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Sydney University

UNIVERSITIES AND HIGHER EDUCATION 

The Australian higher education system consists of independent, self-governing public and private universities and higher education institutions that award higher education qualifications. There are 38 public universities and 3 private universities in Australia. Seven out of one hundred top universities in the world are Australian.

University Rankings

According to Australian Education Network, the top 19 universities in 2015 are listed as following. More information can be accessed through: http://www.australianuniversities.com.au/rankings/

US News 2014 Best Global Universities Rankings – Australian University Rankings

2014-2015 THE Times Higher Education World University Rankings – Australian University Rankings

For more detailed information about the universities you want to apply, simply check out on this website:http://www.myuniversity.gov.au/

 

The different qualifications you can attain at a university or higher education institution:Source

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Associate Degree

  • Duration – Two years

  • Completed following – Year 12 or equivalent, Certificate III or Certificate IV

  • Details – The Associate Degree is a short-cycle Degree program that can help with career development if you’re already working and don’t have time to complete a full Bachelor Degree. It can be a pathway to a Bachelor Degree or prepare you for an Advanced Diploma in specialist industry training. An Associate Degree will be about the basics or foundations of your field. It will cover the broad theory and enable you to develop the basic employment-related skills.

 

Bachelor Degree

  • Duration – Three years

  • Completed following – Year 12 or equivalent, Certificate III or Certificate IV

  • Details – A Bachelor Degree is the basic qualification for entry to a field. It will give you a systematic body of knowledge, the underlying principles and the problem-solving techniques you’ll need to work in the discipline. With deeper content than an Associate Degree, your Bachelor Degree will develop your skills and knowledge to the point where you can pursue postgraduate studies if you want to.

 

Bachelor Degree(Honours)

  • Duration – Four years

  • Completed following – Bachelor Degree

  • Details – If you do particularly well in your Bachelor Degree, your institution might grant entry to an additional year of study to enable you to graduate with honours.

 

Graduate Certificate

  • Duration – 6 months

  • Completed following – Bachelor Degree

  • Details – Your Graduate Certificate will broaden individual skills you already have from an undergraduate program, or develop your knowledge in a new area.

 

Graduate Diploma

  • Duration – One year

  • Completed following – Bachelor Degree

  • Details – A Graduate Diploma will apply a body of knowledge in a range of contexts for you to undertake professional or highly skilled work and as a pathway for further learning.

 

Master Degree

  • Duration – 1 to 2 years

  • Completed following – Bachelor Degree (Honours) or Bachelor Degree

  • Details – A Master Degree is a course of independent research, traditional coursework or a combination of the two, and will make you a leader in your field. A Master Degree takes either one year after a Bachelor Degree with honours, or two years after a Bachelor Degree.

 

Doctoral Degree

  • Duration – Typically 3 years

  • Completed following – Masters Degree

  • Details – The highest award offered by Australian universities, the Doctoral Degree is a research program, although it can have some coursework.

Foundation Studies

If you don’t meet the entry requirements to get into the course you want in Australia, there are many pathways that can help you reach your goal. This might include studying in an Australian school, taking English language preparation or studying a vocational education and training course. 

Another pathway may be Foundation Studies – one-year intensive preparatory courses available through the majority of institutions. These will give you the skills you need to enter an undergraduate (Bachelor Degree) course.

Who is it for?

The program is designed for people who are returning to study, who may not have any qualifications, or for English as a second language students. Foundation Studies in Australia gives international students the opportunity to study a pre-university year within a fully-accredited specialist program as the first step to completing tertiary studies.

What will I study?

It is equivalent to Australia’s Year 12 (the pre-university year). It is taught in English, but includes comprehensive English instruction and support where that is required. Students can choose from a range of program options which have been specially developed to meet university requirements.

Where does it lead?

The course develops confidence and creativity in students and equips them to discover, extend and express themselves, as well as to achieve their personal, vocational and social goals. Students comprehend the world, relate well to others, and are high academic achievers.

Students can proceed directly to University if their results for the program are good enough.

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