Higher education - Undergraduate

Qualifications and entrance requirements

Australia has built a strong reputation for excellence and quality across its higher education and training programs. This global reputation is reflected in the large number of international students who choose to broaden their minds and enrich their lives by pursuing higher education courses here.

Australia has a national set of qualifications that are endorsed by the Australian Government. This means that there is national and international recognition of each qualification and the level of education it represents.

Higher education courses (or degrees) are offered at universities and private colleges. Entry into most higher education courses in Australia is highly competitive, and a high standard of English language is required. Each education provider will have different entrance requirements, so it’s important to contact individual providers to check. You can use the Institution Search to search for and contact individual universities and higher education providers.

The main types of undergraduate qualifications offered by most higher education institutions include:

Bachelor degree: Bachelor degrees provide initial preparation for professional careers and postgraduate study and involve a minimum of six semesters full-time study. Entry typically requires completion of an Australian secondary school certificate of education (Year 12) or the overseas equivalent, or a diploma or advanced diploma from the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector.
Bachelor degree (honours): Honours may require an optional additional year of study (usually research based) following a three-year degree or may be awarded for academic achievement in degrees of four or more years.

Starting dates

These vary widely depending on the course. Higher education courses generally run from late February to mid November. The academic year is typically divided into two semesters, although some education providers operate on a trimester system and/or offer summer schools from December to February.

Undergraduate students enrol for their courses at the beginning of the year (usually in January or February) but application dates are typically towards the end of the previous year. Some institutions also have mid-year enrolment and intake (usually in July) for certain courses.

Average course costs

AUD$14,000–$35,000 per year

These figures were sourced from the Australian Government’s Study in Australia website in 2012. Please note that fees vary widely and should always be sourced from the relevant institution(s).