School education (Primary and Secondary)
School education is similar across all of Australia with only minor variations between states and territories. School education (primary and secondary) is compulsory between the ages of six and sixteen (Year 1 to Year 9 or 10). School education is 13 years and divided into:
- Primary school – Runs for seven or eight years, starting at Kindergarten/Preparatory through to Year 6 or 7.
- Secondary school – Runs for three or four years, from Years 7 to 10 or 8 to 10.
- Tertiary education in Australia is different from other countries and includes both higher education (including universities) and vocational education and training (VET).
Higher education:
The Australian higher education system consists of independent, self-governing public and private universities and higher education institutions that award higher education qualifications. There are 38 public universities and 3 private universities in Australia.
A higher education provider is either a:
- University
- Self-accrediting provider, or
- Non self-accrediting provider.