Australia's education system was modeled on the British one. As it happened, this colonial heritage brought considerable advantages. Third place in the list of OECD member countries in terms of the population's education level; a university degree held by every third resident; 42 universities and more than 300 state-run colleges alone, with a population of just 20 million – these are the current real achievements in the educational sphere, allowing Australia to confidently push aside recognized leaders of the international education market.
For foreigners, studying at Australian schools, colleges, and universities looks attractive for many reasons. First, all educational institutions, both public and private, are under strict control of the Ministry of Education, which means that they adhere to accepted standards and guarantee high quality of educational services.
Second, the official language of Australia is English, which is gradually becoming a 'second native language' for students around the world today. Third, educational institutions of various types offer quite competitive prices – from 500 Australian dollars for a two-week English language course, from 8,000 for a year of study in undergraduate and graduate programs.
Fourth, the Australian climate is perceived by many as a resort. In the coldest month – July – the thermometer does not drop below 12 degrees (of course, plus, not minus!). Finally, the attitude towards foreigners is of considerable importance. After World War II, Australia's population increased by 6 million people through immigrants from all over the world. So today's student will find an atmosphere of tolerance for any national characteristics and will feel comfortable.
As we have already mentioned, the Australian education system copies the British model. The full cycle of secondary education includes 12 years of study and is divided into stages: Primary school (elementary), Junior school (lower secondary), and Senior school (upper secondary). The last two years (Year 11 and Year 12) are devoted to preparation for university.
Alongside public schools, which are the majority, there are also private ones – independent schools. Compared to other developed countries, the share of students attending Australia's 950 private schools is relatively high, at 11%. Many of them also operate as boarding schools. This is the type of secondary institution that foreign parents usually choose for their children.
An important component of Australia's education system is colleges offering vocational training programs designed for 1-2 years of study. From the perspective of a foreign student, the most interesting are colleges that have agreements with partner universities. Graduates of a number of programs get the opportunity to enter directly the second or even third year of the corresponding university, saving some money on tuition and, most importantly, starting to learn the secrets of their future profession right after school.
But of course, the majority of students from abroad come to Australia to obtain a full-fledged bachelor's or master's degree. Australian higher education diplomas are highly valued worldwide and serve as a reliable guarantee of successful employment. In recent years, 'double degree' programs have become especially popular, upon completion of which students have the opportunity to acquire not one but two specialties at once (for example, business and law, information technology and management, etc.). As in other countries, study is designed for 3-4 years for a bachelor's degree and 1-2 years for a master's degree.
Our account of Australia's education system would be unforgivably incomplete if we did not mention the sector of distance programs, which has reached perhaps the most advanced level in the world here. Suffice it to say that every tenth Australian student today gains knowledge without leaving home.
Specifically for foreigners aiming to enter Australian universities, there is the Foundation system – preparatory courses. For our students, it allows them to make up the missing year of the secondary school program, as well as improve their English and master a number of specialized subjects. True, with 'zero' English there is nothing to do on the Foundation program – the initial level must correspond to a score of 5-6 on the IELTS scale.
To score those very points, you can enroll in an English language course – fortunately, more than two hundred schools and centers offer them in Australia. Most of them are united in the association English Australia. Given the cost of the flight, it is economically advisable to opt for a fairly long program, although overall their range is very wide and includes various options – from 4 to 50 weeks. The 'menu' includes any configuration: general English, English for academic purposes, business English, and all sorts of courses like 'English plus...'.
Whatever program you choose and wherever you settle – in a university campus or a host family – you can be sure that throughout your stay under the generous sun of the Green Continent, you will be surrounded by friendly, communicative people ready to share with you not only their knowledge but also all the riches of their national culture.