What Is an Undergraduate Education (Degree) In Australia?

Australia has a highly developed education system with many opportunities in the higher education sector. Multiple universities are world-renowned for the quality of education they provide.

It also offers a higher education program, the Overseas Student Program (OSP), to international students who come to Australia for their studies.

Australia's higher education sector comprises universities and technical colleges offering undergraduate, postgraduate, and technical qualifications. This blog uncovers all you must know about undergraduate education, qualifications and degrees in Australia.

1. Who Provides Undergraduate Courses in Australia?

Universities and other institutions such as Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institute offer and govern higher education in Australia. Undergraduate education is also called tertiary education.

In addition, the ESOS (Education Services for Overseas Students) protects the student's rights by law:

• The well-being of all international students in Australia.

• The quality of student's education experience.

• The provision of up-to-date and accurate information.

2. Undergraduate Qualifications

The Australian government is the funding authority for undergraduate education in the country. These qualifications provide a higher level of education that is both nationally and internationally recognised. 

Undergraduate qualifications are of two types:

• Bachelor's Degree prepares students for postgraduate studies and professional careers. It lasts for a minimum of six semesters (full-time study). Universities in Australia usually accept only applicants with at least year 12th (Australian secondary school certificate of education) or equivalent. Further, a diploma from a VET (Vocational and Education Training) institute is another pathway into undergraduate education.

• Bachelor's Degree (Honours) prepares graduates for a higher research qualification. This qualification lasts one to two years after completing a bachelor's degree in the same field. 

4. Entry Requirements

Undergraduate courses require you to complete a secondary school qualification equivalent to an Australian Year 12 certificate. 

You also need to satisfy the English language requirements. Remember, some courses have higher English language requirements than others. There are many ways you can meet the English Language Proficiency (ELP) requirements to study in Australia, such as: 

• English Language Tests (IELTS, TOEFL and PTE.)

• Senior-secondary or post-secondary study 

• Work experience

Every undergraduate course provider has different entry requirements. To get more information, you can contact your provider.

5. Admission Season

Higher Education in Australia follows a semester system. Universities have two semesters annually, usually between February and November. Also, there are some universities with an optional summer semester system. 

6. Average Undergraduate Study Cost 

The cost of education in Australia depends on the level of study and the institution you choose. Additional fees may include access to institution facilities and course materials. To fund your studies, you can also work part-time per fortnight.

It's important to note that courses like veterinary science and medicine may have higher tuition fees.

3. Higher Education - Undergraduate Institutions in Australia

To pursue your undergraduate study in Australia, you can choose from the following institutes: 

Queensland (QLD)

• Griffith University

• James Cook University

• Australian Catholic University

• The University of Queensland

• Queensland University of Technology (QUT)

Victoria (VIC)

• RMIT University

• La Trobe University

• Australian Catholic University

• Monash University — Faculty of Information Technology

Tasmania (TAS)

• University of Tasmania

New South Wales (NSW)

• UTS: Insearch

• Curtin University

• Western Sydney University

• The University of Newcastle

• University of Technology, Sydney

South Australia (SA)

• The University of Adelaide

• University College London

• Carnegie Mellon University

• University of South Australia

Western Australia (WA)

• Curtin University 

• Edith Cowan University

• Curtin Business School

• The University of Notre Dame 

Australian Capital Territory (ACT)

• University of Canberra

• Australian Catholic University

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