Taking the next step in life is a huge decision that everyone is faced with. One of the biggest choices a student has to make is between getting a degree from a University or a diploma from a Vocational Institution.
There are many reasons why vocational courses are good for international students and reasons for higher education as well. Both have major key differences between them and to pick correctly, you need to answer some very important questions. You're in luck because this article explains the key definitions and facts you need to know about both educational options and should help you make a well-informed decision.
Vocational education and training (VET) is a practical course that teaches you specialised skills needed to succeed in a particular line of work. VETs focus more on skills-based training that takes place in simulated workplace environments, supported by theory-based learning. VETs also require most students to complete work placements, thereby giving them much-needed experience.
VET differs from higher education because there are hardly any exams and a student can only pass the class when they demonstrate an ability to perform the job extremely well. Some vocational courses for international students that are popular to study abroad include: Information technology, Accounting, Cookery and Hospitality, Automotive and Business Management.
On the other hand, higher education is all about learning in a university to a degree level. In universities, you have Bachelor’s, Masters and Doctorate courses. The primary method of learning in higher education is through lectures, seminars, lab work etc. Unlike VET, to succeed and pass through higher education, you have to answer written exams and pass these exams to prove you are knowledgeable in your field of study.
Essentially, higher education is mostly about knowledge, theory and thinking skills, as opposed to vocational education, which is about learning practical job-specific skills and expertise.
The duration of both depends on the course you want to enrol in. That being said, VET courses are still much shorter than university degrees or higher education. VET courses are usually between 6 months to 2 years while higher education takes 4 years to 6 years.
Undergraduate degrees (Bachelors) in universities are between 3 to 5 years full-time or the equivalent part-time. While the postgraduate studies (Masters) are between 1 to 3 years full time or the equivalent part-time. A Doctorate, however, is between 4-6 years depending on the course.
VETs give out Certificates I, II, III, IV and Diplomas. Higher education awards graduates with bachelor's degrees, graduate certificates, graduate diplomas, and master's or doctoral degrees. Both VET and higher education are internationally recognised and regulated by various educational agencies depending on the country you study in.
For example, in Australia, VETs are delivered by registered training organisations (RTOs), which include TAFEs (Technical and Further Education) and private institutions or colleges. The structure is set by the Australian Quality Training Framework, the Australian Qualifications Framework and the Industry Training Packages. It is regulated and overseen by the ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority).
Higher Education universities and institutions are registered with TEQSA (The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency); the national governing body for Higher Education in Australia.
VETs focus on one thing, getting you as a student to be job-ready. Each VET qualification is designed to get you job-ready for a related role and because of this, graduates can immediately enter the workplace already having the experience needed to succeed.
And because trade jobs are in high demand, graduates will find it easy to get work once they graduate because VETs equip you with essential skills you can use right away in the workplace. However, please remember that if you want to work in Australia after your studies, you will need to apply for a post-study work visa (this will be granted on the eligibility of the course you study). Another great thing about VET courses is the ability for the units to be credited if you decide to further your studies for a university degree or higher education, saving you 2 years in tuition fees.
VETs cost lesser than Higher Education on average. Higher education degrees take longer to complete and students have to take on more courses outside their majors whereas this isn’t the same with VETs.
As a student, you will only study subjects specific to your course meaning you will graduate in less time than it will take for a university student. VET courses are short and require fewer resources which is why they are more affordable than university degrees.
Now you know all about VETs and higher education, what do you choose? Making this decision is without a doubt, important but extremely difficult and it’s no wonder many international students find it hard to choose.
Picking the right course is always about deciding from the start what you want to do with your career. Are you looking to enter the workplace immediately? Then choose VET courses. Or are you seeking to gain knowledge, further your education or work in a specific career that requires a degree like law or medicine from a University? The truth is this, if you want to learn everything there is to know about your field of choice in a fraction of the time and at a lower cost, go for the vocational course instead.
If you would like more information about vocational education or higher education, contact us today.