If you’re thinking about continuing with your education, there are a wide range of tertiary studies you can choose from and each one will allow you to focus on gaining specific qualifications for a position in your chosen career. The different levels are ordered in a hierarchy and can be accessed through university, TAFE and college.
TAFE and college provide a range of vocational certificates and diplomas, which can later allow you to transfer into uni if you don’t enrol straight after high school. Here’s a basic breakdown:
Certificate I, II,III and IV are made of a semester or full year of study at either TAFE or college. These courses allow you to gain basic qualifications within your chosen field and can transfer into credits if you choose to enrol at university later.
TAFE and college also offer Diploma and Advanced Diploma (generally one year courses), which can be studied after the Certificate qualification. These also make up uni credits through the transfer program.
For more info onhow to enrol at uni through tafe/college, follow this link https://www.tafensw.edu.au/career/pathways/tafe_to_university.htm
When you enrol in university for the first time, you will do an Undergraduate degree. The most common type of Undergraduate degree is the Bachelor Degree, which is three or four years long. It is the basic qualification for entry into many professional occupations and focuses on theory and principles learning within a specific area of study. You can also undertake a fourth (or sometimes fifth) year called Honours, which focuses on personal research into your field of expertise. It is generally reserved for the highest achieving students and there is an application process to enrol. Each university differs, so you should check out their website for more details.
Uni also offers an Associate Degree, which is a shorter type of Undergraduate degree focusing on a balance of practical (skills) and theory components.
Students can enrol in an Undergraduate degree after completing their HSC (through ATAR or other criteria) or through a college or TAFE credit transfer program (after doing a Certificate and/or Diploma).
For more info on the different levels of qualifications, visit http://www.goingtouni.gov.au/Main/CoursesAndProviders/GettingStarted/QualificationsAndFieldsOfEducation/GettingQualifications.htm