Distance Education

A variety of Australian education and training programs are offered offshore. These programs allow you to obtain Australian qualifications in your own country or to combine study at home with study in Australia.

With over 80 years of experience, Australian institutions use leading-edge technologies and innovative approaches to deliver flexible learning programs that can be tailored to your needs. Where an Australian university offers courses at an offshore campus or through an agent, the institution will be expected to maintain standards at least equivalent to those provided in Australia and carry full responsibility for all aspects of delivery. However, it is important to know that Australian Government quality assurance measures can only extend to students who are in Australia and enrolled in a registered institution and course.

For December 1999–February 2000 there were almost 30,000 students visas issued offshore, representing an overall growth of just under 10 per cent on the same period last year. In fact, the number of visas issued offshore in January 2000 is the greatest monthly number ever.

Entry requirements

You should check with the institution of your choice about what courses are offered in distance mode and the entry requirements. You will probably need a Senior Secondary Certificate of Education (Year 12) or an equivalent certificate from another country for admission to undergraduate distance education in Australia. Admission into a distance education course is also possible by demonstrating maturity, motivation, work experience in a relevant area and through mature age special entrants’ schemes.

Distance education courses are delivered by public and private institutions in Australia. Here are some examples of the way distance education can be delivered to you:

• Courses taught in association with institutions in your country to ensure that they are appropriate to local conditions and adequately serviced by readily accessible staff
• Australian institutions having set-up regional study centres in other countries
• courses involving Australian lecturers and tutors providing short periods of face-to-face tuition
• Online interactive courses delivered via the Internet