Education institutions in Australia comprise universities, TAFE colleges and VET institutions such as secretarial colleges, theological colleges and private business and commercial colleges. Operating Grants were provided to these institutions by the Commonwealth Department of Education Science and Training, as well as the Australian Film, Television and Radio School, the National Institute of Dramatic Art and the Australian Defence Force Academy.
TAFE Colleges provide most VET in technical and trade fields as well as apprenticeships and pre-employment courses, and conventional courses in science, commerce and arts. VET may also be provided by institutes of technology, some higher education institutions, schools and agricultural colleges, adult and community education authorities, private providers and employers.
Universities provide the higher education in Australia where basic undergraduate course is a bachelor degree for three or four years. About 50% of students enter higher education within a year or two after secondary school. Although a Year 12 academic result is required, there are alternative means of entry for those seeking to enter without it.
There are more than 30 public universities in Australia and one private one, which is without question a large amount relative to the population. The number of students throughout the continent is over 600,000, and most of the universities have a number of branches between various campuses throughout the city and sometimes even between states.
The competition for foreign students in Australia is fierce, because they serve as an extra source of income. Most of them come from Asian countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Hong Kong. In 2003 more than 150,000 foreign students arrived, according to the department of immigration.
Before one submits a request for a student visa, one should first meet standards for the expected route, with high school grades towards a first degree (Bachelors) and the degree grades towards advanced degrees. This can be carried out at the university. For more information on obtaining a student visa, please click here. Structure and curriculum hours: First degree usually takes 3 years, which is 2 semesters per year, and second degree takes between one and a half and two years. International students have to enroll as full time students, which is usually 4 courses per semester. Each semester comprises 14 weeks, and the annual holiday is during the Australian summer months between December and February.
Tuition is certainly not cheap and it fluctuates on average between 6000 and 9000 Australian dollars per semester, as students who hold Australian citizenship pay less and are eligible to receive a loan from the state. You may add to this living expenses, which are calculated at 1,000 dollars per month by the Australian department of immigration, and other “non-essential” expenses such as accessories for studying, and room and board. In their defense, the universities argue that the tuition for universities in the Unites States and England are much more expensive. Scholarships are usually granted for science majors; applications are filled out at the University. For more information about scholarships, visit this government site.
Ratings: There are no official ratings for Australian universities because the country wants to create competition and equality. However, a number of older universities have joined as a group called the group of eight, similar to the Ivy League in the Unites States. In addition, several independent bodies throughout the world, such as distinguished newspapers like Asiaweek and the Economist, rate the Australian universities in comparison to the learning institutions throughout the world. The ratings are made based on a combined score of student satisfaction, investments in research, international recognition, and the standard of the study buildings and equipment.
