Courses in Australia

Educational Courses in Australia

Taking time to come and study in Australia can be beneficial for many reasons beyond the sun, fun and beaches. Educational courses in Australia are of a very high standard, whilst largely remaining more affordable than many European courses. In fact, each year many Australian universities do well in the world-wide university ranking list in consideration of comparative size and number of students.

You can study a broad range of areas or choose to specify in one particular field. You can gain practical skills and industry advice, depending on the course you choose. Coming here to study also allows international students to make valuable industry contacts, increasing your national job network to a global one.

What better way to widen your career options or gain a fresh perspective on your chosen path.


Modes of Study

Accredited courses in Australia may be studied in a variety of ways. For instance, some courses may offer options for long-distance education, or a mix of long-distance and face-to-face study, allowing you to juggle work and other priorities. Long distance may be conducted online, with several short intensive days, or from a guided textbook or syllabus. 13-week study periods are generally the structure which distance education is built around.

Many courses offer part-time and full-time options which also allow for greater flexibility however studying part-time may result in your student visa being cancelled. Be sure to contact your individual institute before enrolling part-time.

A full-time load in an Australian semester is equivalent to about 30 ECTS credits, approximately 900 hours of face-to-face and private study per semester.


The Academic Year

In Australia, the academic year runs from January to December, with the exact dates varying slightly each year.

Most universities and private colleges in Australia are based on a four term, two semester year – divided by three two-week holidays and a longer summer break from December to January, similar to the Australian primary and secondary school year. Universities quite often allow students to commence a course at the beginning of semester 2, which may suit your circumstances – however this does depend on the individual course.

Some Australian universities have adopted a trimester system, with two main semesters around the same time as other universities and a third over the summer with a smaller selection of subjects offered. This allows some students to complete subjects over summer and accelerate their degree program.

Types of Courses in Australia

English Courses – These courses are designed specifically to immerse you in the English language and accelerate your daily reading, speaking and pronunciation skills. These courses may be conducted through private language institutes, with individual tutors or through many Australian university international student departments.

They can be short (from a few weeks) or long (up to many months) and are a good way to prepare for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), Combined Universities Language Test (CULT) or Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) tests required for entry to some university courses, or simply as a way to improve your day-to-day English skills.

Foundation Courses – Foundation courses are a good way to gain entry into university in Australia if you do not have the requisite marks or credit points. They are usually designed to be part-time, affordable, conducted in a supportive atmosphere and broad enough for you to gain an understanding of the types of subject areas studied at University and the style of teaching. These courses are run by individual universities.  

Undergraduate Courses – An undergraduate degree is usually a first university degree, known in Australia as a ‘bachelor’ (for instance, a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Teaching etc). Depending on demand and the specialisation of the subject area, these courses often have specific mark entry requirements.

Most bachelor degrees are three years long, however some may be longer if they are quite specialised (for example, a Bachelor of Medicine) or may require you to study a second bachelor degree at the same time (for example, a Bachelor of Law) They can cover many subject areas, including design, architecture, aviation, art, science, English and many more. Additional time may be spent studying a further ‘honours’ year to gain research skills and increase employability.

Postgraduate Courses – A postgraduate course is only commenced when the first degree is completed. They are usually related to the initial bachelor degree, or entry may sometimes be granted for people who have several years of practical work experience in the specific industry. These courses may be based on coursework or on more critical research into a particular area. Examples of these degrees include graduate certificate (usually a semester), graduate diploma (usually a year), a masters (a year or two) and a doctorate (otherwise known as a PhD, usually three years although this may vary).

Industry-Based Courses – There are many more courses that can be studied that give valuable skills in areas that are outside of the university arena. Each Australian state runs several Technical and Further Education Colleges (known as TAFE) which offer certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, associate degrees and apprenticeships.

Similarly, private colleges known as Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and Vocational and Educational Training Colleges (VETs) and some universities also run these courses, which cover areas such as hairdressing, beauty therapy, business, management, construction, plumbing, the arts, hospitality etc.

Other Courses – it is worth investigating the different options out there as you may find a course for virtually anything in Australia, remembering that any course which is less than three months long does not require a visa. Many private institutes, TAFEs and universities run open programs, with short courses in various subject areas allowing you to gain experience, meet people in the industry, use the university facilities and have fun.

Some places to look for upcoming courses may include – art galleries, theatres, film and television schools, fitness institutes, adult education centres, libraries, dance academies, conservatoriums, restaurants, wineries and sports centres.