The Australian educational system provides primary, secondary, and postsecondary education that is interconnected across the country and beyond the world.
The Australian education system offers primary, secondary and tertiary education.
School education is consistent across Australia, with very small differences between states and territories. Between the ages of six and sixteen (Year 1 to Year 9 or 10) school education (primary and secondary) is mandatory. Schooling lasts 13 years and is broken into
Tertiary education includes both higher education (including universities) and vocational education and training (VET).
English is the official language of Australia and the main language of instruction in the education system. Many schools offer bilingual programs or programs in other languages.
The Australian education system is distinguished from many other countries by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The AQF was established in 1995 and is a national policy that covers qualifications from the tertiary education sector (higher education and vocational education and training) in addition to the school-leaving certificate; the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education.The AQF has 10 levels and links school, vocational and university education qualifications into one national system. This allows you to move easily from one level of study to the next, and from one institution to another, as long as you satisfy student visa requirements. It allows for choice and flexibility in career planning. All qualifications in the AQF help prepare you for both further study and your working life.
If you are studying an AQF qualification, you can be sure that your institution is Government-authorised and nationally accredited, and that your degree or other AQF qualification will be genuine.
Our institutions are linked across the country and across the world, which makes it easy to move throughout the education system between courses or institutions and formal agreement and recognition frameworks mean every step of the path will contribute to your future no matter what your study or career goals.
