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 In Australia, Primary School Duration = 6 or 7 years. Student ages = 5 to 12 years. 

• This level would be relevant to agents who must consider the young children of international students in Australia. Also, some unaccompanied primary-age children study in Australia on student visas. 

• This level is compulsory for all students.

• There is no entrance examination for public primary schools. 

• Co-educational and single-sex schools exist. 

• Students learn with others of a similar age. 

• Learning occurs through group and individual activities. 

• There is one teacher in each class for all subjects except for some specialist subjects (e.g. Art). 

• There is no standardised exam at the end of primary school. 

• Students do not receive a formal certificate after completing primary school. 

• The early part of children’s education is essential since it is in these formative years that attitudes and behaviour begin to take shape. Emphasis is put not only on the educational side of primary schooling but also on students developing communication and cooperation skills, which will serve them well in later life. 

  In Australia, Secondary School Duration  =   5 or 6 years. Student ages = 12 to 18 years. 

 • To enter secondary school, international students must provide academic records and demonstrate appropriate English proficiency. 

• The general tone of secondary education is much more independent and student-guided than primary school. Students have many course options which reflect their interests and goals. Some schools emphasise certain subjects more than others. Choice and diversity are increased by schools specialising in languages, music, sport, information technology, agriculture or vocational education. 

• Co-educational & single-sex schools are available. 

• Students have different teachers for most subjects. 

• Students move from room to room according to their timetable and study in classrooms specially designed for subjects such as art, music and science. Junior High School - usually Years 7-10 

• Students take several compulsory English, Mathematics, Science, and Social Science courses. 

• After completing junior high school, a student may continue into senior high school programs, begin a vocational program, or enter the workforce. However, most students choose to continue to Year 11. 

• In some States, a student leaving Year 10 may be awarded a formal certification of completion of that year. Senior High School - usually Years 11-12 

• Students in Years 11 and 12 have a more comprehensive range of choices in elective courses such as Computing, Art, and Drama.- Students study subjects they excel in or relate to their future career or educational goals. 

• Students in Year 12 can study for a government-endorsed certificate recognised for further study by all Australian universities and vocational education and training institutions. This is a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education, recognised for entry into many international universities. 

AUSTRALIAN VET QUALIFICATIONS The VET sector offers eight qualifications: QUALIFICATION DURATION 

Certificate I 3 - 6 months 

Certificate II & III 6 - 12 months 

Certificate IV 1 year 

Diploma 1 - 2 years 

Advanced Diploma 2 - 2.5 years 

Vocational Graduate Certificate 6 months 

Vocational Graduate Diploma 1 - 1.5 year 

THE COURSES VET providers offer extensive courses from Certificate I through to Bachelor Degrees, Graduate  Certificates and sometimes Graduate Diplomas (see Training.gov.au). The following list details some of the more popular and common programs offered in Australia: 

Business and Management 

• This covers a wide range of fields. VET offers programs including information technology, frontline management, hospitality and marketing courses 

Community services and healthcare 

• These courses are designed to prepare students to work within organisations providing various community-based services. 

• Courses are offered from a Certificate I entry-level to a diploma level. 

• These are often designed for workers predominantly interacting with clients in various community work services. 

Communications and information technology 

• These courses provide students with the detailed knowledge and skills needed for a future career in information technologies. 

Design and the arts 

• These courses offer theoretical and practical studies in a student’s chosen area as well as training in presenting work and business management 

Engineering & building 

• Students can receive a certificate to diploma qualifications in various building and engineering fields such as air-conditioning and refrigeration, carpentry, design and civil engineering. 

Hospitality and tourism 

• These programs can lead students into supervisory positions in the food service, hospitality and tourism industries. 

Land management, agriculture, fisheries and forestry 

• Training in these programs can lead students to careers in catchment and land management, water and wastewater management, farm management, conservation, land care, pest, animal and plant management, revegetation and land rehabilitation, protected area management, and wildlife management. 

Sports & Recreation 

• These programs enable students to gain employment in various fields within the sports and recreation industries. 

• Students are given fundamental knowledge of exercise programming, leadership and motivation, sports marketing, resistance training, nutrition, rehabilitation, personal training, and psychology. 

 The higher education sector comprises universities, government, and private institutions. This sector contributes to Australian society and Australia’s international reputation in many ways. 

 There are some essential points about courses that you need to be aware of: 

• Courses vary considerably in form, entry requirements, duration and assessment method. • The academic year is generally from early March to late November or mid-July to late June of the following year. 

• The year is usually divided into two semesters, although some universities offer three semesters in one calendar year for specific 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. The following qualifications are available at Australian universities and approved higher education providers. This information is general, so you need to realise that a particular university course may not have precisely the same length or purpose. 

Diploma Duration = 1 -2 years 

• Some universities and university colleges offer this. • It is the same level as a Diploma that a VET institution offers. 

 Bachelor's Degree Duration = minimum of  3 years 

• This is the primary university qualification required for entry to a profession. 

• Study involves acquiring a systematic and coherent body of knowledge, underlying principles and concepts, and associated problem-solving techniques. 

• Students develop the academic skills and aptitudes to comprehend and evaluate new information, concepts and evidence from various sources. Also, students learn to review, consolidate, extend and apply the knowledge and techniques that they have learnt. 

• Study usually involves major studies in areas where significant academic literature is available. • Course content is to a significant depth and progressively developed to a high level. This also prepares students for further postgraduate study if desired.

Bachelor  Degree(Honours) Duration = 4 years 

• A Bachelor Degree with Honours takes an additional year after a Bachelor's Degree focusing on research. 

• Honours may also be granted where outstanding achievement is recorded in a Bachelor's Degree course of four or more years. POSTGRADUATE Graduate Certificate Duration = 6 months 

• The Graduate Certificate typically involves broadening individual skills already gained in an undergraduate program or developing vocational knowledge and skills in a new professional area. Graduate Diploma Duration = 12 months 

• The Graduate Diploma either broadens individual skills obtained in an undergraduate program or develops vocational knowledge and skills in a new professional area. 

• This qualification involves further specialisation within a systematic and coherent body of knowledge. 

Masters's Degree(Coursework) Duration = 1 - 2 years 

• The Master's Degree enhances specific professional or vocational skills. 

• It is typically gained through coursework and some research. 

• Study involves acquiring an in-depth understanding of a specific area of knowledge, usually by independent research. 

• A Masters Degree takes one to two years after completing a bachelor's Degree. 

Masters Degree  (Research) - MPhil Duration = 1 - 2 years 

• The Master of Philosophy program aims to provide research training that develops independent research skills, including the» ability to formulate a significant problem,» mastery of appropriate conceptual and methodological frameworks,» capacity for articulate and critical analysis. 

• Admission requires a Bachelor's degree with Honours, but students may be admitted after completing a Graduate Diploma and having significant work experience. 

• It is possible to transfer to a PhD program after one year full-time if the work in the MPhil course is considered a suitable standard. 

Doctoral Degree (Doctor of Philosophy -  PhD) Duration = usually three years 

• The Doctoral Degree is the highest award offered by Australian universities. Although traditional PhDs are research degrees, some programs may have a coursework component. 

• There are three components to a Doctoral Degree: 

» a review of relevant literature, experimentation, or other systemic approaches to a body of knowledge. 

» an original research project resulting in a significant contribution to knowledge and understanding and the application of knowledge within a discipline or field of study.

» a substantial and well-ordered thesis demonstrating the relationship of the research to the broader framework of the domain or field of study