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Find everything you need to know to get a high-quality education in Australia: types of universities, admission process, tuition fees, student visa, etc.
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Education in Australia is the benchmark of quality and is highly regarded in the international arena. This is not surprising since among the 100 best universities in the world in 2021, 7 are in Australia[1]. Therefore, a large number of international students from around the world come here. In terms of the number of foreign students, Australia takes the 3rd place in the world after the United States and Great Britain. At the same time, studying here is a real pleasure: warm weather, surfing, the ocean, and friendly Australians will make your student time an unforgettable period of your life.
In Australia, school attendance is compulsory for children of 5-6 to 16 years old, from 1st to 9-10th grade. Studying lasts 12 years, and secondary education is divided into 2 stages:
Schools themselves are divided into:
At the end of 12 years of study, students receive a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. In Australia, each territory and state has different names for this certificate, but they all correspond to the same level of education.
It is noteworthy that about 65% of all students attend public schools, while 35% are students in private institutions[2].
Public and private schools accept international students. Usually, they study in grades 11-12, then enter universities in Australia. Education in a public school for foreigners costs about 7,614 USD per year, and in elite private schools, it reaches 19,034 USD. Here you can learn more about public schools in Australia.
They regulate, register, accredit, and monitor the quality of educational institutions and programs. Therefore, regardless of the course, place, and duration of the study, all these systems guarantee a high quality of education and its compliance with international standards.
| Type of study | Age | Duration | Min cost | Avg. cost | Min. language proficiency | Exams |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer camp | 6+ | 1-7 weeks | 884 USD/wk | 1,586 USD/week | - | - |
| Language schools | 6+ | 1-52 weeks | 107 USD/wk | 508 USD/week | A1 | Taken on-site in schools |
| Language courses at the university | 16+ | 15-30 weeks | 273 USD/wk | 381 USD/week | A1 | - |
| Secondary education | 10+ | 11-12 years | 7,614 USD/year | 15,862 USD/year | B1 | Exam/Interview |
| Foundation | 16+ | 1-2 years | 13,451 USD/year | 1,903 USD/year | A2 | IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL 62 |
| Bachelor's | 17+ | 3-5 years | 17,055 USD/year | 28,551 USD/year | B2 | IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 75 |
| Master's | 20+ | 1-2 years | 16,166 USD/year | 31,724 USD/year | C1 | IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 79 |
| MBA | 20+ | 1-2 years | 20,125 USD/program | 36,799 USD/program | C1 | IELTS 6.5 /TOEFL 86 |
| Doctoral | 20+ | 3-4 years | 17,384 USD/year | 26,648 USD/year | C1 | IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL 79 |
| Item | Average cost |
|---|---|
| Registration fees | 79 USD |
| Visa | 393 USD |
| Accommodation | 178 USD/wk |
| Insurance | 444 USD/year |
| Food | 159 USD/wk |
| Public transport | 25 USD/wk |
All prices and requirements must be clarified on the websites of universities. You can also calculate the cost of living here.

Australia uses a three-level system of degrees: bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees. Australian universities offer a wide range of programs: from medicine, natural sciences, and liberal arts to management, commerce, and engineering. The programs in engineering and technology, medicine, ecology, accounting, and finance are especially notable. These programs of Australian universities are among the best in the world.
The main requirements for admission to higher education programs in Australia are English proficiency and the necessary package of documents:
| Admission | Min requirements |
|---|---|
| Foundation or college | Certificate of complete secondary education |
| Bachelor's program at an Australian university | Certificate of complete secondary education (for the countries with an equivalent school system) or academic transcript for one year of study in a university of a home country (for other countries) |
| Master's / PhD | Bachelor’s / Master’s diploma and a certificate of completed secondary education |
Educational documents must be accompanied by notarized translations into English.
Many universities do not have fixed deadlines for submission of documents. In most cases, deadlines are set 1-3 months before the start of classes (visa application deadline).
In Australia, studies begin in January-February (winter semester) and in June-August (summer semester).
Many Australian universities collaborate with agents, so admission is often done through agencies. But in no case can they guarantee admission — the admission committee always has a final say.
Legalization (Apostille) or recognition of foreign diplomas is generally not required for admission. It may be enough to provide a certificate / diploma translation certified by a notary or the school / university that issued it. However, you should check with the websites of the universities as the requirements vary greatly from country to country. Since Australian educational institutions tend to work through agents, some universities require additional certification of the translation with the seal of the agency.
A more complex procedure awaits those planning to immigrate to Australia for employment. You may need to have your diploma legalized using apostille or other legalization procedure depending on the country. Then, the Australian Assessing Authorities check it for compliance with Australian standards.
If you need to put an apostille on a document from Australia for further use in other countries, this is done in passport offices. The cost of the procedure is 53 USD. More information can be found here.
Assessing Authorities are divided by profession. For example:
As a rule, the assessment of qualifications is carried out solely on documents sent via mail. In some cases, applicants are required to pass additional exams (language or professional).
The cost of the procedure is 190-634 USD in various organizations. Duration of consideration — from several weeks to several months.
Documents for certification of qualification in Australia:
Also, if you have the experience you may include:
Important: All documents must be translated into English and notarized. Additional requirements must be specified at authorized organizations.
In the event that high school education lasted less than 12 years, an applicant must attend the year-long preparatory course Foundation, which is specifically designed for students from abroad. You can enter Foundation only after grade 11 of high school. This training program is offered by Australian colleges and sometimes universities. Upon completion of the program, Foundation students can continue their bachelor’s studies at the university.
Examples of colleges where applicants can enter after grade 11: Taylors College at the University of Western Australia, IES College at Queensland University. Also at the University of New South Wales and the University of Tasmania which have Foundation programs. Here, students gain access to the entire infrastructure of the university along with full-fledged students. They can use computer rooms, a library, sports fields, and other facilities.
As a rule, Foundation includes the study of English, specialized disciplines (depending on the future field of study), and honing of academic skills. Foundation prepares students for passing the IELTS language test with a score of at least 6.0-6.5 and teaches them the terminology for studying specialized disciplines. In addition, during Foundation students train basic academic skills: the ability to write notes, compose reports and essays, work with the dictionary, preparation, and defense of training projects.
Advantages of Foundation programs:
Courses can be extended, standard and intensive, the duration is usually 72, 52, and 39 weeks, respectively. Criteria for admission depends on the program and the type of intensity. Typically, a certificate of complete secondary education and a language certificate is required (IELTS from 5.5 / TOEFL from 62). For students who do not meet these requirements, some universities offer separate English language programs.
You should search for Foundation courses on the websites of the universities you wish to enroll in. However, many universities accept the Foundation graduates of any educational institution in Australia.
Australia can be rightfully proud of its educational institutions TAFE (Technical and Further Education). They offer the following training levels:
| Qualification | Duration | Career |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate I | 4-6 months | Competent operator |
| Certificate II | About 1 year | Advanced operator |
| Certificate III | About 1 year | Qualified tradesperson/technician |
| Certificate IV | 12-18 months | Supervisor |
| Diploma | 18-24 months | Para-professional |
| Advanced Diploma | 24-36 months | Junior manager |
As of June 2009, 10 TAFE colleges (mainly in New South Wales and Victoria) began to award degrees (no higher than bachelor's). And the Melbourne Polytechnic Institute was accredited to award master's degrees in 2 programs in 2015.
The areas of study at TAFE colleges are diverse and include business, finance, tourism, construction, engineering, visual arts, information technology, and hotel business.
For admission TAFE colleges usually require:
After college, students can start looking to work in their specialty or continue their education. Studying at TAFE has its advantages for further admission to universities:
If the graduate is focused on employment, then it is advisable to go through the full cycle of training. Advanced Diploma gives holders high chances to land a decent job, while Certificate I is usually not enough to get a good position.
Most bachelor's programs last for 3 years if studied full-time. It should be kept in mind that Australian secondary education lasts for 12 years, so after graduating from grade 11 of high school, you can’t enter an Australian university.
Each university and program has its own admission requirements. Usually, applicants need:
In Australia, students often enter dual or combined bachelor’s programs that lead to two bachelor’s degrees. It is most common in the fields of art, commerce, law, and science.
In addition to the standard bachelor’s degrees, Australian universities offer bachelor’s degrees with Honors. It represents:
Usually, if a student performs well during studies (from 65% of academic performance), the university can provide an extra year of bachelor’s studies with Honors. It provides for a greater number of credits that are gained through additional courses, classes, dissertations.
Masters programs usually last 2 years for bachelor’s graduates and 1 year for those who have a bachelor's degree with honors. Master's programs are divided into three types:
Master's degrees may also vary:
Universities in Australia set their own entry requirements. Usually, they are as follows:
Australia does not have a centralized application system. Therefore, documents are submitted directly to the university.
Australian universities also offer Graduate Certificate and Graduate Diploma programs. For admission to these qualifications, a bachelor's degree is required. In some cases, it can be done on the basis of significant work experience. The usual duration of programs is from 6 to 12 months.
Doctoral studies offer two types of programs:
Before admission, the candidate must contact a potential academic advisor via an email, as universities usually do not consider applications from international students who have not done so. The professor should have research interests on the topic of the candidate’s future dissertation. After the prior consent of the potential advisor, you can proceed to submit documents to the university. For admission, you will need:
Sometimes admission committees conduct interviews with applicants. This usually means that you are a promising applicant and a potential research adviser sees potential in you.
Each university and program put forward its own requirements, so the candidate must independently verify all the criteria and deadlines on the official websites of universities.
At the end of doctoral studies, students submit a dissertation, and often there is no need to verbally defend it. In this case, the work is sent to several external examiners. The verification process may take several months. Some Australian universities have begun to conduct a more traditional oral defense, but often this happens online or via interviews.
Academic ranks in Australia are divided into five levels. Names may vary depending on the institution:
| Level | Academic position | Equivalent at North American universities |
| A | Associate / Assistant Lecturer, Senior Tutor, Tutor, Research Officer | - |
| B | Lecturer, Research Fellow | Assistant Professor (PhD required) |
| C | Senior Lecturer, Senior Research Fellow | Associate Professor |
| D | Associate Professor, Reader | Professor |
| E | Professor | Full Professor The |
The salary of academicians depends on the level, on average, the salary starts from 33,627 USD and reaches 73,599 USD per year[8].
Jobs are offered by the universities themselves. Universities are actively hiring foreign scientists. A selection committee is appointed for each position, which conducts interviews and decides on the final appointment.
Selection criteria vary by university. Usually, it requires a PhD degree, experience in research and teaching, publications in scientific journals. Applications are submitted online and include resume, letter of motivation, confirmation of compliance with qualifications (criteria), information on reviewers / supervisors. Promotion is based on the achievements and successes of the candidate. Usually, it should be 2 years after the previous promotion or the beginning of work.
Australia also has research centers that are open to international applicants.
Most international students in Australia pay full tuition fees. However, there are a number of scholarships that cover the full or partial cost of education or living expenses. They are offered by government, universities, and other public and private organizations. There are also automatic scholarships for high academic results, which do not require students to submit separate applications.
Universities manage the application process and the selection of RTP, so candidates must submit documents directly to the university. There is a quota of 10% for RTP scholarships for international students. Detailed information can be found on the Australian Government website.
In general, obtaining grants is possible, but there is always fierce competition for them, therefore, the documents should be near the perfect and academic performance of the applicant high. You can find a suitable scholarship or a grant here or on the websites of universities.
To take part in any educational program, lasting more than three months a student visa is required. A visa to Australia for study purposes is a visa of subclass 500. In order to apply for it, the chosen educational institution must be included in the CRICOS list.
The term for consideration of documents and visa application is from 2.5 to 4 months. Make sure to allocate at least 6 weeks prior to the start of studies. The cost is from 393 USD. The following documents will be required:
A medical examination can be done before applying for a visa. It is held in special medical centers located in large cities. The procedure is carried out by panel doctors who have received permission from the Department of Immigration. If your family is traveling with you to Australia, they must go through a medical examination as well.
Details can be found on the Australian Government website.
Student visa allows the student to work up to 40 hours every two weeks. Students with a visa of subclass 500 or subclass 574 (studies) can work an unlimited number of hours if:
During the holidays and official internships, the 40 hours limit is removed. It is forbidden to work before the studies start. It is noteworthy that family members of students of master's or doctoral programs can work an unlimited number of hours after the start of studies.
Information on wage rates, vacation organizations, and termination benefits is provided in a special service. The website of Ombudsman for Fair Work contains more detailed information on the rights and benefits in the workplace for migrant workers.
The Department of Immigration has established a Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). It allows foreign students to work in Australia and is divided into 2 streams:
| Stream | Duration | Cost | Processing | Min. qualification | Distinctive conditions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Graduate Work stream | 18 months. | 1,047 USD | 3-4 months | Diploma | |
| Post-Study Work stream | 2-4 years | 1,047 USD | 84 days - 3 months | Bachelor's degree | - |
For a Post-Study Work stream, the length of stay in Australia depends on qualifications:
For both streams, the recieved education must meet the following criteria:
Additionally, applicants are required to confirm English proficiency (IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 64), medical insurance and other documents. Detailed information can be found on the website of the Australian Department of Home affairs.
Young professionals can look for work after obtaining a visa. Jobs are posted online or in university career departments.
Due to the high speed of development, the Australian economy needs a large number of highly qualified specialists in various fields. This has become one of the reasons for facilitating immigration visa procedures for graduates. The main sectors of the economy in the country are the services industry (finance, insurance, tourism, education), technology, mining, and agriculture. Australia has been one of the leaders in terms of economic freedom since the creation of the rating in 1995, and its economy has been ranked among the freest over the past 14 years[9]. The unemployment rate in the country was only 5.1% in February 2020[10].
Australian education is mostly practical and very close to the modern needs of society. Therefore, employers not only in Australia but also in other countries of the world, are willing to hire graduates of Australian universities. Diplomas and certificates obtained in Australia are recognized worldwide, including Europe, Asia, the USA, and the CIS countries.



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