree (Coursework)
Duration: 1 – 2 years
Enhances specific professional or vocational skills and involves acquiring an in-depth understanding of a specific area of knowledge usually by independent research.
Masters Degree (Research) – MPhil
Duration: 1 – 2 years
Aims to provide research training that develops independent research skills including: ability to formulate a significant problem, mastery of appropriate conceptual and methodological frameworks, and capacity for articulate and critical analysis.
Doctoral Degree (Doctor of Philosophy- PhD)
Duration: usually 3 years
Highest award offered by Australian universities. Although traditional PhDs are research degrees, some programs may have a coursework component.
ENTRY POINTS, ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND COSTS
Students need to meet both a sufficient level of English language proficiency and the minimum
academic requirements before they can be admitted to an Australian university.
ENGLISH LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY
Australian education institutions can only accept students with an appropriate level of English
proficiency. Institutions set their English language requirements. The language proficiency
entry levels (e.g. IELTS, CAE or other, specified by the education provider, like RMIT English
Worldwide) may be different from those required for a student visa.
ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Institutions are free to determine the academic requirements for entry to their courses. These
requirements depend on:
• The level and content of the study the student has completed in Australia or their home
country;
• The level and academic standards of the institution at which they completed their study. In general, however, the following criteria apply for undergraduate and postgraduate courses:
UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
Undergraduate degrees require an Australian Senior School Certificate of Education (Year 12) or the overseas equivalent of this. Some degrees may also have certain pre-requisite subjects and grades.
Most universities have specialised pathway programs, such as Foundation courses or Diploma
programs that enable international students who do not meet academic requirements to gain entry.
POSTGRADUATE COURSES
Entry to postgraduate courses requires completion to a satisfactory standard of a Bachelor degree. Prospective students may also need to demonstrate research ability or relevant work experience.
COSTS OF AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS
University courses in Australia are comparable to those in other English-speaking countries. For
For example, the cost of a Bachelor of Arts may be:
In the Australian education system, some degrees are slightly shorter than in other countries.
WHICH ARE THE “BEST” AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES?
International students often want to know which are the “best” universities in Australia. In many
countries, universities are officially ranked on a scale. However, the judgments that underlie this
kind of ‘ranking’ can be too subjective and the rank may not necessarily match what is best for a
particular student’s individual needs.
It is also rare to find a university anywhere in the world that is the “best” in all that they do. Likewise, a reputation earned in one discipline, perhaps many years ago, may not be relevant to another discipline in the 21st Century. However, there are several possible indicators that show the relative standings of Australian universities.
ENTRY STANDARDS
While entry levels are fairly uniform for entry into Australian university degrees, different universities have different requirements for entry into similar courses. The relative academic levels can illustrate which universities are considered better. This can show how, in general, academically more able students choose one university over another to do a similar course.
GROUPS OF UNIVERSITIES
Universities that share common characteristics have formed groups and networks that, to some extent, illustrate differences in focus and objectives between groups of universities and the commonalities of those within the group.
groups of universities
5 INTERESTING FACTS
- The number of international students in Australia total 456,811.
- Over 2200 students are enrolled from Kenya, the largest number from Africa.
- Australia has Seven of the World’s Most Student-Friendly Cities.
- Over 15 Nobel Laureates have Graduated from Australian Universities.
- Australia has one of the best educational systems in the world.