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UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA
- UNIVERSITY LOCATIONS
- STRUCTURE OF AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES
- COURSES AND QUALIFICATIONS
- INTERNATIONAL STUDENT NUMBERS
- ENTRY POINTS, ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
- ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
- UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
- POSTGRADUATE COURSES
- COSTS FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS
- QUALITY ASSURANCE OF AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES
- THE TERTIARY EDUCATION QUALITY AND STANDARDS AGENCY
- UNIVERSITIES AUSTRALIA
- ENTRY STANDARDS
- GROUPS OF UNIVERSITIES
INTERNATIONALISATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA
UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA
Diversity and autonomy are central features of Australian universities. There are 41 Australian universities, of which 3 are private (Bond, Torrens and Notre Dame). In addition, Carnegie Mellon and University College London have campuses in Adelaide, South Australia. As the main campuses and administrations of these university are established in Pennsylvania, USA and London UK respectively; they are considered as non-Australian universities.
Many Australian universities have overseas branch campuses, twinning arrangements and exchange programs for students and teaching staff worldwide. Australian universities have around 7000 agreements with universities (and similar institutions around the world).
1. UNIVERSITY LOCATIONS
Australian Universities are located in all major State and Territory capital cities as well as in many regional centres.
The locations of their main campuses are given in the table and diagram below:
STATE / TERRITORY |
UNIVERSITY NAME |
LOCATION OF |
Australian Capital Territory |
The Australian National University |
Canberra |
|
University of Canberra |
Canberra |
New South Wales |
Australian Catholic University |
Sydney |
|
Charles Sturt University |
Albury-Wodonga |
|
Macquarie University |
Sydney |
|
Southern Cross University |
Lismore |
|
The University of Newcastle |
Newcastle |
|
The University of New England |
Armidale |
|
The University of New South Wales |
Sydney |
|
The University of Sydney |
Sydney |
|
University of Technology Sydney |
Sydney |
|
University of Western Sydney |
Sydney |
|
University of Wollongong |
Wollongong |
Northern Territory |
Charles Darwin University |
Darwin |
Queensland |
Bond University |
Gold Coast |
|
Central Queensland University |
Rockhampton |
|
Griffith University |
Brisbane |
|
James Cook University |
Townsville, Cairns |
|
Queensland University of Technology |
Brisbane |
|
The University of Queensland |
Brisbane |
|
University of Southern Queensland |
Toowoomba |
|
University of the Sunshine Coast |
Maroochydore |
South Australia |
The University of Adelaide |
Adelaide |
|
Flinders University |
Adelaide |
|
University of South Australia |
Adelaide |
|
Torrens University Australia |
Adelaide |
Tasmania |
University of Tasmania |
Hobart |
Victoria |
Deakin University |
Geelong |
|
The University of Divinity |
Melbourne |
|
Federation University |
Melbourne |
|
La Trobe University |
Melbourne |
|
Monash University |
Melbourne |
|
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology |
Melbourne |
|
Swinburne University of Technology |
Melbourne |
|
The University of Melbourne |
Melbourne |
|
Victoria University |
Melbourne |
Western Australia |
Curtin University of Technology |
Perth |
|
Edith Cowan University |
Perth |
|
Murdoch University |
Perth |
|
The University of Western Australia |
Perth |
|
The University of Notre Dame |
Fremantle |
2. STRUCTURE OF AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES
All of Australia's universities are established or recognised under government legislation. The Federal Government has responsibility for funding the public universities.
The formal governing body of each Australian university is the Council, Senate or Board of Governors. This is presided over by a Chancellor who is elected by the members of the governing body. The chief executive authority rests with the Vice-Chancellor who is sometimes also called the President. This person is accountable to the Council, Senate or Board of Governors and is responsible for the academic and administrative operations of the institution.
3. COURSES AND QUALIFICATIONS
There are some important points about courses that you need to be aware of:
- Courses can vary considerably in form, entry requirements, duration and method of assessment.
- 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.
COURSE |
NOTES |
Diploma |
|
UNDERGRADUATE |
|
Bachelor Degree |
|
Bachelor Degree(Honours) |
|
POSTGRADUATE |
|
Graduate Certificate |
|
Graduate Diploma |
|
Masters Degree(Coursework) |
|
Masters Degree (Research) - MPhil |
|
Doctoral Degree |
|
4. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT NUMBERS
Australia is now a world leader in the provision of education to overseas students, who study at all levels within Australian universities and in all disciplines.
Australian Education International (AEI) provide excellent up-to-date information on international education enrolment:
There were 410,925 international students from 193 countries studying on a student visa in Australia in 2013. This represents a 2.3 per cent increase over 2012 figures.
5. ENTRY POINTS, ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
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.
- ACADEMIC REQUIREMENTS
Institutions are free to determine the academic requirements for entry to their courses. These requirements depend on:
- The level and content of the study the student has completed in Australia or their home country;
- The level and academic standards of the institution at which they completed their study.
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.
A tertiary admissions centre then assesses a student's tertiary entrance rank in the same way as for domestic students:
State/Territory |
Tertiary Admission Centre |
Northern Territory |
Charles Darwin University |
NSW & ACT |
Universities Admissions Centre (UAC) |
Queensland |
Queensland Tertiary Admissions Centre (QTAC) |
South Australia |
South Australian Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC) |
Tasmania |
University of Tasmania |
Victoria |
Victoria Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) |
Western Australia |
Tertiary Institutions Service Centre (TISC) |
Most universities have specialised pathway programs, such as Foundation courses or Diploma programs that enable international students who do not meet academic requirements to gain entry.
- POSTGRADUATE COURSES
Entry to postgraduate courses requires completion to a satisfactory standard of a Bachelor degree. Prospective students may also need to demonstrate research ability or relevant work experience.
6. COSTS OF AUSTRALIAN EDUCATION FOR OVERSEAS STUDENTS
University courses in Australia are comparable to those in other English speaking countries. For example, the cost of a Bachelor of Arts may be:
Location |
Yearly Cost |
Australia |
$A20,000 |
USA (public university) |
$A20,000 |
USA (private university) |
$A40,000 |
UK |
$A18,000 |
In the Australian education system, some degrees are slightly shorter than in other countries. For example, some Bachelor degrees take three years in Australia but four years in the USA.
7. QUALITY ASSURANCE OF AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES
Some of the measures that operate to safeguard and improve quality of Australia's Universities include:
- The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)
- Universities Australia (Universities Australia)
- THE TERTIARY EDUCATION QUALITY AND STANDARDS AGENCY
TEQSA is an independent body with powers to regulate university and non-university higher education providers, monitor quality and set standards. TEQSA registers providers, carries out evaluations of standards and performance, protects and assures the quality of international education and streamlines current regulatory arrangements.
- UNIVERSITIES AUSTRALIA
Universities Australia is the peak body representing Australian Universities and operates a Code of Ethical Practice in the Provision of Education to International Students by Australian Universities, and associated Guidelines.
The code provides ethical practice guidelines for universities about promotion and marketing, and agents and partners. It also provides information about:
- the admission of students,
- arrival and orientation,
- student support,
- fee-charging and refunds,
- university infrastructure,
- returning home support.
The Code of Practice provides overseas students with clear assurances in respect of:
- maintaining academic standards,
- being accurate and honest in the provision of information to prospective students,
- the welfare of international students,
- being sensitive to the culture, customs and linguistic needs and characteristics of international students,
- delivering to students the commitments made to them by education agents or others representing the University,
- the refund policy for overseas students.
- ENTRY STANDARDS
While entry levels are fairly uniform for entry into Australian university degrees, different universities do have different requirements for entry into similar courses. The relative academic levels can illustrate which universities are considered better. This can show how, in general, academically more able students choose one university over another to do a similar course.
- GROUPS OF UNIVERSITIES
Universities that share common characteristics have formed groups and networks that to some extent illustrate differences in focus and objectives between groups of universities and the commonalities of those within the group. These groups may be linked through a formal network, such as the Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN) and the Regional Universities Network which have their headquarters situated in a regional centre. All Australian universities are members of Universities Australia, the peak body representing the university sector:
Group of 8 (Go8) |
These are research intensive universities and are amongst the oldest in Australia. They are regularly listed towards the top of any ranking scheme that includes Australian universities. They also:
The members are:
|
Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN) |
This is a grouping of five universities that share a common focus regarding the practical application of tertiary studies and research. The members are:
|
Innovative Research Universities Australia (IRU Australia) |
This is a grouping of seven universities, established as research-based universities with:
The members are:
|
Regional Universities |
These are universities that serve the needs of a regional area in Australia:
|
International groupings |
One of the most noteworthy groups that includes these Australian universities is Universitas 21:
|
8. INTERNATIONALISATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN AUSTRALIA
Internationalisation is developing within higher education in the following areas:
AREA |
DEVELOPMENT |
Curriculum |
Many degrees have learning materials that reflect:
|
Student mobility & exchange |
Most universities are promoting the benefits of:
|
Institutional partnerships |
|
International Students |
|
Structural administration |
|
Program delivery |
Universities have begun to develop means of delivering their programs that increase access for international students such as:
In some cases, regional Australian universities have established metropolitan campuses due to the attraction of the larger cities to international students rather than less popular rural and smaller town environments. |