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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.

  • Secondary School

    Secondary School

    Catering for students from Year 7 to Year 12, upon successful completion students will have achieved either the: Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE), Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) or International Baccalaureate (IB).

  • 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.

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...

    Keep an eye out here for events and activities

     

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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 2024?

    Are you the next Study Geelong Ambassadors for 2024?

    We have 10 spots available for our 2024 Study Geelong ambassador volunteer program for international and domestic students who have relocated to Geelong to study.

    If you’d 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!

    Read more

Student Stories

  • Sophie Yang

    DUELI

    Hi, my name is Yang Ying and I come from China. I came to Deakin University to study and I am currently undertaking a Master of Landscape Architecture. Australia is an amazing country - from the moment I landed at Melbourne Airport, I was curious about my new home.

    I feel lucky that I chose to study at Deakin University’s Waterfront campus because of the incredible views and the friendly people in Geelong. Prior to commencing my architecture studies at Deakin, I studied a ten week English language course at the Deakin University English Language Institute (DUELI).

    During my English language studies, it was really exciting that my classmates were from different countries such as Russia, Iran, India, Thailand, Philippines andVenezuela. I made many great friends – we studied together and shared our different life experiences with each other. The teachers were also very helpful - they not only assisted us in our studies but also found ways to help us relax such as arranging visits to the zoo and doing yoga classes together.

    My time at DUELI was a turning point in my life because I learned new skills such as searching through documents and writing in English. For a Masters student, critical thinking, writing, and searching documents are all important skills. Furthermore, good communication skills are also important and having friends from different backgrounds has been a great help in learning about new perspectives, new ways of thinking and different cultures.

    In my spare time, I like to travel with my friends and to participate in different activities. I have been to Lake Tyrrell, gone fishing, joined in the Zombie Show, took part in Run Geelong, enjoyed some volunteer work and travelled to other cities. By taking part in various activities, I feel like I am an active participant in society making a valuable contribution to the city of Geelong especially when I’m volunteering which involves giving up my time for the reward and satisfaction of helping someone perhaps less fortunate than myself.

    I still have one year left before I finish my course and although my studies are sometimes challenging and stressful, I am confident about my future, since my life motto has always been ‘Study Hard and Play Hard’. 

    Sophie Yang

    Hi, my name is Yang Ying and I come from China. I came to Deakin University to study and I am currently undertaking a Master of Landscape Architecture. Australia is an amazing country - from the moment I...

  • Annie XIN

    The Geelong College

    I obtained my VCE from Geelong College in 2003. After that, I received a scholarship to study a Bachelor of Philosophy (PhB) degree majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology at Australian National University. PhB is a unique degree from ANU that tailors for high-achieving students and prepares them for a career in academia by offering a research focused undergraduate degree.

    During my undergraduate studies, I did an exchange semester at Stockholm University. After Sweden, I returned to ANU and completed my Honours research project at the John Curtin School of Medical Research under Professor Chris Parish. I was winner of the University Medal and recipient of the Janet Elspeth Crawford Prize recommended by the Dean of the Faculty of Science. I continued on with research and completed a PhD in molecular immunology at the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. My project investigated how cells in the immune system perceive cues from viral infections such as influenza and translate these cues into forming an appropriate immune response to defend the body from invading pathogens.

    My study resulted in authorship in high-ranking academic journals including Nature Immunology and Immunity and part of the study was chosen for presentation at the 14th International Congress Of Immunology in Kobe. I was the sole recipient of the Australian Academy of Science Adam J Berry Memorial Scholarship in 2010 and completed a traineeship at the National Institutes of Health in the US under the prestigious Dr Warren Leonard. I have since pursued a career in medicine and am currently studying my 2nd year of the postgraduate degree at St Vincent's Hospital (a clinical school belonging to University of Melbourne).

    Annie XIN

    I obtained my VCE from Geelong College in 2003. After that, I received a scholarship to study a Bachelor of Philosophy (PhB) degree majoring in biochemistry and molecular biology at Australian National...

  • HUANG, Luying (Ciel)

    Kardinia International College

    Life in Kardinia International College                                                                                       

    For me, it is my first time being so far away from home by myself. Living in an unfamiliar country and study makes my life full of challenge. I couldn’t tell how I exactly feel. Excited? Passionate? Confused? Or scared? However, every time when I met some problems I was able to overcome them, with the help from others and myself. Everyone in Kardinia are trying their best to make me feel like home. And I enjoy the campus, especially in spring. It is pretty to study at some place where flowers bloom. As the only child in my family, I never know how life will be with children sharing everything with me. But my homestay family gives me the opportunity to experience it. Our house is always full with children’s laughing, gigging and even crying. I love it. During the weekend, I usually hang out with my friends. We go shopping, watch movie, go rock climbing or go to some Chinese restaurant. Geelong is not as big as Melbourne, but it is such a fantastic city near by a beautiful bay. When the breeze kisses my face and brings me a salty taste, I really feel the enjoyment and peace that comes from the deep shiny ocean. I miss my family, my home and my country. But I know they would be more than happy for me if I could take a good care of myself and live happily. It is a path to independence, and I am on my way. I can see all the new challenges are waving to me. I believe the effect of hard working. And I hope everything will come through in the following year.

    HUANG Luying (Ciel)

     于我而言,这是人生中第一次离家远行。待在一个陌生的国度学习让我生活充满了挑战性,而我其实并不知道该怎么去描述自己的心情。有激动,有热血,有困惑也有畏惧。然而每当我遇到困难的时候总有人支持着我,让我能够顺利渡过。而我的同学们也在用热情温暖着我,让我有家的感觉。我很喜欢春天的学校。四处花开就好像整个校园都沁进了花海。作为一个骄纵的独身子女,我从没和谁分享过自己的生活。但幸运的是,澳洲寄宿家庭为我弥补了手足之情的空缺。我们的家里随时都弥漫着孩子的欢声笑语,热闹并且温馨。在周末我经常和朋友出门购物、看电影、攀岩或者去一些中餐馆吃饭。和墨尔本不同的是,吉郎是一个秀丽的海滨小城。当我在海边散步,咸涩的海风亲吻着我的脸颊的时候,我会感受到深沉的海洋带来的安详。我很想念家里的亲人,想回家,想回国。可是我知道他们会在故乡为我的自立和成长而骄傲,他们会因为我快乐而快乐。出国是通向独立的历练,而我正在这条路上努力闯荡着。我似乎看见未来所有的挑战都在像我挥手,而我也相信着努力的力量。希望新的一年也一帆风顺

    HUANG, Luying (Ciel)

    Life in Kardinia International...

  • Tej

    Deakin University

    Undertaking the Bachelor of Design (Architecture) course has been a dream come true as I always aspired to becoming a designer and an architect. Being enrolled in 2015 at the prestigious, world renowned Deakin University has been a stepping stone in directing my endeavours as a future professional into successfully delivering sustainable, durable and innovative solutions centred towards the demands of society. Reaching the Deakin Geelong Waterfront Campus as a novice student, I was nervous about finding my way to the lecture hall but was helped by a polite student representative who was very kind to guide me to the respective lecture hall. This was a wonderful start of an amazing journey and this enriching experience shall forever remain cherished in my mind and definitely helped me shape my bearings towards achieving a successful career in architecture.

    “Deakin inspires creativity, innovation through technology and most importantly, helps us to become who we truly want to be.”

    The well-disposed, benevolent teaching and non-teaching staff have really assisted me throughout the course as their approach has been a very considerate and good-hearted one with supportive tutors, friends and teammates all along the way. With the pioneering of new software and new technology, Deakin has pushed us to define new boundaries, new thresholds in all of the fields of study as well as in the industry, proved by its well-settled and powerful alumni and excellent teachers. Printing a three dimensional maquette or modelling an existing block of the city and assessing its performance are some of the everyday happenings at the hustling and bustling A+B Architecture studio. With those assets at hand, the possibilities are infinite and Deakin has effectively given us a glimpse of this brand-new world we are designing for.


    Deakin Waterfront Campus in Geelong

    The unit ‘Building Environmental Studies’ has been very exciting for me in regards to learning and self-development skills. The charismatic character of this exemplary unit did quench our underlying curiosity of finding new ways of building and engineering the right methods of calculation, whilst keeping in mind the long-term results performed by this well-thought out and orchestrated new design. I look forward to having further opportunities to engage this newly acquired knowledge into my other designs and set this as a principle to follow as a future architect.

    “This enriching experience shall forever remain cherished in my mind and will definitely help me shape my bearings towards achieving a successful career in architecture.”

    Tej

    Undertaking the Bachelor of Design (Architecture) course has been a dream come true as I always aspired to becoming a designer and an architect. Being enrolled in 2015 at the prestigious, world renowned...