Tertiary qualifications
If you don't know the difference between an advanced diploma and a degree, don’t worry. There is a structured framework of accredited qualifications in Australia, which will help you to understand.
Accredited courses undergo a government administered process of review, either directly through relevant authorities or indirectly through universities which are appointed 'self-accrediting' entities. An increasing number of courses have national accreditation, giving them recognition throughout Australia by industry and education bodies.
The Australian Qualifications Framework
The AQF includes qualifications in three main education sectors: the schools sector, Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector and higher education sector in a single framework, and provides guidelines about the links between them.
The accredited qualifications are shown below, grouped according to the sector in which they are most commonly issued.
|
Schools sector |
Vocational Education and Training sector (VET) |
Higher Education sector |
|
Senior Secondary Certificate
Note: Vocational |
Certificate I |
Diploma |
The AQF aims to:
- provide nationally consistent recognition of outcomes achieved in post-compulsory education;
- help with developing flexible pathways which assist people to move more easily between education and training sectors and between those sectors and the labour market by providing basis for recognition of prior learning, including credit transfer and experience;
- promote national and international recognition of qualifications offered in Australia.
Further information
Contact the Australian Qualifications Framework Advisory Board (AQFAB) Secretariat. PO Box 609, Carlton South VIC 3053 Ph: (03) 9639 1606 Fax: (03) 9639 1315 Email: aqfab@aqf.edu.au Web: www.aqf.edu.au
