Australia is one of the most popular study abroad destinations for students who are looking to get a degree overseas. Many international students are opting to study in Australia for its high-quality education, easy access to student support services, multicultural society and a friendly atmosphere. Students passing out of Australian universities are highly sought after due to the high reputation of the education system. With more than 1,100 institutions and over 22,000 courses, this country offers a diverse range of study options for international students.

The educational institutions may be relatively young as compared to some of the universities of other countries, but they are at par with them in terms of quality and demand. Six of the Australian universities rank in the top 100 universities in the Times Higher Education World Universities Ranking 2020 list.

Universities

If you study in Australia, you have plenty of choices when it comes to universities. The country has 43 universities and around 37 are public universities which are usually funded by the Commonwealth Government. Seven of Australia’s universities feature in the top 100 ranked universities in the world in the latest QS ranking (2020). Some of top universities are the Australian National University, University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, University of New South Wales, University of Queensland and many more.

An under-graduation course in a university starts typically around March (can vary as per course and institution). It is a 3-year course without honours. It takes 4 years to complete under-graduate course along with an honours degree. Whereas a post-graduation program’s duration is 1-2 years and starts around March too. Universities and higher education institutions offer various degrees such as Associate Degree, Bachelor Degree, Bachelor Degree with Honours, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Masters Degree and Doctoral Degree across various subjects and fields.

In this country, it is quite common for students to enrol in a double or combined Bachelor Degree program which leads to securing two Bachelor Degrees. This is most common in the fields of arts, commerce, law and science.

Vocational Education & Training

Vocational Education and Training (VET) is based on partnership between governments and industry. VET qualifications are provided by government institutions, called Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions, as well as private institutions. VET qualification can provide a pathway to entering the workforce or university. There are many vocational training courses in areas such as information technology, business administration, art & media, tourism & hospitality, transport & logistics and construction, to name a few.

Higher Education Quality Assurance program

The country has a national regulatory and quality agency for higher education – the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). It was established by the Australian Government to monitor quality and regulate university and non-university higher education providers against a set of standards developed by the independent Higher Education Standards Panel. Along with this, there are student rights that are protected by law under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) – the well-being of international students, the quality of students’ education experience and the provision of up-to-date and accurate information.

Academic culture

Those who study in Australia are expected to proactively take initiatives and remain focused on independent learning. Students are encouraged to attend classes but at the same time it is not mandatory for them to be a part of all lectures. However, lecturers will expect you to be mature enough to understand the importance of attending the sessions. In lab-based and practical units attendance requirement is much more stringent. Teaching staff and faculty members of the Australian universities are extremely punctual and prefer to stick to all deadlines. Students are usually penalized if submission deadlines are missed.

Every student is encouraged to speak in class, ask questions and offer opinions. Active engagement is always welcomed by lecturers and valued by everyone rather than just being a silent and passive listener. Hence, students planning to opt for Australia as study abroad destination should start preparing to converse more, actively participate in discussions and discard the fear of sharing opinion in public. Implementing these habits will help you learn faster during your degree course. Your critical thinking skill can prove to be more rewarding rather than just memorizing lecture notes for examinations. Another very important aspect that you should keep in mind is plagiarism is considered to be a serious offence by Australian educational institutions.

Want to know about the best places to study in Australia? Here’s a list you can refer to : Top Universities in Australia

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