Australia is not just a centre for tourist attraction but also it is an education hub. The last reported figure of international students who chose Australia for their higher studies was around 175,000 and the numbers are constantly increasing. The quality of education combined with a right infrastructure and ample job opportunities makes Australia a right choice. There are about 1200 institutes that provide a total of 22,000 courses so you will never run out of choices. The cherry on the top of the cake is that you can start at any level. Yes, you read that right! Australian Education System provides education opportunities to international students’ right from the primary and secondary school level going up to college studies, research work and also includes vocational training and education. The vocational training basically prepares one for the real life challenges that will be faced in the future job.
There are basically two types of tertiary education programs that are available to students in Australia. These are the ones that are provided by universities and the others are provided by mostly private route like institutions, private training providers and industry education through vocational training and education. As an international student, you must ensure that the course chosen by you is registered on Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). CRICOS makes sure the courses are of high standards and provide some value to the learner.
As an international student must also be very careful and not get trapped by some false promises of education providers. This is your responsibility to make sure the education institution you have chosen is equipped in providing the course of your choice. There are many laws and databases as well that help you in this.
The Australian laws are also pretty stringent in terms of protecting the international students. Laws like The Education Services for Overseas Students ESOS Act 2000, National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007 (National Code) among many others have been put in place to safeguard the interests of international students. These make sure the education standards are made consistent across states and universities and the providers of education and training provide the right skill set to individuals. Apart from these, there are many regulations and quality assurance that students should seek. ESOS Act and National Code can be looked upon for finding out more.
