Australia

Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is an oceanian country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and few smaller islands. It is the world’s sixth-largest country by total area comprising six states and several territories.

Australia is a developed country and one of the wealthiest in the world, with the world’s 12th-largest economy. In 2014 Australia had the world’s fifth-highest per capita income. Australia’s military expenditure is the world’s 13th-largest. With the second-highest human development index globally, Australia ranks highly in many international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, and the protection of civil liberties and political rights.

School System

School education is similar across Australia with only minor variations between States and Territories.
School education is of 13 years and divided into:

• Primary School : Kindergarten to Grade 6 or 7
• Secondary School : Grade 7 to 10 or Grade 8 to 10
• Senior Secondary School or College : Grade 11 and 12

Tertiary Education

Tertiary education includes both higher education (including universities) and vocational education and training (VET).

Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) specifies the standards for educational qualifications in Australia. It is administered nationally by the Australian Government’s Department of Industry, with oversight from the States and Territories, through the Standing Council of Tertiary Education Skills and Employment.

The AQF has 10 levels and links school, vocational and university education qualifications into one national system.

This allows one to move easily from one level of study to the next, and from one institution to another. It allows for choice and flexibility in career planning. All qualifications in the AQF help prepare one for both further study and working life.

Level 1 : Certificate I [ Non TER ]
Graduates at this level will have knowledge and skills for initial work, community involvement and/or further learning.

Level 2 : Certificate II [ Non TER ]
Graduates at this level will have knowledge and skills for work in a defined context and/or further learning.

Level 3 : Certificate III [ 6 Months ]
Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for work and/or further learning.

Level 4 : Certificate IV [ 1 Year ]
Graduates at this level will have theoretical and practical knowledge and skills for specialized and/or skilled work and/or further learning.

Level 5 : Diploma [ 1 to 2 Years ]
Graduates at this level will have specialized knowledge and skills for skilled/paraprofessional work and/or further learning.

Level 6 : Advanced Diploma / Associate Degree [ 1.5 to 2 Years ]
Graduates at this level will have specialized knowledge and skills for skilled/paraprofessional work and/or further learning.

Level 7 : Bachelor Degree [ 3 to 4 Years ]
Graduates at this level will have broad and coherent knowledge and skills for professional work and/or further learning.

Level 8 : Bachelor Honors Degree / Graduate Certificate / Graduate Diploma [ 6 Months to 1 Year ]
Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional/highly skilled work and/or further learning.

Level 9 : Master Degree [ Course Work / Research / Extended ] [ 1 to 2 Years ]
Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional/highly skilled work and/or further learning.

Level 10 : Doctoral Degree [ 3 to 4 Years ]
Graduates at this level will have systematic and critical understanding of a complex field of learning and specialized research skills for the advancement of learning and/or for professional practice.