Best Australian Universities

Before enrolling into a university and course, there are a few things you need to ask

• Which country do I want to study in?
• What is my priority - budget, ranking, university or course interest?
• Do I qualify for my chosen university?
• What is my budget?

Based on the conditions above, your study abroad consultat will help you shortlist 2-3 university and course options based on your criteria and priorities.

The Group of 8 (Go8) consists of 8 top Australian universities that excel in education, research and international partnerships.

Members of the Group of 8 are:

1. The University of Melbourne
2. The University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney
3. The University of Sydney
4. Australian National University (ANU) Sydney
5. Monash University
6. The University of Queensland
7. The University of Western Australia
8. The University of Adelaide

The QS World Ranking is a methodology that measures the quality of universities worldwide by their

• Academic reputation
• Employer reputation
• Faculty to student ratio
• Citation per faulty
• International faculty ratio
• International student ratio

Based on the QS World Universities Ranking 2023, here are the top 10 universities in Australia:

1. University of Melbourne
2. University of New South Wales (UNSW Sydney)
3. University of Sydney
4. Australian National University
5. Monash University
6. University of Queensland
7. University of Western Australia
8. University of Adelaide
9. University of Technology Sydney
10. Macquarie University

Based on statistics by the Australian Government, the top fields of studies Malaysians and many international students choose to pursue are:

• Management and Commerce
• Healthcare
• Engineering and Related Technologies
• Natural and Physical Sciences
• Society and Culture
• Information Technology

If you are applying to do your Bachelor's degree in Australia, you will need to have completed your pre-university qualification.

The most commonly accepted qualification is the Australian Matriculation e.g. SACE or WACE, where students will be assigned an ATAR score based on their course work assessment grades and examination results.

Depending on the field of study and the university, the minimum ATAR score to qualify for the degree will differ. Here are some general entry requirements as reference:

• Health Sciences: ATAR 75
• Engineering: ATAR 75
• Other fields: ATAR 65

Other pre-university qualifications are accepted as well e.g.

• A-Level
• UEC
• STPM
• Foundation / Matriculation
• Diploma
• IB Diploma
• Canadian Matriculation (CIMP)

Just check with your study abroad consultant whether your results i.e. qualification, subjects and the respective grades, meet the entry requirements set by the university for your desired degree courses.

If you are looking to study your foundation in Australia i.e. foundation courses that are offered by the universities themselves or by the pathway providers like Navitas, the general entry requirements are:

• SPM: 4 or 5 pass depending on uni
• IGCSE: 4 or 5 pass depending on uni

Naturally, subject pre-requisites will apply depending on what Bachelor's degree you plan to pursue after your foundation. Here is the typical subjects and grades required to enter a foundation programme heading to the following study areas :

• Health Sciences : SPM/IGCSE C (credit) for Mathematics, Biology
• Engineering : SPM/IGCSE C (credit) for Mathematics

The common English language proficiency examinations offered in Malaysia and the results that are typically accepted for an Australian university application are:

• IELTS: 6.5 overall or nothing less than 6.0
• Pearson PTE: above 60, nothing less than 50

If your highest qualification e.g. Diploma or Pre-University, were taught in English as the medium of instruction, it may be possible to get an exemption of the english language proficiency exams.

Universities may also set specific language requirements for different courses, so you can speak to a study abroad consultant to advise you on the language requirements of the courses you are interested in!

The Honours degree in Australia is an optional 4th year qualification after you complete your undergraduate degree. It involves further studies into your course where you will be conducting independent research on a thesis while being mentored by an academic supervisor.

For an Honours degree, you would usually need strong academic results to be eligible. Most universities in Australia require you to have weighted average marks (WAM) in the 65% - 75% range during your 2nd and 3rd year of your Bachelor’s degree.

For any reason you do not qualify to take any international pre-university courses such as A-Level or do not directly qualify for the Foundation course of your desired university, there are other alternative pathways such as Pathway Programmes or taking a Diploma.

Pathway Programme is a preparatory course made to prepare students for entry to a university degree. The benefits of this programme are:

• almost guaranteed progression into the university tied to the programme, including various high ranking universities.
• some of the programmes can be as short as 4 months
• you will receive additional support such as tutor, english classes and a programme advisor.

A Diploma course typically has lower entry requirements and has a 2 year duration that leads to a degree programme. Once you complete your Diploma you will begin in Year 2 of the Degree course.