Free Infos for prospective international students.

All students in Australia who want to pass matriculation have to attend high school. Australia divides its high school year into four terms (exception Tasmania: 3 terms). A high school year in Australia runs from January to December.

• Term 1: end of January – beginning of April
• Term 2: end of April – end of June
• Term 3: mid-July – mid-September
• Term 4: beginning of October – beginning of December

There are short vacations between terms, the 4 th term ends with longer summer vacations. School starts at 9 am und finishes approx. at 3.30 pm.

High School Graduation / Matriculation
In grade 12 Australian high school students get prepared for their high school graduation or matriculation, which grants them access to the universities and colleges in Australia.

Each state or territory has its own name for the Year 12 matriculation certificate (high school graduation):

• Australian Capital Territory: ACT Year 12 Certificate
• New South Wales: Higher School Certificate (HSC)
• Northern Territories: Senior Secondary Studies Certificate
• Queensland: Queensland Senior Certificate (QSC)
• South Australia: South Australian Certificate of Education (SACE)
• Tasmania: Tasmanian Certificate of Education (TCE)
• Victoria: Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE)
• Western Australia: Certificate of Secondary Education

While the successful passing of the Year 12 exam (high school graduation) qualifies a student for university entry, it does not automatically guarantee a place. Entry into most Australian courses is on a competitive basis for overseas and local students alike.

International Baccalaureate
Especially international students attending a High School in Australia, but also Australian students, can decide on passing the International Baccalaureate, which is internationally recognised. There are two versions of the International Baccalaureate: International Baccalaureate – Middle Years Programme (MYP): That is a five-year program for students aged between 11 and 16. It follows the Primary Years Programme while offering an alternative educational approach to traditional school subjects. Moreover, it is an excellent preparation for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.

International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)
The International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB) is a two-year pre-university program for students aged between 16 and 19 years of age. It is especially designed for international students who wish to graduate from a High School in Australia with an internationally recognized degree. The International Baccalaureate enables students to study at all international universities. Ivy League institutions such as Harvard, Oxford, Princeton or Cambridge even prefer students with high scores in their IB courses.