Australia is quickly becoming a destination of choice for African Students to pursue undergraduate and graduate degrees.  Here’s a piece from our advice library that may be useful to anyone considering Australia as a potential host for post secondary studies.

There are 38 public (government funded) universities and 2 private universities in Australia.

There are two levels of studies available for international students in Australia:

Undergraduate (Bachelor Degree)

This educational level is suitable for students who have completed their secondary schooling and want to obtain the basic qualifications for entry to the professions. You can determine your suitability by taking the FREE Study in Australia Eligibility Assessment.

Postgraduate (Graduate Diploma, Masters, Doctoral)
This educational level is suitable for students who have completed their secondary schooling, as well as having usually completed undergraduate studies, and want to enhance specific professional or vocational skills. You can determine your suitability by taking the FREE Study in Australia Eligibility Assessment.

Undergraduate (Bachelor Degree)

Qualification: Bachelor Degree

Length of study: 3 – 4 years, full time.

Academic entrance
requirements:

•Secondary School Certificate of Education or equivalent from your own country;
•or Bridging/Foundation courses;
•or Diploma/Advanced Diploma.

Average cost of
study per year: US$6,000 – US$9,000.

The Bachelor Degree prepares students for professional careers and postgraduate study. There are many other options within the degree program which could require more or fewer years of study, depending on the student’s academic and professional goals.

Here are some examples:

A Professional Degree course can extend to four years and equips candidates with practical skills and techniques that will be applied in the professional domain.

A Combined or Double Degree program allows students combinations of subjects from two degrees, enabling them to graduate with both degrees in a shorter time than would be required to complete two degrees independently;

The two-year Graduate Entry Degree in a specified discipline is often meant to be a shorter alternative to the standard three year (or longer) degree for initial professional preparation;

The Bachelor (Honours) Degree can be undertaken by students who demonstrate a high level of achievement at an earlier stage in the undergraduate degree program, and involves some research preparation.

The Bachelor Honours Degree requires the completion of an additional year, or its equivalent, and is awarded on the basis of the level of performance in the degree as a whole.

Postgraduate (Graduate Diploma, Masters, Doctoral)

Qualification: Graduate Certificate/Graduate Diploma

Length of study: 6 months/1 year, full time.

Academic entrance
requirements:

• Bachelor Degree;
• or Advanced Diploma
• and/or relevant employment experience.

Average cost of
study per year: US$6,000 – US$10,000

Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas are generally designed for specific vocational purposes, either for broadening of skills and knowledge already gained in an undergraduate program, or for vocational skills and knowledge in a new professional area.
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MASTERS/DOCTORAL COURSES (University)

Qualification: Master Degree

Length of study: 1 – 2 years, full time.

Academic entrance
requirements:

• 3 year Bachelor Degree;
• or Combined Bachelor Degree;
• or Bachelor Degree with Honours;
• or Graduate Diploma;
• and/or relevant employment experience.

Average cost of
study per year: US$6,000 – US$10,000

The Master Degree involves enhancing specific provides a mastery of a relevant field of study or area of professional practice.

Various options for a Master Degree include:

The course work Master Degree program, which comprises of course work, project work and research in varying combinations, with entry from Bachelor or Bachelor Honours Degree or a Graduate Diploma.

The research based Master Degree program, which comprises of at least two-thirds research with a substantial, often externally assessed thesis outcome. Minimum admission requirement is a Bachelor Honours Degree or Masters preliminary year, a research-based Graduate Diploma or equivalent research experience.

The professional Master Degree program involves a work-based project, with entry from a relevant qualification and professional experience, or extensive relevant professional experience.

Qualification: Doctoral Degree

Length of study: 3 – 4 years, full time.

Academic entrance
requirements:

• Master Degree;
• and/or relevant employment experience in field of study.

Average cost of
study per year: US$7,000 – US$12,000

The PhD, or Doctoral Degree is the highest award offered by Australian universities. It recognises a substantial original contribution to knowledge in the form of new knowledge or significant and original adaptation, application and interpretation of existing knowledge.

There is a choice of either a Research Doctorate, which is primarily achieved through supervised research, with entry from a research or part-research Masters Degree, or a Bachelor Honours Degree (First or Second Class, upper division), or a Professional Doctorate, which may be undertaken through varying combinations of course work and research. The latter requires significant professional practice, either prior to, or during the program.

We’ll have more information on an Australian education over the next few days, so stay tuned.