Higher Education in Australia

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.

While the AQF specifies the standards, education and training organisations are authorised by accrediting authorities to issue a qualification

Certificate I-IV:

These courses provide introductory skills and training, delivering industry-specific knowledge and skills in communication, literacy and numeracy, and teamwork.  Given the fact that the School Leaving Certificate from Nepal is considered to be equivalent to the Australian School Leaving Certificate, normally students do not opt for these type of courses or these types of courses are not recommended. However, some VET providers can offer these courses in addition to other courses as packaged courses.

Diploma:

Students of Diploma level will have specialised knowledge and skills for further learning. It takes 1-2 years to complete the course. Graduates at this level will have specialised knowledge and skills for skilled/paraprofessional work and/or further learning. 

The most sought after diplomas by Nepalese students applying for studying in Australia are as follows:



1. Diploma in Accounting 

2. Diploma in Information Technology
3. Diploma in Business

4. Diploma in Nursing 

5. Diploma in Social Media or Digital Designs
6. Diploma in Hospitality Management
7. Diploma in Commercial Cookery


There are many other diplomas which are industry specific and usually provide a good return on investment for students who would like to take a Diploma degree before moving to Bachelor degree programs.

Diploma degrees usually have a good amount of vocational content in the curriculum which helps students to explore the work place and a know how of specific industry. These degrees form a base for studying Advanced Diploma or usually offered as a pathway degree or are packaged courses for students who do not meet entry requirements for studying Bachelor degree in Australia.

Upon the completion of Diploma, students move towards Advanced Diploma in their field of studies to broaden their knowledge and skills for paraprofessional or highly skilled work or for further studies in Bachelor level in Australia. The normal duration of Advanced Diploma at most colleges can vary from 1 year to 1.5 years depending upon the chosen college and the degree a student is seeking to obtain.

Bachelor degrees in Australia or elsewhere is usually the first official degree obtained by a student. These degrees are standard degrees and often recognized around the world as an Undergraduate level of studies. The average duration of a Bachelor degree in Australia is somewhere from 3 to 4 years depending upon the university or the program. There are many programs to choose from for international students at Bachelor level in Australia. 



For getting admission directly in bachelor degree in Australia, students need to have very good marks usually no less than 2.8 and an overall score of 6.0 or 6.5 in IELTS with no band less than 5.5 or 6.0. If you are applying for studying at top ranked universities or independent degree awarding top class institution such as TAFE NSW you should have an overall score of 6.5 (6.0) in IELTS for direct entry in Bachelor degree. 



However, there are exceptions to this as some universities may accept students with an overall IELTS score of 6.0 with no band less than 5.5 whereas students are required to have an IELTS score of 7.0 with no band less than 7.0 for direct entry in Bachelor or Nursing. Some universities may accept students with an overall score of 7.0 with no band less than 6.5 or 6.0, however such offer letters may be packaged with Diploma leading to degree program and students must take additional IELTS test and score 7.0 before they can begin their second year studies.

This degree is normally taken following a bachelor's degree, and a successful award allows progression to a master's degree without having received honours with the bachelor's degree.

There are two different types of graduate degree; Graduate Diploma and Graduate Certificate where the duration varies 1-2 years and 6 months -1 year respectively. Graduates at this level will have advanced knowledge and skills for professional/highly skilled work and/or further learning.

These degrees are usually suitable for students who do not have a Bachelor degree equivalent to the Australian Bachelor degree and or need some more credits to progress to a more advanced Master degree program. These degrees are also known as PQP or postgraduate qualifying programs. 


A more specific line of study, once you choose to do yours masters, you're also choosing a specification. Usually Masters degrees are about 2 years, in most countries.

A good number of Nepalese students choose to apply for studying Master degree in Australia upon the completion of a 4 years Bachelor degree in Nepal. Most of the universities require students to have a 4years bachelor degree with good grades. Some universities may also accept 3 years Bachelor degree with a PQP packaged program provided that grade requirements are met. 

Unlike UK, the usual duration of Master degree studies in Australia is of 2 years. Students who complete Master degree have specialised knowledge to join the workforce or the research in the area of their interest or continue towards a doctoral degree. Students can either choose to complete a Master degree via coursework or by Research.

A Doctoral degree is usually the last stage of academic studies and involves research leading to a published thesis and dissertation on a topic a student chooses to specialise in. Doctoral degrees typically take around 3 to 5 years to complete. 

Students completing the doctoral degrees either join research institutes as a researcher or academia as a lecturer/professor or enter professional practice. Admission in Doctoral level studies are highly competitive and usually offered on a pro rata basis unlike Bachelor or Master degree studies