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Your education journey

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Education Providers

Geelong is fortunate to have so many quality educational institutions that are registered with the Government to offer courses to international students. Whatever stage you are on your educational journey there are many options to choose from.

  • Private Higher Education College

    Private Higher Education College

    Providing higher education for post-secondary students, qualifications range from certificates to bachelor degrees. Marcus Oldham College graduates commence careers in agriculture or para-professional roles. Deakin College students pathway into the second year of Deakin bachelor degrees.

  • TAFE

    TAFE

    Providing vocational training that focuses on hands-on learning, qualifications offered include certificates, through to advanced diplomas, as well as apprenticeships and traineeships. Graduate students commence careers in trades or para-professional roles, or pathway to university.

  • University

    University

    Providing higher education for post-secondary students, qualifications range from bachelor degrees to post graduate doctoral degrees. Graduates are highly skilled to work in a diverse range of academic, professional and research roles.

Australian Qualifications Framework

The Australian education system is a national policy that covers qualifications from the tertiary education sector (higher education and vocational education and training) in addition to the school-leaving certificate; the Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. This is known as the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)

The AQF has 10 levels and links school, vocational and university education qualifications into one national system. This allows you to move easily from one level of study to the next, and from one institution to another, as long as you satisfy student visa requirements. It allows for choice and flexibility in career planning. All qualifications in the AQF help prepare you for both further study and your working life.

Our institutions are linked across the country and across the world, which makes it easy to move throughout the education system between courses or institutions and formal agreement and recognition frameworks mean every step of the path will contribute to your future no matter what your study or career goals.

Pathways

Multiple study pathways and exit points exist between secondary school, TAFE and university. Each stage of study brings its own qualification and can be the completion of your studies, or it can provide a pathway onto the next stage.

Your current year and skill level will determine what course level or institution you are eligible to apply for. Where you finish will depend on the career outcomes you’re hoping to achieve.

pathways

  • Student Events and Activities

    Student Events and Activities

     Upcoming Events...

    Study Geelong and The Lounge End of Year celebration

    Halloween End of Year Party

    There'll be spooky activities, prizes for scary costumes and food to gnaw and chew on!
    Come along and bring your friends!

     

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  • Student Resources

    Student Resources

    Where can I get help with......

    Browse the Study Geelong student resources for international students.

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  • Are you the next Study Geelong Ambassadors for 2025?

    Are you the next Study Geelong Ambassadors for 2025?

    Are you our next Study Geelong ambassadors for 2025?

    If you love to explore more of Geelong and The Bellarine, get to know other international students and help share your adventures on social media, then becoming an ambassador might be for you!

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Student Stories

  • Nima

    DUELI

    In August 2020 Nima undertook an online English language course with DUELI to prepare him for his PhD at Deakin University Waurn Ponds campus. Participating in DUELI course helped him to start a new chapter in his research journey as a PhD and research student in order to advance his professional activity and align it with artificial intelligence and machine learning. DUELI was a bridge to enter this stage. In particular, he enjoyed the small group interaction, which gave him confidence when speaking English with his peers. The course did more than improve his English though. It also helped him make friends, familiarised him with living in Geelong and prepared him for the move in January. Prior to this he and his wife (Katayoon) knew little about Geelong but were pleasantly surprised by how beautiful and picturesque the city is. “Geelong has great amenities, a beautiful beach and harbor, good restaurants and cafes, and the incredibly kind local people of different cultures from all over the world (multicultural city)” said Nima.

    Nima promenade

    Nima waterfront  

    Figure 1. Geelong beautiful beach in summer and autumn.

     “The city's public transportation is another positive intersection, making it easy to get to and from the surrounding cities and Melbourne, as well as easy access to the city's suburbs. There are also many natural and recreational places around Geelong that can be visited” said Nima.

    Nima Canoe

    Nima tree

    Figure 2. Exciting entertainments around Geelong

    Nima horse

    Figure 3. Visit the farms around Geelong.

    “In addition, the facilities at Deakin are terrific, we enjoy participating in extracurricular activities such as football and Volleyball. Joining numerous student clubs helped me to increase my friendship” said Nima.

    Nima Deakin exercise pics

    Figure 4. A part of sports facilities of Deakin University Waurn Ponds campus

    Nima and his wife (Katayoon) arrived in Melbourne from Iran in September 2019, as the top student (master’s degree in geotechnical engineering) at Tehran Polytechnic University with more than 6 years of experience in civil engineering and geotechnics in Iran. In his third week in Melbourne, he began working in his specialty, Geotechnical Engineering, as a Technical Geotechnical Officer and senior geotechnical engineer at La Trobe University, where he worked for 15 months prior to enrolling at Deakin University. During Corona's difficult days, he worked voluntarily to help his team and students. He is currently undertaking his PhD at Deakin in Geotechnical and also working as a senior laboratory manager at Federation University, Gippsland. He hopes to expand his work opportunities and improve his application of learning to assist Deakin in their research.

    Nima work 

    Figure 5. Work experience at La Trobe University

    Nima

    In August 2020 Nima undertook an online English language course with DUELI to prepare him for his PhD at Deakin University Waurn Ponds campus. Participating in DUELI course...

  • Marjetka Gojkosek

    The Gordon Institute of TAFE

    I still study at The Gordon, I chose it because I wanted to study Diploma of Community Services Work in the place that is accredited by ACWA (Australian Community Workers Association) and The Gordon was (still is) the only one in Geelong which could provide it.
    I love being a student at The Gordon, simply because we have very passionate, skilled and very experienced teachers, who teach us the most important things about the welfare work, values and beliefs.

    It is good to be part of a team, who also teaches you what is important in life, how to see from another perspective, how to critically think about things around us and be actively involved in the world. I am not working in that field yet, but I am sure I will be well prepared for employment after I finish my study. We are learning things that are relevant to welfare work and we are challenged and empowered at the same time - to learn more, to research, to be open to discover further and to build up our strengths and skills to become better workers.

    Being the only international student in the class of 25 Australians is definitely a very good experience, especially because I have got the opportunity to improve my English skills, to get insight into Aussie slang and to find out more about Australian lifestyle, customs, habits, culture.

    I wouldn't want it any other way!

    Marjetka Gojkosek

    I still study at The Gordon, I chose it because I wanted to study Diploma of Community Services Work in the place that is accredited by ACWA (Australian Community Workers Association) and The Gordon was...

  • SETO, Yasuhiro

    Kardinia International College

    Good things of Kardinia International College                                                    

    Kardinia International College (KIC) is a globalised school because many overseas students who are from around the world and KIC students study together. We can learn cultural differences from overseas students and improve the level of our education.

    KIC students are kind, friendly and caring so when I ask them to help me, they always help me tenderly. The teachers are also kind and helpful so we can ask them questions unhesitatingly. They also provide us good education. They help us expand our knowledge.

    There are a lot of good facilities for students to study at KIC. We have new buildings called “The Learning Commons” and “Senior Centre”. They provide us a lot of studying materials and let us concentrate to study.

    We always use our own tablet computers to study. Information-organised society has been developed nowadays and KIC provides us an opportunity to use laptops at school. Because of that, we will be able to do well in information-organised society in the future.

    We can get high levelled education and expand our knowledge through studying at KIC. We also can make friends with a lot of kind students. Our life at KIC is filled with joy.

    SETO Yasuhiro

    カーディニアインターナショナルカレッジは世界各国からの留学生とカーディニアの生徒がともに学ぶ国際的な学校です。私たちは留学生たちから文化の違いを学び、自らの教養レベルを向上させることができます。

    カーディニアの生徒は親切で、フレンドリーで、また面倒見がよく、僕が質問をするときはいつも優しく答えてくれます。また先生方も親切で面倒見がよいので、僕たちは躊躇することなく質問をすることができ、さらに、よい教育を与えてくださるので、私たちの知識を広げることができます。

    カーディニアインターナルカレッジには生徒の勉強に最適な施設があります。「ラーニングコモンズ」と「シニアセンター」という新しい建物があり、私たちにたくさんの資料と勉強に集中できるする環境を提供してくれます。

    私たちはいつも個人のパソコンを使います。情報化社会が進む現在、カーディニアではパソコンを使う機会がたくさんあります。そのおかげで、私たちは将来、情報化社会で活躍することが可能になります。

    私たちはカーディニアインターナショナルカレッジで勉強することにより、よい教育を受け、また知識を広げることができます。またたくさんの親切な生徒とも友達になることができます。私たちのカーディニアインターナショナルカレッジでの生活は、楽しみにあふれています。

    SETO, Yasuhiro

    Good things of Kardinia International...

  • Yakubu Daffi

    The Gordon Institute of TAFE

    The Gordon Institute of TAFE was a study destination that I decided on hesitantly. Being a TAFE, I felt the practical approach and real experience would help me further my studies and career path.

    The Gordon has surpassed all expectations.
    At this stage, I can look back on that decision and confidently say I have no regrets whatsoever.

    The teachers are a great asset. The amount of care and attention they provide exceeds expectations. I go to class every morning knowing that I have their full backing and support. Lessons are broken down into very simple and concise parts, our nursing labs are fully equipped with state of the art tools and our lesson plans are setup to match the current needs of the work force.

    The students are very welcoming and ready to interact. I have made friends who have become family. The multicultural environment made settling in a lot easier. Finding my way around during the first few weeks of admission was no problem because staff are always ready to direct you to your destination.

    I am happy I made The Gordon my study destination; I could not have had it any better.

    Yakubu Daffi

    The Gordon Institute of TAFE was a study destination that I decided on hesitantly. Being a TAFE, I felt the practical approach and real experience would help me further my studies and career path.

    ...