University Courses

Study university courses in Australia

Universities in Australia

University in Australia is really a microcosm of institutions and courses that represent one of the main engines of the Australian economy.

In fact, Australia has 40 different Universities and some of the most prestigious institutions in the world.

Eight, in particular, are recognized for academic excellence and regarded as the eight best Universities in Australia (Monash University, University of Melbourne, The University of New South Wales, The University of Sydney, The University of Adelaide, The University of Western Australia, The Australian National University and The University of Queensland). These institutions are in fact referred to as ‘The Group of Eight’.

University lifestyle

Study in one of the most fascinating places on Earth. Nature, surf, metropolitan skylines, mix of cultures: Australia has got a lot to offer not just for your eyes, but also for your personal growth.
Study for migratory purposes

Getting an Australian degree would probably be a capstone within your overall migratory strategy.

How to get accepted

Each university can determine its own admission prerequisites for its study courses. The most prestigious Universities can have courses limited to a few dozen students per year, and the competition in those cases is very strong.

The specific criteria depend on the level of study and subject of interest. In terms of the minimum level of English, it starts with the Bachelor Degree, which requires an IELTS Academic certificate or its equivalent (such as the Pearson Test of English or TOEFEL).

Normally the entry level is 6.5 Academic, but depending on the subject, a 6 might be sufficient, or it might be necessary to get a higher level like 7.5 Academic (courses such as nursing and teaching require that kind of level of English).

Often the university requires a letter of intent in which the candidate is asked to attend and explain their reasons for choosing the specific course and how their future plans relate to their academic choices.

This letter becomes very important where places are limited and the admissions officer has to select on the basis of certain criteria.

Another criterion for selection used by Universities is the performance achieved in the student’s previous educational courses. For a Bachelor Degree, this refers to the results obtained in senior school, while for the Master’s Degree it is necessary to show the results for the previous degree, which in some cases must also be relevant to the subject of the chosen course.

Why study in Australia

There are many different reasons why a student decides to attend a University course in Australia rather than in Italy or Europe. Escaping the mundane is often one of the factors determining that choice: Australia is distant and fascinating, and being able to study literally on the other side of the world often proves to be a unique experience.

Obtaining a study qualification issued in English is also well appreciated by the big international businesses in Italy and Europe, which tend to look favourably upon students who have studied ‘abroad’.

However, sometimes, obtaining a study qualification in Australia can be part of a broader migratory sort of strategy. The only way in fact to get registered in the register of practising professionals of a particular profession is by obtaining the corresponding Australian qualification.

Degrees on offer

Bachelor’s Degree

These courses provide specific training, however, starting from a basic level to which anyone who has completed a secondary education path (such as our high schools) can access. The course lasts three or four years depending on the course in question, and the study periods are divided into semesters, at the end of which the final exams are taken, almost always of a written nature.

Bachelor’s with Honours

These are ‘boosted’ Bachelor’s degrees. The study load is generally greater and there is particular focus on research, which is later developed in detail if a Master’s degree is pursued.

Master’s by Research

The more classic study pathway is called the Master by Coursework and consists of face-to-face studies, in which there are lessons and exam periods which can be held during the year in the form of presentations or projects, or at the end of the year in the form of final written exams. These courses usually run for two years.

Master’s Degree

This type of Master’s leaves ample space for research by reducing lessons and face-to-face learning to a minimum. During the course, the student undertakes in-depth research

Doctor of Philosophy

Abbreviated to PhD, a Doctor of Philosophy is the highest level of education, conferring the title of ‘Dottore’. The candidate must develop a research thesis, present it and defend it before greater experts in the field. The PhD is the only course of studies that allows the candidate to work full-time while taking the course.