All the Pros
Educational institutions in Australia and New Zealand were modeled on the British system. And today the education system in this southern region retains many British features. For our applicants who want to get higher education there, this means that, as in Britain, our school certificate is not enough for admission (although there are exceptions) — you must also complete a preparatory program like Foundation.
Australian and New Zealand education is highly rated worldwide; diplomas do not need to be confirmed or proven; they are recognized by employers without further ado. Among the graduates of Australian universities are Nobel laureates, which is certainly further confirmation of the high quality of education. Almost all Australian universities are public. This means that curricula and teaching quality are under state control. In New Zealand, education is also considered a matter of national importance and considerable funds are allocated for the development of this sector.
Another plus is the best price-quality ratio in the English-speaking world (for long-term programs). A year of study will cost 15-20% less than at a European or American institution. Housing prices and living expenses are also significantly lower. In addition, special services for foreigners have been created to help them adapt more quickly to their new life.
Australian and New Zealand universities offer programs in a wide variety of fields and specializations. Computer technology, engineering sciences, agricultural specialties, and all areas of business are highly developed and popular.
The opportunity for legal part-time work offers foreign students not only financial support but also, in some cases, a successful start to a career. Provided, of course, that they do not waste time on constant unskilled labor.
It should not be forgotten that Australia and New Zealand are countries with an open immigration policy. For foreign university graduates, this means the following: they receive a six-month work visa and the right to employment. Those with skills in shortage (a list of which is available both at educational institutions and immigration services of these countries; you can also consult with educational agencies working with these countries) have especially high chances of finding a promising and well-paid specialty. The attractiveness of Australia and New Zealand also lies in the fact that they are friendly to foreigners, and the level of safety is among the highest in the world. The climate here is mild and warm, and New Zealand is also famous for its uniquely clean environment and rich natural resources.
Australian Loopholes into University
In Australia, Foundation has long been a serious sector of the educational business. Of the 37 Australian universities, five have their own preparatory courses. In addition, such courses are organized at private colleges, secondary schools, and institutes of technical and further education (TAFE). The cost of these programs varies from 6,000 to 12,000 Australian dollars.
Completion of most Australian pre-university preparation programs, such as the International Education Services Ltd program at Queensland University, guarantees enrollment in the first year.
As in other countries, some Australian programs allow admission to only one university, while others allow applications to several universities at once. The latter includes, in particular, the Unilearn course, which is accredited by twenty universities simultaneously. Each type of program has its advantages: for example, a "multi-purpose course" is good because it provides greater freedom of choice. At the same time, a program oriented to only one university helps the applicant to be better prepared for studies there. After all, they are coached in subjects based on specific admission requirements. Moreover, if the courses are taught on a university campus, future students get to know the university's infrastructure, its academic buildings, library, as well as the traditions and features of student life in advance. Such a program is offered, in particular, by the well-known Melbourne university Monash University, more precisely, by its preparatory department MUFU. The structure of study here is as follows: English is compulsory, and from the remaining subjects, students choose three or four according to their future specialty. The choice of subjects is wide: accounting, biology, chemistry, computer science, economics, geography, fine arts, history, music, physics, etc.
Interestingly, at MUFU, and at other Australian Foundation programs, not only foreigners study (who, it would seem, are the primary target of these programs), but also young Australians. The fact is that 12-year school education assumes that the last, twelfth year of study is the preparatory year for university admission. But older "lads" aged 18-19 prefer not to wear out their jeans on school benches but instead enroll in preparatory departments, thereby changing their status from schoolboy to "almost a student," which is more fitting for a nearly adult person. And the main thing is that with such preparation, admission to the first year is guaranteed. Thus, a foreigner studying on a Foundation program is not limited to a circle of fellow "itinerants" but has the opportunity from the very beginning to get to know the character of the local residents.
Australian preparatory programs are divided into three types depending on duration: Express, Standard, and Extended. Which one to choose primarily depends on your knowledge of English.
In addition to Foundation programs, preparatory institutes and colleges at Australian universities also offer full diploma programs. Strictly speaking, they are not just preparatory – after completing them, you can work in your field. But you can also continue your studies, entering directly into the second year of university. Such programs typically last two years, though there are exceptions. For instance, at the aforementioned Monash University, the largest and most popular faculties are the Faculty of Business and Economics and the Faculty of Information Technology and Computer Science. For those eager to become students of these faculties, there is a fast track: if after the 11th grade a student enrolls in the Monash College, which operates under the university, they can complete a preparatory program within 12 months and enter directly into the second year. For the most impatient, a nine-month program is also available. The preparatory course is so intensive that it is considered equivalent to the 12th grade plus the first year of university.
Similar programs have been established at some other Australian universities, for example at Sydney's Macquarie University. Here, the SIBT college – the Sydney Institute of Business and Technology – operates. Despite its name, the institute, located on the university campus, offers a wide range of specializations, from commerce and management to humanities and information technology. After one year, graduates receive a diploma that allows them to jump directly into the second year of Macquarie University.
A preparatory program is also available at the University of Sydney, one of the oldest and best in the country. It is taught not at the university itself, but at the Taylors College preparatory college, and includes classes in the required subjects. These are English with an in-depth study of specialized vocabulary in core disciplines (medicine, mathematics, physics, biology, chemistry, etc.), a compulsory information technology course for all, as well as Australian culture and history. In addition, the program includes a subject cycle in one of the areas of specialization: natural sciences and engineering; medicine; humanities and media; commerce and economics; and music. Taylors College also offers programs for admission to other Australian universities. And not only Australian, but also New Zealand ones. The college has branches in Perth, Melbourne, and Sydney (Australia), as well as in Auckland (New Zealand). At this New Zealand branch, based at the University of Auckland, the TOFY (Taylors Auckland Foundation Year) program is taught. Graduates can enter any university in either Australia or New Zealand. The program includes English (with an international exam) and four elective general education subjects. The certificate awarded upon completion of the 40-week course guarantees university admission.
Education in the Land of the Kiwi
New Zealand's education system is similar to Australia's, and the admission requirements for universities in the two countries largely coincide, if not completely. Nevertheless, to prepare for admission to a New Zealand university, you should, of course, do so within the Land of the Kiwi itself. Recall that there are six universities on these blessed islands, and to gain admission, foreigners with a non-convertible diploma must complete a preparatory course. There are plenty of preparatory programs for international students here as well. However, as in Australia, these pre-university programs also attract many local applicants.
For example, the educational institutions belonging to the Academic College Group (ACG) are very popular among local and international applicants. These include a language school, a secondary school, an institute, and the Foundation programs for university admission that interest us, which our applicants can also enter. The ACG preparatory course lasts only eight months, while at other institutions the course is a full trimester longer. Successful completion of the Foundation guarantees admission to three of New Zealand's largest universities: the University of Auckland, Auckland University of Technology, and Victoria University of Wellington.
Preparatory departments are also open at other universities – Massey, Otago, and Waikato. The programs are typically designed for one year of study and have similar content: students study several academic disciplines of their choice, acquire skills necessary for university studies (essay writing, effective information search methods, etc.), and, of course, study the English language. The choice of subjects is determined by the future specialization – for example, those planning to enter a natural sciences faculty will choose physics and mathematics; humanities students, accordingly, history and literature, etc. Upon completion of the Foundation program, students receive a Certificate of University Preparation (CUP). This gives them the right to enter university on equal terms with New Zealanders.
What is required to enroll in an Australian or New Zealand Foundation program? Quite a bit. First, you need to provide a secondary school certificate. Second, you must pass an English language exam. The requirements are not too high – approximately 5–5.5 points on the IELTS. So, dear applicants, study the language.
* Exceptionally gifted applicants with excellent grades and good English skills may be eligible for direct entry into an Australian or New Zealand university without completing a special pre-university preparatory program.
* After studying for one year in a diploma (not preparatory!) program at one of the ACG Business School colleges or business schools, you can automatically transfer to the second year of a university in a similar specialization. You save a whole year. Here is a list of universities that recognize the ACG diploma – Auckland University of Technology, Victoria University of Wellington, Massey University, La Trobe University, University of Adelaide.
* Another similar option is to enroll after our school in the Russo College (Australia) program and obtain a bachelor's degree from partner university James Cook University in three years. The offered specializations: business, information technology, tourism, marketing, human resource management.