Education System

The education in Australia generally starts at the age of four with Pre-School. However this pre-schooling is not mandatory. Primary school education begins for most children at the age of five. The main subjects in all primary schools are based on the eight key learning areas - English, Health and Physical Education, Language other than English, Mathematics, Science, Society and Environment, Technology and The Arts. Next to the primary school, the students enter into the secondary school system at the age of twelve or thirteen. A broad range of elective subjects are offered apart from the compulsory subjects such as English, Mathematics and Science, during the first four years of their secondary school studies. 

The elective subjects include computing studies, languages, art, music, drama, commerce, history, geography and technical subjects. After successful completion of the final year of this secondary education system, students head for their admission into degree or graduate courses in the universities. International students who look forward to Australia, to pursue their further studies after secondary education, generally enter into the 'Foundation studies'. Foundation studies are usually one year in duration and students are assessed and checked up by their lecturers. Foundation studies are divided into various streams like arts or science studies. The common characteristics of foundation studies are that a university allocates a provisional place in an undergraduate course for a student who achieves the prescribed grades.

Students from overseas who come to Australia to study English either for educational purposes or for any other career purposes enter into 'English language schools'. Wide range of English language courses are available in these schools to suit candidate's requirements. 'Vocational Education and Training Institutes' of Australian education system gives students practical skills for their careers. These vocational institutes are broadly categorized into two types - Government recognized and private ones. Different vocational courses are taught in Vocational institutes across the country such as computing, designing, pilot training, business management, hospitality and tourism.

For higher education in Australia, a student must get an entry into 'University education system'. There are more than thirty universities in Australia to offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The most popular courses for international students till now are offered in the fields of Business, Administration and Economics followed by Science, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. University study can lead students to awards such as Undergraduate Bachelor Degrees, Bachelor Degrees with Honors, Undergraduate Diplomas, Associate Diplomas, Postgraduate Degrees, Doctoral Degrees, Graduate Diplomas and Graduate Certificates.