With over 1,100 universities and over 22,000 courses targeted to foreign students, Australia offers a wide selection of study choices.
Topics to Look At
- Routes to Higher Education
Your research plan can be streamlined by planning and pursuing an educational pathway. A Foundation course will assist you in achieving your objectives more quickly.
Education pathways
Your research plan can be streamlined by planning and pursuing an educational pathway. A Foundation course will assist you in achieving your objectives more quickly.
If you don’t meet the entry criteria for the course you want in Australia, there are a number of options available to help you get there.
This could include attending an Australian academy, taking English language classes, or enrolling in a vocational education and training program.
Foundation Studies
If you don’t meet academic criteria, you have a few options for getting ready to continue your education. You can enrol in high school or Foundation Studies, depending on your previous studies and the final degree you want to pursue.
Foundation Studies is a rigorous preparatory program that will prepare you to enroll in an undergraduate program at a university or other higher education institution. These programs are typically divided into streams, such as business and science, and include both mandatory and elective subjects. The majority of the time, English language assistance is required.
Foundation Studies courses are available at several colleges, vocational education and training centers, and universities. Foundation Studies is characterized by a university’s provisional admission to an undergraduate program if you reach the necessary grades.
- System of education
Primary, secondary, and tertiary education in Australia are all interconnected around the country and across the world.
Australian education system
Primary, secondary, and tertiary education in Australia are all interconnected around the country and across the world.
1.Academic year dates in Australia
The length of the academic year in Australia varies depending on the course of study.
A mid-year, or second semester, start is also available at several institutions. The number of semesters and start dates differ by course and college, so please review your institution’s website for more information.
The following is a general guide to the academic year in Australia for various levels of study:
Schools
• Length – 13 years in total (Kindergarten/Preparatory to Year 12)
• Semesters – 4 (usually called terms’)
• Starts – Late January/early February
English
• Length – From 5 weeks to 1 year
• Semesters – The year is split into weeks
• Starts – Throughout the year
Foundation
• Length – 1 year (some may be longer)
• Semesters – The semester breaks will depend on your course
• Starts – February but can vary by course and institutions
Vocational Education and Training
• Length – 1 to 4 years
• Semesters – Two
• Starts – February, but can vary by course and institutions
Undergraduate
• Length – Typically 3 years (4 years for honors degree)
• Semesters – Two, although some institutions offer three semesters (trimesters)
• Starts – Typically March, but can vary by course and institution
Postgraduate
• Length – 1 to 2 years
• Semesters – Two, although some institutions offer three semesters (trimesters)
• Starts – Typically March, but can vary by course and institution
Doctoral
• Length – 3 years (plus 1 year for review)
• Semesters – As most doctoral candidates do not attend class, there are usually no
formal semesters
• Starts – Start dates are negotiated with PhD supervisor
2.Exemptions and course credits
Prior learning credits will help you build on what you’ve already learned in class.
You may apply to use course credits you’ve already received to further your education in Australia.
RPL, also known as credit transfer, is the process of recognizing prior informal and formal schooling, job experience, professional advancement, professional licensing and exams, and other work-based education and training. At the institution’s discretion, credit transfer is possible in both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. Previous technical education and training (VET) research can also be given credit.
Australia has a scheme in place to recognise foreign credentials. The Australian government’s National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (NOOSR) assists Australian institutions in recognising foreign qualifications, enabling you to have your previous studies recognised.
The distinction between credits and exemptions is explained briefly below.
Credits
*To receive a degree, you must complete a certain number of units or subjects during a course.
*If you have previous work or study experience, your new provider can give you credit against your total, allowing you to avoid repeating courses.
Exemptions
*You’re also excused from attending a unit or subject if you have an exception.
*You can need to take another unit or subject to gain credits and add to your total qualification if you receive an exemption rather than a credit.
How do you get a credit or exemption for a course?
The criteria and method differ by organization and course, but in general, specifics of your work experience can be anything that proves your experience, ranging from a job reference to published work. An academic transcript or certification documents from your previous educational institution, as well as a summary of the program you covered, are normally needed.
If you’ve agreed on a course and college, get in touch with one of their course specialists or admissions staff to discuss your plans. They will be able to advise you on the best educational course for you, one that provides for credits or exemptions while still meeting your objectives.
3.The ESOS Act (Education Services for Overseas Students)
International students studying in Australia are covered by the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) system.
International students studying in Australia are covered by the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) system, which includes:
Your right to obtain current and correct information about courses, rates, study modes, and other information from your institution and its agent before enrolling.
Before paying fees, you have the right to sign a written agreement with your organization that outlines the services to be offered, the fees to be charged, and specifics about course money refunds. Make a copy of your written agreement and keep it secure.
The Tuition Protection Service (TPS) is an international student placement and refund service that is enabled if your institution is unable to teach your course.
The roles of the organizations.
The ESOS structure establishes the minimum requirements that Australian education providers must meet when providing education and training to international students. The role of providers in maintaining their education agent network is also outlined in ESOS and the National Code.
These guidelines cover a wide variety of information and resources that you have a right to receive, including:
- Introduction and access to support services to assist you in your studies and transition to life in Australia. Contact information for officers who can assist foreign students.
- If you’re eligible for course credit, apply.
- When should you postpone, suspend, or cancel your enrollment
- What your institution’s standards are for adequate success in the courses you’re taking, and how you can get help if you’re not making enough progress.
- If your course’s attendance will be tracked.
- A procedure for filing lawsuits and appealing decisions.
Your duties and obligations
As a student on a student visa from another country, you must:
Meet the requirements of your student visa.
Keep your OSHC (Overseas Student Health Cover) for the duration of your stay.
Follow the terms of your institution’s formal agreement.
If your address changes, notify your institution.
Maintain a reasonable level of course performance.
If your course requires attendance, observe your institution’s attendance policy.
Maintain your accepted housing, support, and general welfare arrangements if you are under the age of 18.
4.Changing schools or enrolling in a course
It’s possible that you’ll want to change your path, level of education, or organization.
Before you decide to change your course of study or organisation, there are a few things you should organise and review.
For assistance and guidance, contact campus student support services or other advisors.
To keep your student visa, you must review the conditions and make sure you follow the correct procedures. It’s important that you don’t take suggestions from colleagues, classmates, or educational consultants at face value. Keep a copy of any cancellation or enrolment paperwork.
You must notify the Department of Home Affairs and have an electronic Confirmation of Enrolment (eCoE) certificate from your new institution if you change your institution or course at any time.
Changing your direction
If your existing student visa is about to expire, you do not need to apply for a new student visa if you want to change to a new course at the same university and at the same level of qualification.
Changing your educational degree
You will need to apply for a new student visa if you want to upgrade your level of qualification, such as from a Diploma to a Bachelor’s Degree, since your visa subclass will change. For more statistics, go to the Department of Home Affairs’ website.
Changing the educational institution
If you’re considering transferring to a different institution, talk to your current one about the process. If you have not completed at least six months of the key course of study (at your current institution) for which your visa was issued, the new institution will most likely refuse to enroll you.
Primary, secondary, and tertiary education are all available in Australia.
Training at the secondary level (Primary and Secondary)
Just small differences exist between states and territories when it comes to school education. Between the ages of six and sixteen, compulsory schooling (primary and secondary) is required (Year 1 to Year 9 or 10). Schooling lasts 13 years and is divided into three parts:
Primary education – The program lasts seven to eight years, from Kindergarten/Preparatory to Year 6 or 7.
Secondary school is a three- or four-year program that runs from Years 7 to 10 or Years 8 to 10.
Years 11 and 12 are the two years of senior high school.
If you want to switch institutions before finishing the first six months of your key course of study, you must first get permission from your current institution. To apply for a letter of release from your current institution, you’ll need a letter of offer from the new institution.
Post-secondary education
Higher education (including universities) and technical education and training are all included in tertiary education (VET).
Instructional language
The official language of Australia is English, which is also the primary language of instruction in the educational system. Many schools have bilingual or multilingual programming.
Framework for Australian Qualifications
The Australian Qualifications Framework distinguishes Australia’s educational system from that of many other countries (AQF). The AQF is a national policy that covers qualifications from tertiary education (higher education and vocational education and training) as well as the school-leaving certificate, the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education, which was established in 1995.
The AQF is divided into ten tiers and connects school, technical, and university education into a single national structure.As long as you meet student visa requirements, you can transfer seamlessly from one level of study to the next and from one university to the next. It gives you more options and versatility when it comes to career planning. All of the qualifications in the AQF help you prepare for further education as well as your professional life.
If you’re pursuing an AQF certification, you can rest assured that your school is government-approved and nationally accredited, and that your degree or other AQF credential will be authentic.
Our institutions are connected around the country and across the world, making it simple to switch between courses or institutions, and structured agreement and recognition processes ensure that no matter what your study or career goals are, every step of the way will contribute to your future.
English courses
You will learn a variety of life skills by learning English in Australia that you will not be able to obtain at home.
In Australia, learning English entails far more than memorising words in a classroom. Our teaching method emphasises critical thinking, as well as community and project work focused on real-life examples, so you can not only learn the language but also how to use it in daily situations.
You will learn a wide variety of life skills by learning English in Australia that you will not be able to obtain at home. Problem-solving, guiding diverse teams, and adapting your English to real-world scenarios are all useful skills that you can need for the rest of your life.You can learn the world’s language in a genuinely international atmosphere because our educational facilities provide a multicultural mix of students.
No matter where you study or which course you choose, the standard of our English language instruction remains constant. You can be assured that you’re having the best English education possible thanks to mandatory national standards and a robust, industry-led quality support system (see English Australia).
Types of English training
There are a variety of English courses available in Australia to satisfy a variety of study needs. There are a number of English language research organizations whose findings are accepted in Australia and other countries.
General English
• Your goal – To improve general proficiency to access higher-level courses; to improve your English for everyday use; to improve your English for travel; to improve your English for work purposes or to do casual work in an English speaking country
• Course description – Focusing on communication skills with emphasis on speaking and listening
English for Academic Purposes
• Your goal – You want to study in an Australian school, vocational college or university
• Course description – Preparing you for study at an English-speaking university, higher education or vocational institute
English for Specific Purposes (ESP)
• Your goal – You want to learn the spoken and written English needed for a specific context and perhaps want to consider an internship
• Course description – Focusing on practical English for specific course areas such as business, aviation or tourism
Examination Preparation
• Your goal – You plan to take an exam such as IELTS, TOEFL, TOEIC, or the Cambridge First Certificate
• Course description – Preparing you for English language proficiency examinations
English for Teaching
• Your goal – You want to teach English in schools in your own country
• Course description – These courses include TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, EfTC (English for Teaching Children.)
Study Tours
• Your goal – You want to have a short holiday, study English and have fun or study English and undertake work-related training
• Course description – These courses are a combination of General English with sporting, social, tourist, cultural or professional training activities.
Quality Assurance
The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) and the Australian Skills Quality Authority are Australia’s national regulatory and quality agencies for international education (ASQA). The Australian Government formed them to track quality and regulate university and non-university education providers against a set of independently defined standards to regulate courses and education and training providers to ensure nationally accepted quality standards are met. Both of these groups are in charge of monitoring national standards for English language schools.
In addition, the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act covers the following student rights:
*All international students’ well-being.
*The educational experience of students is of high quality.
*Providing correct and up-to-date details.