The Australian education system: a guide for international students

The Australian education system links schools, vocational colleges and universities through one national framework, the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The AQF has 10 levels, so you can see how a Certificate, Diploma, Bachelor or Master's degree compare and how one course can lead to the next. International students on a student visa can study any course that is registered on CRICOS, from English language courses to a PhD.

The visa facts on this page are current as at November 2026.

How the Australian education system works

There are four main parts, or sectors, that international students use:

• English language courses (ELICOS). ELICOS means English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students. They improve your English for study, work or a test.
• Schools. Primary and secondary schools, from Foundation (the first year) to Year 12.
• Vocational education and training (VET). Practical, job-focused courses taught by TAFE institutes and private registered training organisations (RTOs).
• Higher education. Bachelor, Master's and Doctoral degrees, plus Graduate Certificates and Graduate Diplomas, taught by universities and other higher education providers.

Foundation and pathway programs sit between school and university. They help students who do not yet meet direct entry requirements.

AQF levels and how long each qualification takes

Every recognised tertiary qualification in Australia has an AQF level. A higher number means a more advanced qualification. The lengths below are typical full-time durations published by Study Australia. Your exact course length is the one registered on CRICOS for that course.

Why the AQF level matters for your visa

The AQF level is not only a label. It affects your Student visa (subclass 500) and your options after you graduate:

• Staying at the same or a higher level. Under visa condition 8202, you must stay enrolled in a course at the same or a higher AQF level than the course your visa was granted for. Moving from a Doctoral degree (level 10) to a Master's (level 9) is allowed.
• Applying again in Australia. Since 2 October 2026, most Student visa applications must be lodged outside Australia. One exemption is course progression: you finish your main course and move to a higher AQF level.
• Post-study work. The Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485) needs at least 2 academic years of study (92 CRICOS weeks). English courses do not count. Bachelor and higher graduates use one stream; Diploma and trade graduates use another, with stricter occupation rules.

The main sectors for international students

English language courses (ELICOS)

ELICOS courses run from 5 to 60 weeks, depending on your level, and start throughout the year. Types include General English, English for Academic Purposes (EAP), English for specific fields such as business or health, and exam preparation for tests such as IELTS. ELICOS students have the same legal protections as other international students.

ELICOS is often packaged with a main course. For English tests taken from 7 August 2025, the Student visa needs IELTS 6.0 or PTE Academic 47 overall with no English course. With at least 10 weeks of ELICOS the minimum is IELTS 5.5 or PTE 39, and with at least 20 weeks it is IELTS 5.0 or PTE 31. Your provider may ask for a higher score.

Foundation and pathway programs

Foundation studies (also called bridging programs) prepare school leavers for a Bachelor degree. They usually take about one year, often start around February and may give credit toward a degree. For the Student visa, a Foundation or eligible Pathway program can count like 10 weeks of ELICOS for the English rules.

Schools

Australian schooling has 13 years: primary school from Foundation to Year 6, secondary from Year 7 to Year 10, and senior secondary in Years 11 and 12. Students finish with a state Senior Secondary Certificate of Education and an ATAR, a ranking that universities use for entry. International school students must be at least 6 years old for a Student visa, and there are age limits for each senior year.

Vocational education and training (VET): TAFE and private RTOs

VET courses are practical and skills-based. Many include work placements, and trainers must have recent industry experience. TAFE institutes are owned by state governments and are the largest VET providers. Private RTOs and some dual-sector universities also teach accredited VET courses. Most VET courses run in two semesters or four terms.

Higher education

Universities and other higher education providers teach Bachelor, Master's and Doctoral degrees and Graduate Certificates and Diplomas. Entry to a Bachelor degree needs a Year 12 certificate or equivalent. Entry to a Master's degree usually needs a completed Bachelor degree, and some courses also look at work experience.

TAFE vs university: the main differences

• Focus: TAFE trains you for a specific job with hands-on skills. University builds theory, research and professional knowledge.
• Qualifications: TAFE mostly teaches Certificate I to Advanced Diploma (AQF 1 to 6). Universities mostly teach AQF 7 to 10.
• Cost and length: VET courses are often shorter and cheaper. See our cost of study and living guide.
• Visa processing: Under Ministerial Direction 115, offshore Student visa applications for TAFE courses are in Priority 1. University applications drop to Priority 2 once the university reaches 80% of its yearly allocation of new students.
• After graduation: Degree graduates usually get a longer 485 visa than VET graduates.

How quality and your rights are protected

National laws cover every provider that teaches international students. Knowing them helps you act if something goes wrong.

• CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. On a Student visa you can only study a CRICOS-registered course. Search the CRICOS register (opens in a new tab) for the provider and the exact course code.
• The ESOS Act 2000 and the National Code 2018 (Education Services for Overseas Students) set strict rules for CRICOS providers about student support, information and processes.
• TEQSA (Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency) regulates universities and other higher education providers. ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority) regulates most VET providers. All VET providers must meet national RTO standards.
• The Tuition Protection Service (TPS) helps if you have paid for a course and your provider cannot deliver it, for example if a college closes. It can help with a tuition refund or a place with another provider.
• Complaints. Use your provider's complaints process first. If that does not fix it, an independent ombudsman can help. Higher education students can contact the National Student Ombudsman.

Academic calendar and intakes

Most courses start early in the calendar year, but start dates differ by sector:

• Universities: the main intake is usually in March (Semester 1). Some universities also offer a mid-year intake (Semester 2). PhD start dates are agreed with your supervisor.
• VET (TAFE and RTOs): usually late January or early February, with some later intakes.
• Foundation programs: usually around February.
• ELICOS: start dates throughout the year.
• Schools: late January or early February, with four terms a year.

Plan backwards from your intake. You need time for admission, your Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), health cover and the visa. Offshore visa processing priority depends on your provider, and offshore applications lodged from 15 November to 31 December count against the provider's allocation for the next year.

How teaching and assessment work

Australian teaching expects you to take part and think for yourself, not only memorise.

• Classes: universities use large lectures plus small tutorials or workshops where you discuss and ask questions. VET classes are smaller and practical, often in workshops, kitchens or simulated workplaces.
• Assessment: marks usually come from several tasks across the term, such as essays, reports, group projects, presentations, practical tests and exams. One final exam rarely decides everything.
• Academic integrity: you must reference other people's work correctly. Copying, buying assignments or misusing AI tools can lead to failing or losing your place.
• Attendance and progress: your provider must report students who do not meet course progress or attendance rules. This can put your visa at risk under condition 8202.

Pathways: foundation, diploma to degree and packaged courses

You do not have to enter at the final level. Common pathways are:

1. English to main course Study ELICOS, then start your Diploma or degree. Packaging both on one visa means you can apply with a lower English score.
2. Foundation to Bachelor A one-year Foundation program after Year 12 can lead to the first year of a Bachelor degree.
3. Diploma to degree with credit Some Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas give credit toward a related Bachelor degree, so the degree takes less time. Get the credit amount in writing before you enrol.
4. Graduate Certificate to Master's Some universities let you start with a Graduate Certificate and continue into a Master's degree.

When you apply from outside Australia, you can package courses on one Student visa if each clearly leads to the next. Gaps between courses must be under 2 calendar months, unless the break is the normal end-of-year holiday. The last course is your main course. From inside Australia, packaged courses are generally not allowed for applications lodged from 2 October 2026, so plan the full pathway before you leave home.

How to choose a course and provider

• Check the provider and the exact course on the CRICOS register, including the campus and the registered length.
• Choose a course that fits your past study and career plan. Your visa is assessed under the Genuine Student requirement.
• Compare total tuition for the whole course, not only the first semester. Read the written agreement and the refund policy before you pay.
• Check entry requirements, including the English score the provider needs, which can be higher than the visa minimum.
• Ask about credit for earlier study and get it in writing.
• Look at the location: city, regional area or Tasmania, cost of housing and part-time work.
• If you plan to stay after study, check the course length against the 485 study requirement of 92 CRICOS weeks.

A provider's visa evidence level has no connection to its teaching quality, so do not choose on that basis. Our popular courses guide shows the fields many students choose.

How we help

Our education counsellors help you compare courses, levels and providers, check CRICOS details and manage your admission and CoE through our education counselling service. Our registered migration agent advises on the Student visa and on how your course choice affects later visas. We also run PTE coaching if you need a higher English score. We explain our professional fees and give you a written estimate before any paid work starts.