Higher Education in Australia

Higher education in Australia is the study at university or technical college in order to receive qualifications for a profession or further skills and training. Higher education awards by universities include:

• Certificate, Diploma and Associate Degree - takes 1-2 years to complete and consists of coursework. These are commonly offered by universities as an addition to another degree.
• Bachelors Degree - this is generally the first degree to be undertaken in a university and usually takes 3-4 years to complete depending on the program chosen by the student. These are also awarded with honors to the best performing students.
• Masters Degree - this is undertaken after one or more Bachelors degrees and has a more advanced level consisting of research and coursework.
• Doctorate - this is undertaken after a Masters degree with an original research project leading to a thesis or dissertation.

The first university in Australia was the University of Sydney in 1850, followed by the University of Melbourne in 1853, the University of Adelaide in 1874, and the University of Tasmania in 1890. The university population of the entire country only made up a minute portion of the Australia's population. Eventually, more institutions of high learning were established after World War II and Australia's tertiary education was structured into three sectors in 1972: Universities, Technical Colleges, and Institutes of Technology (hybrid between a university and a technical college).

Universities Australia is the peak representative body of the university sector in the country and represents 39 universities. It aims to advance and promote the benefits of higher education to the nation and support Australian universities in the performance of their roles as institutions of higher learning.

The Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations is the government agency that leads the country's education and workplace training as well as transition to work. It collaborates with the different government agencies with the states and territories to provide easy access to educational services and support programs to the Australian people. It also aims to increase workforce participation and promote fair work practices in Australia.

Tips for choosing the right college or university

• Limit your search to the location where you prefer to study. There are many reputable universities in Australia and deciding whether you want to go to one in your State or in another might help you limit your search to a handful.
• Get as much information as you can from at least a handful of universities that you have in mind. Check their admission requirements, their course offerings, policies, campus and other pertinent information.
• You may want to consider less selective schools with minimum requirements since competition is very tough for a spot in a well-known university.
• Consider the costs of studying in a university you like. Think about the tuition and other fees, housing, food and transportation.
• Submit as many applications as you can to different universities and take the entrance tests. The more universities you try out, the better the chances of getting into one.
• When applying, always bring your documents and identification.
• Take a tour of the campus in person. The online campus tour may not always be as informative as going there yourself.
• Your university of choice should always be based on your goals, needs, interests and budget.