Top Courses in Australia after Graduation
Australia is the place to go for international graduates looking to continue their education. Whether you are a fresh graduate outside of Australia, or just completed an Australian degree, you can consider courses in Australia after graduation for multiple reasons. The world-class education system in Australia caters to the goals and ambitions of over 700,000 international students a year. These include a range of options for upskilling and reskilling for your career or pursuing academia and research. Below, we take a closer look at some of these programs.
Continuing Education After Graduation
Australian universities offer a variety of courses you can choose from depending on your goals after graduation. Many opt to continue after their bachelor’s program with credit-bearing postgraduate degrees. Australian universities also offer professional and continuing education (PACE) programs. These programs help you pick up career-relevant skills and advance in your scope of work. Professional certificates, short courses, or diplomas are also options for recent graduates!
Some of the promising pathways you should consider as a graduate looking to study in Australia are:
Professional Certificates
Australian universities offer great professional certificates. These are excellent opportunities to upskill within or reskill for your career. The courses tend to be short, highly specialist programs, with a focus on skill development. They may go in-depth into a specific skill such as a programming language, graphic design, or contract management.
As these programs align with specific job sectors and roles, their key objectives involve preparing you for relevant jobs with the right qualifications. Professional certificates are a great option if you are thinking of cracking into a different career field or polishing your skillset in your current field to access a broader range of opportunities. The certificate you will earn will attest to your skills when applying for future jobs.
Postgraduate Degrees
Master’s or doctoral degrees are popular choices among students looking into courses in Australia after graduation. In 2023 alone, more than 300,000 students in Australia opted for the postgraduate route. An Australian postgraduate degree gives you an edge in both academia and the job market. As you deepen your expertise, knowledge, and specialization in a particular field, you can enjoy a range of benefits, such as:
• Higher salary brackets
• Promotional opportunities
• Career change options
• Working while studying
And if you need more convincing, Australia is home to some of the best postgraduate programs in the world. This translates into incredible graduate outcomes, with postgraduate students having an employment success rate of over 93%!
If you are hoping to pursue academia, a master’s in research or a doctoral degree in Australia can jumpstart your career. Australian universities, especially the Group of Eight (Go8) institutions, have a global reputation for world-class research. Postgraduate degrees also help you build a network of the foremost experts, scholars, and professionals in your field.
Top fields to pursue a postgraduate degree in Australia include:
● Computer Science & Information Technology
● Health, Medicine & Psychology
● Social Sciences
● Business, Management & Entrepreneurship
● Engineering, Automation, and Technology
Professional & Continuing Education Programs
Australian universities are very popular among global prospects looking into programs after graduation. One of the reasons for this popularity is the abundance of professional education programs. Many of the country’s top universities offer Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) programs to acquaint you with industry and launch your career.
Many of the growth sectors in Australia line up with the country’s most popular programs for higher education. The Australian government and job sectors are keen to integrate qualified graduates into the workforce, specifically to address the country’s skill shortages.
Australian universities encourage the connection between industry and education by developing programs that address these needs. Enrolling in one of these professional education programs is a great option if you’re looking for courses in Australia after graduation. These are custom-built programs with the goal of getting you career-ready for the country’s thriving job market.
Some of the popular Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) program providers in Australia include:
Australian National University
The Australian National University (ANU) ranks at #34 on the QS World University Rankings. Calling Canberra, the capital of Australia, its home, ANU is a member of the Go8 universities and the only Australian member of the International Alliance of Research universities. According to Times Higher Education, ANU is the most international university in Australia. Here are some of the options for courses in Australia after graduation that you can consider at ANU:
Community Courses
ANU has been offering short community courses for more than 50 years. This tradition continues until today, with offerings ranging from languages to visual art, history and philosophy.
Executive Short Courses
ANU Colleges tailor Executive Short Courses for both public and private sector professionals. Industry experts and distinguished academics lead these courses, bringing in their specialist insight and business acumen to the programs.
Courses you can check out right now include:
● Decoding AI through cybernetics
● Healthcare equity in low-resource settings
● Transforming complex systems through cybernetics
Micro-Credentials
Micro-credentials are short, focused programs you can opt for to target a specific skill or qualification. As the name suggests, these are credentials that complement or supplement your main qualifications. For example, as a data scientist, you might want to take up some micro-credentials to learn a new programming language.
ANU micro-credential programs incorporate both synchronous (real-time) and asynchronous (self-paced) elements. Depending on the micro-credential programs, they can be entirely online, blended, or in person.
ANU schools offering micro-credentials in areas including:
● Arts and Social Science
● Asia and the Pacific
● Science
University of Adelaide
The University of Adelaide is one of the top 100 ranking universities in the world. AU, as the university also goes by, instructs around 29,000 students, many of whom are international. The university offers a variety of programs, with 24 subjects ranking among the top 100 globally. These include some of the best courses in Australia after graduation for continuing education!
Short Courses
The University of Adelaide offers the following short courses as a part of its Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) program:
● Project Management Essentials
● Speak with Impact
● Emotional Intelligence at Work
● Report Writing
● Leading and Managing People
University of Technology Sydney
The University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) sees over 45,000 students across its campuses, from over 120 countries. UTS ranks among the top 100 universities in the world, according to QS World University Rankings. It is a QS 5+ Star holding university, with a perfect score across multiple categories, including:
• Teaching
• Employability
• Global Engagement
• Innovation & Knowledge Transfer
• Subjects
• Research
Some of UTS’ programs for continuing education include:
Micro-Credentials
Courses in Australia after graduation to consider include UTS’ excellent micro-credentials across its different faculties. These short programs help you upskill, deepening your specialist knowledge and skill in the field, and access recognition, industry connection, and more. Some of the micro-credentials UTS is offering currently include:
● Leading in Local Government
● Digital and Social Media Marketing
● Sustainable Finance
Short Courses
UTS also offers some excellent short courses. These courses can last between a couple of days to a couple of weeks, depending on the qualification. Your facilitator will be an industry expert in the field, giving you a thorough crash course in an industry-relevant skill.
Some of the short courses you can explore at UTS include:
● Development Assessment
● Advanced Building Regulation
● Bar Preparation Program
Victoria University
Victoria University (VU) in Melbourne ranks among the top 2% of universities globally. It is known for its innovative Block Model style of learning, revolutionizing education delivery since 2018. VU has over 40,000 students across multiple campuses. The university’s commitment to practical learning is reflected in its 4,000+ industry partnerships and globally recognized courses! These include some of the best courses in Australia after graduation.
Micro-Credentials
Micro-credential short courses on offer at VU include:
● Introduction to Project Management
● Introduction to Coaching and Mentoring Skills
● Communicate with Influence
● Welding for Beginners
University of Western Australia
The University of Western Australia, in Perth, is the 72nd ranking global university, according to QS World University Rankings. The UWA has a thriving alumni community of more than 145,000 students. Students from the UWA graduate to become among the most distinguished in their fields. The University of Western Australia is one of the research leaders among Australia’s Group of Eight (Go8).
UWA Plus Micro-Credentials
UWA Plus Micro-Credentials are short and affordable, while also allowing you to build up your professional competencies and expand your career opportunities.
Some of the courses currently available include:
● Integrated Einsteinian Science for School Teachers
● Advanced Strength and Conditioning for Sport Performance
● Using R: Environmental and Agricultural Applications
● Autism Assessment and Diagnosis
● Tailings Management
Student Visas for Continuing Education
The main visa option available to you when pursuing courses in Australia after graduation is the Subclass 500 visa. However, if you are enrolling in a short course program, you may be eligible for a different visa.
Student Visa (Subclass 500)
The Subclass 500 student visa allows you to live, study and work in Australia for the duration of your program. Types of education you can pursue with this student visa include:
● Postgraduate research programs
● Higher education
● Vocational and Education Training (VET)
● English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS)
● Secondary school exchange programs
You can stay in Australia for the duration of your course up to five years with a student visa. The duration in your case would depend on the length of your program. If you are planning on continuing education in Australia, here are your options:
Course Packaging
You have the option to get one visa for back-to-back courses in a combined enrolment offer. For example, you can enroll in a foundation program and consequently a bachelor’s degree together, and will need only one visa. This visa will apply for the combined duration of these programs.
Re-Applying After Completion
You also have the option to re-apply for the student visa after your current program. In other words, you can finish a course, enroll in a new one and extend your stay with another visa.
Visitor Visa (Subclass 600)
You can study for a maximum of three months with a visitor visa. This is perfect for taking shorter courses or applying for a longer-term study visa for courses in Australia after graduation. To be eligible, you must:
● Meet health and character criteria
● Show proof of financial solvency for your stay
Training Visa (Subclass 407)
The training visa lets you do workplace training in Australia for up to two years. You can improve your skills for your job or studies, or join training programs in the country. Additionally, it lets you participate in professional development training programs in Australia.
Work and Holiday Visa (Subclass 462) / Working Holiday Visa (Subclass 417)
You can take short courses of up to 4 months with these visas. To be eligible, you need:
● A valid passport
● To be 18-35 years old
● Proof of financial solvency for your stay
Rounding Up
Considering continuing education in Australia opens up many great options. For starters, you will find plenty of options among courses in Australia after graduation. The diversity of postgraduate courses from world-ranking universities set you up for success. You can also enroll in professional certificate programs or professional short courses. Micro-credentials are also something to consider as a means to keep upskilling and reskilling your existing qualifications and skill sets.
