Information for Secondary Students

Tertiary Qualifications

If you don't know the difference between the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education and an advanced diploma, worry not. In this article you will find a comprehensive overview of all secondary and tertiary qualifications in Australia.

A qualification is the award granted upon completion of an accredited course of study at school, university, TAFE or a private education provider.

An accredited course is one that has undergone a government administered process of review, either directly through relevant state and territory 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 Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) provides a comprehensive, nationally consistent yet flexible framework for all qualifications in post-compulsory education and training. The framework was introduced Australia-wide on 1 January 1995.

The AQF connects the schools sector, vocational education and training sector and higher education sector in a single framework, listing the qualifications available in each sector, and providing guidelines about the links between them.

The twelve qualifications are shown below, grouped according to the sector in which they are most commonly issued.

It should be noted that vocational education and training is increasingly offered in the schools sector. Some certificate I-IV qualifications are also issued in the higher education sector and there is also a vocational education and training pathway to the graduate certificate and graduate diploma.

Schools sector

Senior Secondary Certificate of Education

Vocational Education & Training sector (VET)

Certificate I
Certifcate II
Certificate III
Certificate IV
Diploma
Advanced Diploma
Vocational Graduate Certificate
Vocational Graduate Diploma

Higher Education sector

Diploma
Advanced Diploma
Associate Degree
Bachelor Degree
Graduate Certificate
Graduate Diploma
Master Degree
Doctoral Degree

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;
• integrate and streamline the requirements of participating providers, employers and employees, individuals and interested organisations;
• offer flexibility to suit the diversity of purposes of education and training;
• encourage individuals to progress through education and training by improving access to qualifications, clearly defining avenues for achievement, and generally contributing to lifelong learning;
• encourage the provision of more and higher quality vocational education and training through qualifications that meet individual, workplace and vocational needs, thus contributing to national economic performance; and
• 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: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Web site visit at: www.aqf.edu.au

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