Australian Higher Education System

Award courses vary considerably within the higher education sector in form, entry requirements, duration and method of assessment. The following awards are offered by Australian universities:

• doctoral degree;
• masters degree;
• graduate diploma;
• graduate certificate;
• bachelor degree;
• undergraduate diploma/AQF advanced diploma; and
• associate diploma/AQF diploma.

Masters degrees are either undertaken by course work or research. Course work masters degrees tend, on average, to take 12 to 18 months to complete while research masters degrees take about two years of full-time study

Graduate diplomas, also called postgraduate diplomas, enable graduate students to gain vocational qualifications through an intensive year long study program.

The six month graduate certificate courses develop professional knowledge and skills gained in an undergraduate program.

Bachelor degrees take from three to six years of full-time study. An extra year is required for a bachelor degree with honours. Some bachelor degree programs, which lead to professionally recognised qualifications, require four or more years of full-time study.

Undergraduate diploma courses require two or three years of full-time study, while associate diplomas can be completed in from one to two years of full-time study.

Diplomas and associate diplomas are mainly offered in vocational or applied fields such as business, science, education and agriculture.