Education System in Australia

Australia has a global reputation for having one of the most excellent educational systems. Expatriates who are about to relocate in this country will be glad to know that their kids will learn in an environment where cultural diversity and equality are strongly valued by the teachers and the government. 

The age of mandatory education varies with every state but in general, Australia implements 13 years of compulsory schooling which usually starts from five or six years old until 15 or 17 years old. English is widely used in most schools in the country so even if an expat parent enrols his/her child to a public or local school, there is little worry about overcoming the language barrier. There are five main levels in the Australian educational system: 

• Preschool
• Primary Level
• Secondary Level (High school)
• Vocational
• Tertiary or University 

The academic year starts in February up to December where kids go to school from 9 am to 3 pm, Mondays to Fridays. The state students fund most public schools but students still need to cover some fees for extracurricular activities or uniforms. Parents are also strongly encouraged to work hand in hand with the teachers for the welfare of the students by taking part in the Parents-teachers association which is common in Australian schools. The Grading System is different in every state and school but expats can refer to the table below for reference. 

Foreign nationals who wish to attend universities in Australia should make sure that they have proper knowledge of spoken and written English. They must also secure a valid student visa and health insurance. Though international students are allowed to take up to 20 hours a week of a part-time job, they must make sure that they will be attending full-time courses. Other general requirements are a passport, birth certificate, medical exam and school records from previous academic institutions attended in the enrolee’s home country.