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Education in Melbourne isn�t all about universities.

More and more students are coming to Melbourne to obtain vocational education and training (VET) qualifications from 18 government institutions, as well as a large number of private providers. They all offer high quality, hands-on training, focusing on the needs of employers.

Many courses are provided by the network of Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes which operate on their own campuses or as part of a university. Some TAFE institutes offer courses at offshore locations, including China, the Middle East, Vietnam, Sri Lanka and Fiji.

Victoria�s TAFE institutions include:

Bendigo Regional Institute of TAFE

Box Hill Institute of TAFE

Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE

Chisholm Institute of TAFE

East Gippsland Institute of TAFE

Gordon Institute of TAFE

Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE

Holmesglen Institute of TAFE

Kangan Batman Institute of TAFE

Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE

South West Institute of TAFE

Sunraysia Institute of TAFE

William Angliss Institute

Wodonga Institute of TAFE

Four Victorian Universities are dual-sector institutions, having both a TAFE division and a university.  Dual-sector institutions offer both higher education and vocational education and training (VET) courses to study, allowing more flexible pathways into higher education through the transfer of credits between VET and higher education courses.

Universities with TAFE Divisions:

RMIT University (TAFE Division)

Swinburne University (TAFE Division)

University of Ballarat (TAFE Division)

Victoria University (TAFE Division)

There are also many private VET colleges throughout Victoria. They have courses at all levels and in many disciplines..

Certificate courses, from a few weeks to six or more months, provide introductory skills and training. Diploma courses generally require 18 to 24 months of full-time study, while Advanced Diploma courses may take longer. Some TAFE institutes offer degrees, and you can enrol in diploma and advanced diploma courses at some universities. (As you can see, there is considerable overlap between universities and vocational education and training.)

Courses generally have few entry requirements. Some have pre-requisite study levels or require some work experience. The emphasis is on critical thinking and hands-on learning. Students develop the skills employers look for. Classes are small and many teachers are employed in the field they teach.

Courses are recognised by universities, and can be a pathway to further study, and university qualification. A diploma can take 12 to 18 months off a university degree, and you’ll graduate with two qualifications! It also works the other way; many university graduates enrol in vocational education and training courses to boost their professional and practical skills.

These are some of the areas in which you can gain a vocational education and training qualification:

• Hospitality and Tourism
• Commercial Cookery
• Business Administration and Management
• Engineering and Surveying
• Computer Science and Information Systems
• Visual and Performing Arts
• Health and community services
• Multi-Field Education
• Art and Design, Humanities and Social Sciences
• Land and Marine Resources, Animal Husbandry
• Economics
• Nursing and Childcare