Australia is not just about kangaroos and beautiful landscapes; it’s also a fantastic destination for your education journey. 

 

Here’s why:

 

Awesome Education: Aussie universities are top-notch, offering high-quality education that’s recognized worldwide. Whatever you choose to study – from science to management, humanities to engineering – you’re in for a great learning experience.

 

Work and Play: In Australia, it’s not all about hitting the books. You can work part-time during your studies and full-time during breaks. It’s a great way to gain work experience, make some extra cash, and explore the Aussie way of life.

 

Explore Your Passion: Whether you’re into marine biology or sports science, Australia has some unique academic opportunities. Want to study marine biology on the Great Barrier Reef? Or dive into sports science in one of the world’s top sporting nations? Australia’s got you covered.

 

Degrees Down Under:

 

Undergraduate Qualifications

 

Bachelor’s Degree:

A bachelor’s degree is your first academic milestone, taking around 3 or 5 years in some places.

You can study anything from accounting to engineering, business to law – there’s something for everyone.

An Aussie bachelor’s degree is like a golden ticket – recognized all around the globe.

After your bachelor’s, you can continue your studies for a master’s, either back home or in another cool country.

 

Plus, you can apply for a Post Graduate Visa (485) after a minimum of 2 years, letting you work and explore for two awesome years.

 

Bachelor degree

Duration: Three to five years (depending on degree structure)

Entry requirements: Year 12 or equivalent; Certificate III or Certificate IV in TAFE or vocational education and training (VET).

 

Bachelor degree (honours)

Duration: Usually a one-year honours program at the end of a three-year bachelor degree, as long as you meet your university’s academic requirements.

Entry requirements: Bachelor degree, with required academic results. 

 

In some cases, an Honours year will be built into your degree from the beginning. 

In other cases, if you do particularly well in your Bachelor degree, your institution might give you the opportunity to complete an additional year of study. This will allow you to graduate ‘with Honours’.

An Honours degree will usually involve some coursework and either a large project or a written thesis (a long essay) that is developed over the duration of your final Honours year.

 

Undergraduate Certificates or Diplomas

Depending on what individual institutions offer, these certificates cover knowledge and skills equivalent to those you might find in a Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Associate degree or Bachelor degree.

 

Associate degree

Duration: Two years

Entry requirements: Year 12 or equivalent; Certificate III or Certificate IV in TAFE or vocational education and training.

 

An Associate degree is a short undergraduate program that is one level below a Bachelor degree. It is offered at the same study level as an Advanced Diploma offered by TAFE or vocational education and training (VET) providers, but is delivered by universities and other higher education providers. 

It can be a pathway to a Bachelor degree, or help you move into work as a paraprofessional. A paraprofessional can assist professionals but cannot work as a fully qualified professional.

The knowledge you gain in an Associate degree will usually cover the basics or foundations of your study field. It will include the broad theory and prepare you with essential industry-relevant skills. 

 

Postgraduate Qualifications:

 

Master’s Degree:

A master’s degree is where you dive deeper into your passion, gaining specific qualifications.

Aussie master’s programs are internationally recognized, and you can easily match them up with other qualifications.

Whether you’re into a short, intense program or a longer, research-based one, Australia’s got what you need.

 

And after your master’s adventure, you’ve got the chance to work and shine in your field, all thanks to that Post Graduate Visa (485).

 

Masters degree

Duration: One to two years

Entry requirements: Bachelor Degree; or Bachelor Degree (Honours); or Graduate Diploma. For some postgraduate qualifications, you might be accepted if you have significant, relevant work experience.

 

A masters degree is a specialized course that requires you to find advanced answers to complex problems or questions.

Studying for a masters degree can help you become a leader in your field, or lead to further study in a doctoral degree (PhD). 

 

There are three main types of masters degrees: 

Masters Degree (Research): The purpose of this degree is to produce research or add new knowledge in your field. You will usually need to complete a large project or a thesis (long essay of 20,000 to 40,000 words). 

Masters Degree (Coursework): In a masters degree (coursework) you can focus on professional practice or your academic field of study. As part of your studies, you may need to complete a large project or a minor thesis (long essay of 12,000 to 20,000 words). 

Masters Degree (Extended): In this type of masters degree, you will usually focus on professional practice. As part of your studies, you may need to complete a large project or a thesis (long essay of 12,000 to 20,000 words).

 

Note: Some masters degrees have ‘exit points’ within them. These may allow you to stop your studies at a certain point and be awarded a Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma. 

 

Graduate Certificate

Duration: Six months

Entry requirements: Bachelor Degree; or Bachelor Degree (Honours).

In some cases, you might be granted admission if you have significant, relevant work experience.

 

A Graduate Certificate can be studied on its own or as a pathway to further studies, usually to advance to a Graduate Diploma. This type of qualification can help you build your knowledge and skills for your current career, or help you change careers. 

 

Graduate Diploma

Duration: One year

Entry requirements: Bachelor Degree; or Bachelor Degree (Honours); or Graduate Certificate.

In some cases, you might be granted admission if you have significant, relevant work experience.

 

A Graduate Diploma is the next step up from a Graduate Certificate. It involves twice as many study units (subjects) and can be studied as a standalone qualification, or as part of a masters degree. 

 

Doctoral degree or doctorate (including PhD)

 

Duration: Three to four years

Entry requirements: Bachelor Degree (Honours) with a research component; or Masters Degree.

 

This is the highest award on offer at Australian universities. 

There are two types: 

Doctorate by research, also known as a Doctor of Philosophy or PhD requires you to conduct original, in-depth research, often leading to a potential career in academia. Once you graduate, you will be given the title of ‘Doctor’.  

Professional doctorate: This doctoral degree is a coursework qualification. Upon completion, you will also be given the title of ‘Doctor’ but this qualification that usually has an outcome related to a profession. 

In both types of doctoral degrees, you will review literature, undertake experiments or investigate new methods, making a major contribution to knowledge in your field. The result is often a major project or thesis (40,000 to 60,000 words).