Education system Australi a described and compared with the Dutch system Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Australia This document contains information on the education system of Australia. We explain the Dutch equivalent of the most common qualifications from Australia for the purpose of admission to Dutch higher education. Disclaimer We assemble the information for these descriptions of education systems with the greatest care. However, we cannot be held responsible for the consequences of errors or incomplete information in this document. With the exception of images and illustrations, the content of this publication is subject to the Creative Commons Name NonCommercial 3.0 Unported licence. Visit www.nuffic.nl/en/home/copyright for more information on the reuse of this publication. Education system Australia | Nuffic | 2nd edition, February 2011 | version 3, May 2018 2 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Australia Education system Australia Doctor of Philosophy L8 (PhD) 2-4 Master L7 (university education) 1-2 Bachelor honours L6 Graduate diploma L6 (university education) (higher professional education) 1 1 postgraduate Ordinary bachelor L6 Advanced diploma L5 Diploma L5 (university education) (higher professional education) (higher professional education) 3-4 2 1 undergraduate Secondary school certificate diploma L3 (senior secondary general education) 2 Lower secondary education L2 (junior secondary education) 3-4 Primary education L1 (primary education) 6-7 0 Duration of education Education system Australia | Nuffic | 2nd edition, February 2011 | version 3, May 2018 3 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Australia Australian Qualification Framework Source: Australian Qualifications Framework, Second Edition (p. 18) Education system Australia | Nuffic | 2nd edition, February 2011 | version 3, May 2018 4 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Australia Evaluation chart The left-hand column in the table below lists the most common foreign qualifications with corresponding levels in the national qualifications framework. The other columns show the Dutch equivalent along with the corresponding levels in the Dutch and European qualifications frameworks. Degree or qualification and AQF level Dutch equivalent and NLQF level EQF level Higher School Certificate/ - HAVO diploma*, in 4 4 Queensland Certificate of combination with an Education/South Australian ATAR score between 60 Certificate of Education/ and 85 or an OP Qualifications Certificate between 17 and 8 or Tasmanian Certificate of VWO diploma*, in 4+ 4 Education/Victorian Certificate combination with an of Education/Western Australian ATAR score exceeding Certificate of Education/ACT 85 or an OP below 8 Year 12 Certificate/Northern Territory Certificate of Education Diplomas/advanced diplomas 5/6 1 to 2 years of HBO 5 5 (at higher education level) Graduate diplomas 8 Post-HBO diploma 7 7 (1 to 2 years) Bachelor’s degree 7 HBO or WO bachelor’s 6 6 degree Honours Bachelor’s degree 8 In most cases WO 6 6 bachelor’s degree Master’s degree 9 HBO or WO master’s 7 7 degree * The evaluation has been changed compared to previous version. Please note: • The information provided in the table is a general recommendation from which no rights may be derived. • AQF = Australian Qualifications Framework. NLQF = Dutch Qualifications Framework. EQF = European Qualifications Framework. • The EQF/NLQF level is not so much a reflection of study load or content; rather, it is an indication of a person’s knowledge and skills after having completed a certain programme of study. Education system Australia | Nuffic | 2nd edition, February 2011 | version 3, May 2018 5 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Australia • Information about Dutch equivalent qualifications can be found on our website: the Dutch education system. • The Cooperation Organisation for Vocational Education, Training and the Labour Market (SBB), evaluates statements on foreign qualifications and training at VMBO and MBO level. The evaluation may vary if SBB evaluates the diploma for admission to VET schools or the labour market in the Netherlands. Education system Australia | Nuffic | 2nd edition, February 2011 | version 3, May 2018 6 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Australia Introduction The Commonwealth of Australia includes the entire Australian continent including the island of Tasmania and has a population of around 21 million. Australia has been a nation of immigrants since its very beginnings. Twenty-three per cent of the population was born overseas, and at least 27% of the inhabitants have at least one parent from another country. The vast majority of immigrants are of European descent, although recent decades have seen an influx of immigrants from Asian countries. Australia is divided into 6 states (New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmania and Victoria) and 2 territories (the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory), and has 3 levels of government: federal, state/territorial and local. In Australia, the state/territorial and federal authorities are jointly responsible for education. The responsibility for general funding and coordination of education lies with the federal government (Department of Education and Training), whereas the budgeting for individual schools is left to the states/territories. National education targets are formulated in joint consultation. The states and territories all have their own department of education that is responsible for government-funded primary and secondary schools (see Useful links). The education departments formulate their own policy with regard to school organization, curricula (including approval), student/teacher assessment, certificates, distance education, special education, admission of international students and allocation of resources and project coordination. In 1995, the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) was introduced for all post- compulsory education (starting at approximately 15 or 16 years of age). The AQF distinguishes between 3 different education sectors: the Schools Sector, the Vocational Education and Training Sector and the Higher Education Sector. An important goal of the AQF is to facilitate mobility between the various sectors (flexible pathways), and to promote the recognition of a variety of types of working and learning. Education is compulsory for children aged 6-16. The official language of instruction is English. The academic year for secondary and higher education in Australia coincides with the calendar year, starting in January/February, and ending in November/ December. Education system Australia | Nuffic | 2nd edition, February 2011 | version 3, May 2018 7 Education system | Evaluation chart Education system Australia Secondary education Secondary education in Australia lasts 5 or 6 years depending on the state or territory, and follows either 7 or 6 years of primary school, depending on the location. Pupils who finish secondary school have therefore completed a total of 12 years of primary and secondary school. Secondary school starts in Year 6 or Year 7, and consists of 2 stages: • secondary school, finishing with Year 10; • senior secondary school, made up of Year 11 and Year 12. The subjects taken in the first 2 years are general in nature and compulsory for all pupils. Pupils must take at least 6 subjects per school term. The core subjects include English, mathematics, physics, social studies, the environment, foreign language, technology and creative subjects. A certificate is only awarded after Year 10 in New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory, called the ‘School Certificate’ in NSW, and the ‘ACT Year 10 Certificate’ in the ACT. The last 2 years of secondary school (Year 11 and Year 12) are crucial in determining students’ chances for admission to higher education. Pupils can take a vocationally-oriented, general or pre-university curriculum, depending on their individual talent and ambitions. The terminology used, the manner of expressing the study load of individual subjects and assessment systems differ between states/territories, making a detailed description of each system impossible here. In many cases, the statement of results that comes with the certificate provides an explanation of the system used. Moreover, much information on this topic is available online (see Useful links). Pre-university education provides pupils with a programme that treats the material in greater detail, preparing them for the higher education study programme of their choice. Pupils usually choose subjects that correspond to the tertiary study programme. Final grades are determined by school examinations (among other criteria), however most states also use some form of external assessment (state-wide examinations or external government supervision). Students have a lot of freedom in choosing the subjects and level of difficulty of their curriculum. Language courses for example are offered on different levels. The names of the language courses differ per state. For example beginners/continuers/background speakers of first language/second language or extension. For the subject mathematics the same variation exists, for example Math B, Math C or Math specialist. For the other subjects the level of difficulty becomes clear in the type of subject, for example Education system Australia | Nuffic | 2nd edition, February 2011 | version 3, May 2018 8 Education system | Evaluation