• A highly developed country and one of the wealthiest economies.
• 3rd Most Popular International student destination
• 8 out of 100 universities that top the international chart belong to Australia
• 5 out of 30 cities, renowned as top student cities, are based in Australia
• 15 years of education is acceptable for Master programs
• Short duration for the master’s courses which is between 1, 1.5 to 2 yrs.
• The Visa process is straightforward and fair.
• A safe country with a pleasant climate and stable democracy.
• Considered next to the US and Canada, Australia is easy on the pocket. Be it the cost of living, or the cost of education, the prices are cheaper without compromising on the quality.
• Scholarship Opportunity is good
• There is a skills shortage in Australia so job opportunities are high after the graduation
• 2 years Post-study work visa for the bachelor’s degree or above level students.

The Australian education system comprises primary, secondary, and tertiary education.

School education (Primary and Secondary) :

• Primary school – Runs for seven or eight years, starting at Kindergarten/Preparatory through to Year 6 or 7.
• Secondary school – Runs for three or four years, from Years 7 to 10 or 8 to 10.
• Senior secondary school – Runs for two years, Years 11 and 12.

Tertiary education:

Tertiary education includes both higher education (including universities) and vocational education and training (VET). It can also be provided by the higher education institutions such as Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes and Registered Training Organisations (RTOs).

Technical and Further Education (TAFE) :

TAFE institutes in Australia are government-owned and have a long history of helping international students reach their career goals. International students attend TAFE institutes to complete courses that range from certificate to postgraduate level.

Why study in TAFE?

• improve your opportunities of being accepted into university study
• gain practical, work-based skills to improve your employment prospects
• You can take advantage of the wide variety of courses on offer
• It can be used as a pathway to a university program

A list of TAFE institutes can be found here

Vocational education and training (VET) :

VET courses are offered by Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). These can include Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes and private colleges. These organizations are all registered by each Australian state or territory authority to:

• provide quality training
• deliver courses developed with industry
• issue a nationally recognized qualification.

Universities :

University offers Bachelor’s, Master and Ph.D. programs. An ordinary bachelor’s degree is of 3 years and an honors bachelor’s degree is of 4 years in duration. Master’s degrees can be of 1, 1.5, and 2 years. The Ph.D. degree can be of 2 years and 4 years. A list of Australian University can be found here .

AQF: The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a system that made it possible for people to access university degrees through their vocational qualifications. The below table describes how students can switch from one institute to another.