Australia's higher education system offers valuable opportunities for North American students looking for an academic and personal challenge in an English-speaking school system that is compatible with their own. North American students are invited to enroll in full undergraduate and graduate degree programs,as well as short term, semester and year long study abroad programs.
The Australian higher education system is highly regarded and internationally recognized. University entry is competitive and academic standards are high. All universities are accredited by the Australian Government, to ensure a standard commitment to the provision of quality higher education. 37 of the 39 universities are public institutions and are government-funded.
Quality Assurance
International students in Australia and their parents enjoy a level of service and financial protection that is unrivalled. Australia is firmly committed to providing quality education and training and offers strong assurances to international students.
Australia takes its responsibility towards international students seriously to the extent that the regulations for providing education services to these students are set in federal government legislation. Institutions must be registered with the Australian Government and meet special registration conditions enabling them to deliver courses to international students in Australia.
Both public and private institutions must meet high standards of quality and ethical practice which take into account such issues as curriculum, qualifications of teaching staff and facilities, including specialist equipment.
Australia’s national quality assurance system is unique in both its structure and its rigor. The system combines government regulation and industry self-regulation. Each sector has its own comprehensive quality assurance mechanisms. For example, the Australian Universities Quality Agency (AUQA) and the Australian Quality Training Framework 2007 (AQTF 2007) have been set up by the Government to strengthen the quality assurance processes in education and training in Australia.
Where an Australian university offers programs at an offshore campus or with an international partner, the institution is expected to maintain standards equivalent to those provided in Australia.
The Australian Qualifications Framework
The AQF links fifteen school, vocational and university education awards into one national system. Depending on a student's existing education level and qualifications, they can seek admission into a course anywhere in Australia.
If a student is studying an AQF qualification, the institution will be government authorised, the course will be nationally accredited and the qualification will be delivered and issued according to national guidelines.
Qualifications Recognition
Australian qualifications are recognized by employers and leading educational institutions in many countries around the world. The National Office of Overseas Skills Recognition (AEI-NOOSR), which is part of Australian Education International, assists Australian institutions to recognize qualifications from overseas. NOOSR also works to promote the recognition of Australian qualifications internationally.
Most courses and training undertaken by international students in Australia on a student visa are covered by the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The AQF is a national system of learning pathways which is endorsed by the Australian Government and recognized throughout Australia and by other countries. On completion of an AQF qualification, international students can progress to the next AQF level of study anywhere in Australia as long as they satisfy the student visa requirements. The AQF simplifies international comparison and recognition. Students are assured of a valued and widely-recognized qualification.
Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000
Australia provides the world’s most rigorous protection for international students through the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000. This legislation requires institutions that provide education to international students to meet nationally consistent standards in education delivery, facilities and services. It ensures consistency with the standard of education delivered to Australian students.
Tuition and financial assurance for international students is also provided under the Act, so that if an institution is not able to meet its commitments, the student will receive an alternative placement or a refund. It ensures a nationally consistent approach to provider registration and enables the Australian Government to monitor education providers. Breaches of the Act are treated very seriously and the penalties can be significant, including losing the right to enrol students.
Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS)
Every provider that seeks to recruit, enroll or teach overseas students, or to advertise their ability to do so, must be registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). CRICOS lists all providers registered to offer courses to people studying in Australia on student visas and the courses each provider offers.
Codes of Conduct
Australian Government legislation includes the National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007 (the National Code 2007), which is nationally consistent and legally enforceable. All providers who are registered on CRICOS must abide by the National Code. Many institutions also are members of professional bodies or councils that have their own codes of conduct. These codes of conduct set out standards for academic and support services for international students – including procedures for dispute resolution.