PDF with detailed information

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Education system Australia‌ (497.62 kB)

Overview of Australian diplomas

In the overview below you can find the level of Australian diplomas. You cannot derive any rights from it.

Working in the Netherlands

Do you want to know if you can work in the Netherlands with a certain Australian diploma? Go to Working in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma.

Studying in the Netherlands

Do you want to know if you can study in the Netherlands with your Australian diploma? Go to Studying in the Netherlands with a foreign diploma.

Higher School Certificate

  • Comparable to: a HAVO or VWO diploma (NLQF 4/4+/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 5 or 6 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education, if a good TES (Tertiary Entrance Score) is obtained.

Queensland Certificate of Education

  • Comparable to: a HAVO or VWO diploma (NLQF 4/4+/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 5 or 6 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education, if a good TES (Tertiary Entrance Score) is obtained.

South Australian Certificate of Education

  • Comparable to: a HAVO or VWO diploma (NLQF 4/4+/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 5 or 6 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education, if a good TES (Tertiary Entrance Score) is obtained.

Qualifications Certificate or Tasmanian Certificate of Education

  • Comparable to: a HAVO or VWO diploma (NLQF 4/4+/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 5 or 6 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education, if a good TES (Tertiary Entrance Score) is obtained.

Victorian Certificate of Education

  • Comparable to: a HAVO or VWO diploma (NLQF 4/4+/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 5 or 6 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education, if a good TES (Tertiary Entrance Score) is obtained.

Western Australian Certificate of Education

  • Comparable to: a HAVO or VWO diploma (NLQF 4/4+/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 5 or 6 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education, if a good TES (Tertiary Entrance Score) is obtained.

ACT Year 12 Certificate

  • Comparable to: a HAVO or VWO diploma (NLQF 4/4+/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 5 or 6 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education, if a good TES (Tertiary Entrance Score) is obtained.

Northern Territory Certificate of Education

  • Comparable to: a HAVO or VWO diploma (NLQF 4/4+/EQF 4).
  • Duration of schooling: 5 or 6 years.
  • Type of education: general secondary education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to higher education, if a good TES (Tertiary Entrance Score) is obtained.

Diploma (Higher Professional Education)

  • Dutch comparison: 1 to 2 years HBO (NLQF 5/EQF 5).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 to 2 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to further study of the 1st cycle in higher professional education (Advanced Diploma).

Advanced Diploma (Higher Professional Education)

  • Comparable to: 1 to 2 years HBO (NLQF 5/EQF 5).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 to 2 years.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to university bachelor, sometimes with exemptions.

Bachelor (ordinary)

  • Comparable to: an HBO or a WO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 3 to 4 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to further study of the 2nd cycle in higher education (Honours year, Master or Graduate Diploma).

Bachelor (honours)

  • Comparable to: a WO bachelor’s degree in most cases, sometimes an HBO bachelor’s degree (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 year.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to the university Master or to doctorate programmes, if a First or Second Class Honours degree is obtained.

Graduate Diploma

  • Comparable to: a post HBO diploma (NLQF 6/EQF 6).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 year.
  • Type of education: higher professional education.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to the university Master.

Master

  • Comparable to: an HBO or a WO master’s degree (NLQF 7/EQF 7).
  • Duration of schooling: 1 to 2 years.
  • Type of education: professional or research-oriented.
  • Purpose of diploma: admission to doctorate programmes.