| The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) is a | | | | The qualifications are grouped according to the |
| system of seventeen national qualifications that assists | | | | educational sector in which they are most commonly |
| students to plan their careers and learning. AQF | | | | issued, as listed in this table. |
| qualifications allow both domestic and international | | | | School Sector Accreditation Vocational and Technical |
| students to start at the level that suits them and then | | | | Education Sector Accreditation Higher Education |
| build up their qualifications as their needs and interests | | | | Sector Accreditation Doctoral Degree Masters |
| develop and change over time. | | | | Degree Vocational Graduate Diploma Graduate |
| The AQF is important as it: | | | | Diploma Vocational Graduate Diploma Graduate |
| - provides a clear structure for the level of each | | | | Certificate Bachelor Degree Advanced Diploma |
| qualification | | | | Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma Diploma |
| - allows students to build their qualifications from lower | | | | Diploma Senior Secondary Certificate of Education |
| to higher levels | | | | Certificate IV Certificate III Certificate II Certificate I |
| - allows one education institution to clearly understand | | | | A qualification normally offered in one sector may |
| the level of a qualification awarded by another and | | | | sometimes be provided by an institution in a different |
| provide appropriate credit | | | | sector eg. Schools’ may offer a Certificate III |
| - determines the student visa subclass that a student | | | | course within their senior school program; some |
| receives when they study in Australia | | | | Universities may offer a Diploma; and some Vocational |
| - is endorsed by all Australian governments through | | | | Colleges may offer Bachelor Degrees. |
| the Ministerial Council on Education, Employment, | | | | Some courses do not award a formal qualification as |
| Training and Youth Affairs (MCEETYA) and is | | | | listed on the AQF table above, even though they offer |
| therefore recognised around Australia and by other | | | | excellent education and outcomes. |
| countries | | | | |