UNIVERSITY
University courses of study include bachelor’s degrees at the undergraduate level. At the postgraduate level, graduate diplomas are offered in addition to master’s and doctorate degrees. Master’s programs are available in many disciplines including social sciences, engineering, health sciences, business, and economics. Master’s degrees usually involve research or coursework, or a combination of both.
There are some important points about courses that you need to be aware of:
- The academic year is generally from early March to late November, or mid-July to late June of the following year.
- The year is normally divided into two semesters, although some universities offer three semesters in one calendar year for certain courses.
- Students studying towards a Doctoral Degree or other postgraduate research awards may be able to negotiate an alternative starting date with their research supervisor.
The following qualifications are available at Australian universities and approved higher education providers. This information is general, so you need to realise that a particular university course may not have exactly the same length or purpose.
COURSE | NOTES |
Diploma Duration = 1 -2 years |
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UNDERGRADUATE | |
Bachelor Degree Duration = minimum of 3 years |
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Bachelor’s Degree (Honours) Duration = 4 years |
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POSTGRADUATE | |
Graduate Certificate Duration = 6 months |
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Graduate Diploma Duration = 12 months |
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Master’s Degree (Coursework) Duration = 1 – 2 years |
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Master’s Degree (Research) – MPhil Duration = 1 – 2 years |
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Doctoral Degree (Doctor of Philosophy – PhD) |
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Entry Points, Entry Requirements and Costs
Students need to meet both a sufficient level of English language proficiency and the minimum academic requirements before they can be admitted to an Australian university.
English language proficiency
Australian education institutions can only accept students with an appropriate level of English proficiency. Institutions set their own English language requirements. The language proficiency entry levels may be different from those required for a student visa.
Academic Requirements
Institutions are free to determine the academic requirements for entry to their courses.
In general, however, the following criteria apply for undergraduate and postgraduate courses:
Undergraduate courses
Undergraduate degrees require an Australian Senior School Certificate of Education (Year 12) or the overseas equivalent of this. Some degrees may also have certain pre-requisite subjects and grades.
For international students who have attended an Australian High School, entry to higher education institutions is normally based on completion of Year 12 and determined by the student’s tertiary entrance score or rank.