About Australia

Australia has more than 12,000 higher educational institutions with 22,000 courses that vary from vocational training courses, English Language Training to University courses at undergraduate and graduate levels. Around 22 Australian universities are represented in the World’s top 500 universities. What more? Australia has welcomed international students for more than 60 years, many of whom have become Ministers, leading business people, researchers, scientists, medical practitioners and community leaders all around the world.

As an international student on a student visa, you must study with an institution and in a course that is registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). CRICOS registration guarantees that the course and the institution at which you study meet the high standards expected by international students. You can search for courses and institutions here on the Study in Australia website.

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    Australia at a Glance

    Australia offers a diverse range of study options for international students, with more than 1,200 institutions and over 22,000 courses to choose from.

    You can study at all levels of education from primary and secondary school, to vocational education and training (VET), from English language courses to higher education (including universities).

    The Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000(opens in a new window) and the National Code of Practice(opens in a new window) for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2007 (National Code) provide nationally consistent standards for providers of education and training for international students.

    Along with the ESOS Act and National Code, there are also regulatory and quality assurance organisations for higher education and VET institutions. These government organisations are responsible for registration/re-registration of institutions and accreditation/re-accreditation of courses. These organisations are:
    Higher Education – Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)(opens in a new window)

    VET – Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)(opens in a new window)
    So no matter the type of course you want to study, how long you want to study for or where you want to study, you can be assured that in Australia you will have a high quality and rewarding study experience.

    Why Study in Australia?

    Australia has the third highest number of international students in the world behind only the United Kingdom and the United States despite having a population of only 23 million? This isn’t surprising when you consider Australia has seven of the top 100 universities in the world! In fact, with over 22,000 courses across 1,100 institutions, Australia sits above the likes of Germany, the Netherlands and Japan, ranking eighth in the Universitas 2012 U21 Ranking of National Higher Education Systems.

    These are strong academic credentials, but our institutions are just as highly rated as the cities that house them around the country. Australia has five of the 30 best cities in the world for students based on student mix, affordability, quality of life, and employer activity – all important elements for students when choosing the best study destination. And with more than A$200 million provided by the Australian Government each year in international scholarships, we’re making it easier for you to come and experience the difference an Australian education can make to your future career opportunities.

    Do you have a specific study area of interest? There is every chance Australia has you covered, with at least one Australian university in the top 50 worldwide across the study areas of Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Life & Agricultural Sciences, Clinical Medicine & Pharmacy, and Physics.

    Given this impressive education pedigree, it’s not surprising there are now more than 2.5 million former international students who have gone on to make a difference after studying in Australia. Some of these students are among the world’s finest minds. In fact, Australia has produced 15 Nobel prize laureates and every day over 1 billion people around the world rely on Australian discoveries and innovations – including penicillin, IVF, ultrasound, Wi-Fi, the Bionic Ear, cervical cancer vaccine and Black Box Flight Recorders – to make their lives, and the lives of others, better.