Undergraduate Courses in Australia

Sun-kissed beaches, bountiful nature and mesmerizing scenic beauty make Australia one of the most preferred destinations. However, Australia has gained reputation not only as a favored tourist destination, but also as a favorite education hub. This can be proved from the fact that increasing number of international students prefer this miraculous land of Australia as their ideal study destination. Academic excellence and top quality education are the two major reasons for students flocking in from over 80 countries worldwide. The unique learning environment, cooperating distinguished faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and welcoming infrastructure add to the list of reasons for making Australia a popular hot spot for pursuing higher studies. The numerous undergraduate programs offered by Australian universities are highly reputed and accredited across the world. However, qualifying for undergraduate study in Australia is highly competitive for international students, who are required to undergo various admission requirements. The bachelor’s degree awarded by universities and colleges in Australia offer the students to choose from a number of further options, such as employment, advance study in professional field, or research. In the following lines, check out the different courses offered for a bachelor’s degree and the process for seeking admission in an Australian university or college.

 

Degree Recognition

The excellence of the Australian education system is ranked amongst the highest in the world. All undergraduate degrees honored by universities in Australia are recognized worldwide and accepted in all walks of employment or further study. Thus, pursuing an undergraduate course from Australia offers you plenty of job opportunities in any field you do your majors in from here.

 

Degree Structure

The Australian government has established a national set of qualifications for the degree courses offered. Thus, the standard of higher education in Australia is comparatively competitive and of international recognition. Most Australian universities offer two types of undergraduate programs, namely, bachelor’s degree and bachelor’s degree (honors). A Bachelor’s degree is an initial preparation for undertaking professional career and postgraduate study, and hence, the duration is a minimum of 3 years. On the other hand, Bachelor’s degree (honors) requires the students to take up an additional year of study following the degree, or can be awarded for academic achievement in degrees of four or more years. Australia also presents a third kind of undergraduate degree, known as an associate degree, which is awarded after two-years of study following the completion of secondary education. Students receive a mixture of lectures as well as tutorials at undergraduate level, where lectures take place in large halls comprising of as many as 200 students, while tutorials are held in smaller groups of 30 students or even less. On completion of the bachelor’s degree, students can either explore job opportunities in the industry, or take up postgraduate programs to specialize in their areas of interest.

 

Academic Calendar

The academic calendar for Australian universities is different from the colleges in the United States. The academic year is divided into two semesters, though some institutions follow a trimester system. The two semesters run from late February to mid November, while a summer school operates from December through February.

 

Subjects for Bachelor’s Degree

Agriculture and related subjects; Applied and Pure Sciences; Architecture, Building and Planning; Art; Aviation; Economics; Education and Teaching; Engineering; Fashion Designing; General Management and Business; Hotel Management and Hospitality; Humanities; IT and Computer Science; International Culture, Literature and Foreign Languages; Law; Mass Communication and Media; Medicine and Life Sciences; Music, Dance and Theatre; Physiotherapy; Sales, Marketing and Retailing; Social Sciences; Sports and Sports Management; Therapeutic Personal Care.

 

Admissions Requirements

 

• 12 years of elementary and secondary education is mandatory to apply for a two-year associate degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree program in an Australian university.
• The student is required to submit transcripts or mark sheets of the examinations taken at his last institute. As an alternative, certificate, degrees or statement of scores can also be submitted, whichever is applicable as per the country from where the student belongs to.
• Standardizes tests, like IELTS or TOEFL must be qualified to fulfill English proficiency requirements. Most Australian universities accept IELTS scores for international students, though some may even consider TOEFL as an alternative.
• In rare cases, universities waive IELTS/TOEFL scores if a letter is provided from the institution last attended, stating that the student had been studying throughout in English and is convinced with the English proficiency of the student. Notwithstanding, IELTS score is compulsory for acquiring Australian visa by students of India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
• Personal essay or statement of purpose also plays an important role in assisting in the admission procedure of an international candidate. Include all the reasons for selecting the particular course, your areas of interest, suitability of your education, and experiential background for the said course.

 

Application Procedure

 

• It is advisable to start applying to Australian universities at least 12 months before the proposed date of admission.
• Application forms can be completed online from the university’s website. Most universities post their application forms online which can be filled for requesting application material.
• Forms can also be downloaded from the university’s website and duly filled like any other regular printed form.

 

Tuition Fees in AUD$

You may end up paying different tuition fee in different universities depending upon your choice of degree. The cost of pursuing an undergraduate degree program can vary from $10,000 to $16,500 per academic year. A Bachelor’s degree costs about $10,000-13,500 a year, while laboratory-based Bachelor’s degree programs (science and engineering courses) vary from $11,000 to $16,500 per year.

Posted in: Study in Australia