Higher Education in Australia: Top Universities, VET Courses, Admission Process, Requirements, Fees, Scholarships

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Education system in Australia is recognized globally for its standards and quality. The higher standards are maintained by the regulatory bodies such as AQF, TEQSA and ASQA looking into the quality of education imparted at all the levels of education in Australia. To study in Australia, international students must apply to any institution registered under CRICOS (Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students). Foreign students wishing to pursue higher education in Australia have to apply for Student visa (subclass 500) to enter the country.

Australian universities rank well in terms of student satisfaction, employability, standard of living and sense of security, with Melbourne and Sydney ranking among the top five best cities for students. With a multitude of opportunities around, Students can choose between universities, vocational courses, and English language training.

Top Universities for Higher Education in Australia

Australia is home to 45 universities located in 8 states. According to the QS World Rankings 2022, 7 universities are ranked among the top 100 universities globally. The three main types of degrees provided by the universities in Australia are- Bachelors, Masters and Doctoral Degrees.

Students can enrol in a double or combined Bachelor Degree program, therefore getting an award of two Bachelor Degrees. Combined degree is common in the fields of arts, commerce, law and science.

University	QS world Ranking (2022)	Top courses	Fee per Annum (AUD)
Australian National University	27	Masters of business administration	44,299
Australian National University	27	Bachelors of accounting	41,567
University of Sydney	38	MBA leadership and Enterprise	47,186
University of Sydney	38	Bachelors of accounting	41,172
University of Melbourne	37	MBA	45,603
University of Melbourne	37	Masters of computer science	45,589
University of South Wales	43	Bachelor of International public health	10,660
University of South Wales	43	Bachelor of Economics	1,334
University of Queensland	47	MBA	79,098
University of Queensland	47	Master of Data science	44,165
Monash University	58	MBA	40,709
Monash University	58	Master of Data science	43,596
University of Western Australia	93	Masters of Clinical Audiology	50,239
University of Western Australia	93	Masters of Commerce	35,347
University of Adelaide	108	Masters of Computer Science	45,429
University of Adelaide	108	MBA	37,345
University of Technology Sydney	133	Masters of Engineering	27,689
University of Technology Sydney	133	B.E. software Engineering	30,056
University of Wollongong	193	MBA	25,487
University of Wollongong	193	Masters of Engineering	31,788

Education Framework for Higher Education in Australia

Higher studies in Australia consists of both government and private institutions, divided into two sectors- vocational education and training (including TAFEs and others) and degree programs (which includes universities), English language courses and training programs are conducted by a body called ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students).

Certificate and VET programs: Vocational education and training providers are registered and regulated by the Australian Skills Quality Agency (ASQA). ASQA makes decisions about registrations and regulatory actions. VET courses are generally industry oriented, they prepare you and enhance your workplace skills. It trains you to put into practice all the theories you learned in your course,enhances your work-force skills and makes you industry ready.
Higher Education (universities): Higher education providers are registered by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standard Agency (TEQSA), which regulates the working of universities. TEQSA’s role is to register all higher education providers and to ensure they follow Higher Education Standards (HES Framework).

The Australian education system stands out from many other countries by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). This is a national policy that covers qualifications from the tertiary education sector (higher education, vocational education and training) along with high school level qualification.

AQF classifies educational qualification in following levels:

Level	Qualification	Duration
1	Certificate-I	0.5 to 1 year
2	Certificate-II	0.5 to 1 year
3	Certificate-III	1 to 2 years
4	Certificate-IV	0.5 to 2 years
5	Diploma	1 to 2 years
6	Advance Diploma Associate Degree	2 years 1.5 to 2 years
7	Bachelor Degree	3 to 4 years
8	Bachelor Degree(honors) Graduate Diploma Graduate Certificate	0.5 to 1 year 0.5 to 1 year 1 year
9	Masters Degree	3 to 4 years
10	Doctoral Degree	3 to 5 years

Admission process for Higher Education in Australia

The academic requirements (including English language skills) to opt for a certain course depends on the level of course you want to study and the discipline it belongs to.

Here are some prerequisites for different levels of qualifications:

English language courses: depending on the course you want to opt for, for overseas students, one needs to qualify the English language skills test.
Vocational education and training (VET): VET as in general does not require any entrance score or standardised test, however some programs might demand some set of skills or work experience beforehand.
Higher education undergraduate courses: An Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education or the overseas equivalent of the same is required.
Higher education postgraduate course: under-graduate level qualification is a must to pursue masters.

Note: Additionally, some institutions ask for portfolios, interviews or demonstrated aptitude for the admission process. The alternative pathways for mature-age (non-school leaver) students are available as well.

When and How to Apply?

Admission for international students is open in two semesters. Application Deadlines for Australian Universities may vary however, Semester 1 beginning in March falls in December. For semester 2 beginning in July, registration ends in May.

Application deadlines for postgraduate courses in Australia may vary as per the session availability. Some courses are offered once a year, while trimester and rolling admissions can be offered in some universities.

To apply to Australian universities, students must perform the following steps:

Choose the preferred course and university in Australia
Check application dates and requirements
Obtain test scores for the exams to study in Australia
Check visa requirements and apply for the course
Wait for an acceptance letter, once obtained, apply for visa

English Language Requirements to study in Australia

While opting for some courses, some universities might first ask for a standardised test scores, depending upon the program like GMAT for MBA in Australia or GRE. Australian educational courses are taught in English therefore, it is a prerequisite to have proficiency in the English language beforehand. If you are an overseas student then you are required to appear for a standardised English test, these test scores are required for your English language capabilities to ensure you can understand the course content.

Following test scores for English Language are required for Australian universities:

Test	Minimum Score
IELTS	5.5
TOEFL	46
CAE: advanced	162
PTE Academic	42
OET	Pass (A or B)

Visa Process for International Students

The general prerequisite to move to a foreign country for higher studies, one requires a student visa. The visa you need will depend on your age, the type of study you want to pursue, and how long you want to stay in Australia. As an international student, one needs (subclass 500) visa, regardless of your field of study. To apply for student visa in Australia follow these steps: -

Passport/birth certificate
CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment)
Letter of recommendation
Genuine Temporary Entrant (GTE) statement
Overseas health cover (OSHC)
English Language Test Score
Proof of financial stability
Apply for online visa and attach the required documents
Once visa process is completed, apply for your desired university

Cost of Attendance of Higher Education in Australia

Living costs in Australia, when summed up, starts at a minimum of 1,200 AUD per month in smaller cities. While for bigger cities it costs around 1,500 AUD per month. Average Tuition cost for Undergraduate, Masters and Doctoral Programs is as follows:

Undergraduate Program- $28,000
Masters Program- $37,000
Doctorate Program- $37,000

Other expenses Include:

Expense Type	Average expense
Tuition fee	20,000 to 50,000 AUD per year
Accommodation fee	440 to 500 AUD/Month
Healthcare fee	Via OSHC scheme
Groceries and household supplies	300 to 600 AUD/Month
Estimated Total	13,000 AUD

Scholarships for Higher Education in Australia

There are numerous grants, awards, and bursaries which can assist with supporting you monetarily with your examinations in Australia. They are presented by the Australian Government, regional education providers, and various other public and private associations.Below mentioned are some of the the scholarships:

Scholarship	Description	Grant /allowances
Australia Award	The scholarship is for students pursuing under-graduate and postgraduate studies in Australian universities and also TAFE institutions.	The scholarship provides for tuition fee, flying tickets, living allowance, health insurance and visa expenses.
Deakin Vice-chancellor’s Meritorious Scholarships	Usually to students from disciplines STEM, sports, arts and one more.	100% fee waiver
Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP)	This scholarship promotes students to pursue masters and doctoral degrees in the research domain. Provided by 43 Australian universities.	28,092 AUD per year
Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarship	Provided for both international and domestic students to pursue their masters and research from University of Melbourne.	100% fee waiver along with living and relocation allowance
ANU Study Canberra India Scholarship	Aims to provide for meritorious students undertaking their higher studies at American National University.	10,000 AUD per year
HASS Scholarship for Excellence-India	Engineered for meritorious students pursuing undergraduate studies in humanities and social sciences at University of Queensland.	10,000 AUD

International students, who are willing to work in Australia after their graduation, are eligible for the Post-Study Work Stream of the Temporary Graduate (subclass 485) visa. This may enable you to stay in Australia following your studies to gain practical experience working in your field.

A person working in Australia typically earns around 90,800 AUD per year. Salaries range from 23,000 AUD (lowest average) to 405,000 AUD (highest average). This is the average yearly salary including housing, transport, and other benefits. There are umpteen job opportunities in Australia with a comfortable work environment.

In the course of the last decade, Australia's solid monetary exhibition has brought about huge financial development, low inflation, low employment and low loan costs. The Australian economy is strong and firm, helped by a gifted labor force. Australia is the home to numerous cultural communities and probably one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. As per statistics, every one person in a group of four is born overseas and 20% of the total population belong to an overseas country. With premium quality government funded schooling, globally-ranked colleges, elite foundation and a lot of open space,Australia is among the best choices to opt for studying.