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Understanding the Australian University System

Australian Higher Education Structure

Australia has a total of 41 universities, comprising 38 public institutions and three private ones. While these universities are established under comparable legislation, their unique planning and decision-making processes differ, influenced by the specific challenges they encounter. Each university operates under its individual Act of Parliament within the respective state where it is registered.

What is the Australian Qualifications Framework?

The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a comprehensive national policy regulating Australian education and training qualifications. It is developed in collaboration with the Australian Government Department of Education and the states and territories. The AQF brings together qualifications from different sectors, such as schools, vocational education, and higher education, into a unified framework. Its main goals are to enable smooth progression through formal qualifications and to support national quality assurance standards in education and training.

Australian Study Levels

AFQ Level Qualification Degree level
Course Duration
10 Higher Doctoral Degree Postgraduate 3-5 Years
10 Doctoral Degree Postgraduate 3-5 Years
9 Masters Degree (Research) Postgraduate 1-2 Years
9 Masters Degree (Coursework) Postgraduate 1-2 Years
9 Masters Degree (Extended) Postgraduate 3-4 Years
8 Graduate Diploma Postgraduate 0.5-1 Year
8 Graduate Certificate Postgraduate 0.5-1 Years
8 Bachelor Honours Degree Undergraduate 1 Years
7 Bachelor Degree Undergraduate 3-4 Years
6 Associate Degree Undergraduate 2 Years
6 Advanced Diploma Undergraduate 1.5-2 Years
5 Diploma Undergraduate 1-2 Years
4 Certificate IV Undergraduate 0.5-2 Years
3 Certificate III Undergraduate 1-2 Years
2 Certificate II Undergraduate 0.5-1 Years
1 Certificate I Undergraduate 0.5-1 Years

Australian institutions

University governance in Australia is shaped by multiple factors, such as alterations to legislation governing university governing bodies and the availability and extent of funding. The country has a total of 41 universities, comprising 38 public institutions and three private ones. While these universities are established under comparable legislation, their unique planning and decision-making processes differ, influenced by the specific challenges they encounter. Each university operates under its individual Act of Parliament within the respective state where it is registered.

Grading System

In Australia, the grading system can vary slightly between educational institutions, but generally, a common grading scale is used. The most commonly used grading system in Australian schools and universities is the following:

Scale (%)    
GPA
85 - 100 High Distinction (HD) High Distinction (HD) 7 - 7.99
75 - 84 Distinction (D) A 6 - 6.99
65 - 74 Credit (C) B 5- 5.99
50 - 64 Pass (P) C 4 - 4.99
0 - 49 Fail (N) Fail (F, FNP, FNS, FNC or FLW) 0 - 3.99

Some educational institutions may also use additional grading symbols or modifiers to provide further information about a student's performance. For example, "+" and "-" signs can be added to indicate slight variations within a grade (e.g., A+, A, A-). However, the grading scale mentioned above is the general framework used in Australia.

Calculate your GPA for Australian universities

To calculate your GPA at Australian universities, follow these steps: 

States in Australia

Australia boasts 43 universities, each with a main campus located in one of the country's states or territories. If you're considering studying in Australia, you'll find a variety of options across multiple locations. The Australian universities location map provides an overview of university campuses situated in key Australian destinations. Many universities have multiple campuses spread across different states and territories, giving you the flexibility to choose where you want to pursue your studies.

Here is a list of Australian universities categorized by state or territory:

Australian Capital Territory

New South Wales

Northern Territory

Queensland

South Australia

Tasmania

Victoria

Western Australia

Study in Australia

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