Common questions from prospective students

What different types of courses can I study?

In Australia, the higher education system is governed by each individual state or territory. This system encompasses three levels, divided by age group – Primary, Secondary and Tertiary education.

There are several categories of course within the tertiary education system - university degree courses, Technical and Further Education Colleges (TAFEs, which are accredited by individual states) and other self-accrediting institutes such as Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and Vocational and Educational Training Colleges (VETs).

At university the two main levels of study are undergraduate and postgraduate and at TAFE and RTOs you may undertake a certificate, diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree. These courses must be accredited to meet certain education standards and often aim to provide education in subject areas that do not require a university degree, such as construction, hairdressing, hospitality etc


What is the difference between undergraduate and postgraduate?

At university in Australia, ‘undergraduate’ is the name given to a first degree. Commonly known as a bachelor, most of these degrees are full-time for three-years, although some more specialised bachelor degrees are longer – for instance five years for a Bachelor of Law and six years for a Bachelor of Medicine.

Bachelor degrees can specialise in many study areas – from health, to engineering, to science and the arts. Certain bachelor degrees that are either popular or quite specialised may be more difficult to gain entry into than more generalised bachelor degrees or bachelor degrees that represent a labour gap in a particular industry.


A bachelor degree is usually completed by coursework and may include electives outside the field of study, allowing students the flexibility of studying different interest areas.

After a bachelor degree is completed, students may apply to do an extra period of research-based study (usually a year) to obtain Honours – giving further academic experience and an extra edge in seeking employment.

A postgraduate degree is any extra period of study done beyond the normal bachelor degree, usually in more specialised subject areas and based on critical, independent research or coursework. These include the qualifications of Graduate/Postgraduate Certificates, Graduate/Postgraduate Diplomas, Masters Degrees and Doctorates.   


How does ECTS compare to the Australian credit system?

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) applies to students in the European Union, and is a system of measuring each student’s performance, attainment of study credits and study progress throughout the EU – for instance, for a year of full-time (1500-1800 hours) study, 60 ECTS credits are gained.  

ECTS are acknowledged by Australian educational institutes – generally, a full-time semester of study in Australia equals about 30 ECTS, however each university here has a different way of measuring subject units of study – for example, the University of Newcastle requires 40 units per semester for a full-time study load (a single subject unit here is 10 units), whereas at RMIT in Melbourne requires 48 units per semester for a full-time load (a single subject unit here is 12 units). These different unit systems all still equate to the same amount of time for full-time study.


What are the English-level requirements for study in Australia?

In some circumstances, students coming to study in Australia do not need to sit an English test in order to gain entry to courses. For instance, if you previously studied at a secondary education level in an English-speaking country or have previously passed a qualification in English you will not need to take an English test. Other circumstances may include - if you are from Sweden, Norway or Denmark or if you are sponsored through an aid-program. Check with the specific Australian educational institute for these details.  

If your previous study was not in English, you will have to show you can write, read and speak to a sufficient standard of English by passing a language test within two years of beginning your course.

There are several well-known tests you can undertake which are recognised by all Australian universities – for instance, Combined Universities Language Test (CULT), International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) tests, however check with your local Australian Embassy for the most appropriate choice as the English language requirements may vary depending on where you are from.

12.04.2010 Travel Blog

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14.06.2009 Permanent Residency Australia

After completing the program you may be eligible for additional points needed to apply for permanent residency and establish a long-term career in Australia.

 

 

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20.03.2009 Australian Catholic University

Bachelor of Nursing - July 2009 intake - No further applications will be accepted for the Bachelor of Nursing in July 2009 for Brisbane and North Sydney. Applications for the Melbourne campus will close at 5pm (Sydney time) on 30th March 2009.

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16.05.2008 CQU

From Monday 19th May all Australian International Campuses will be wireless!

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Two-year Master of Science commencing July 2008: From Spring (July) Session 2008 the Master of Science (in the Faculty of Science) will be offered as a 72 credit point program of up to two years duration.

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