When foreign students think about the education in Australia, they usually think of universities. Not all of them know that colleges also exist in this country, but they are slightly different than the colleges in the USA.
Colleges in Australia cannot grant degrees. That’s the university’s role. Students go to college when they want to gain certificates or diplomas. The universities are considered to be more prestigious, and that’s exactly why they are more expensive, too. Colleges, on the other hand, are more focused to local and domestic students. When you don’t want to spend many years and tons of finances on your education, but you still want vocational education and training, then a college is the right choice.
Now, you might be wondering: what are the best colleges in Australia? Maybe you have a more specific question: what are the best colleges in Melbourne? Maybe you’re looking for colleges in Sydney, Australia? Whatever your question is, you’ll find your answer in the list that follows. This list includes colleges in Brisbane, Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, and more.
Community College in Australia: The Top 10 List
1. Stanley College Mirrabooka
There are several colleges in Perth Australia, but this has to be the most prominent one. Stanley has three campuses in the Perth College space: the James Street Stanley Campus, the Francis Street Stanley Campus, and the Mirrabooka Stanley campus. All of these are great, but the Mirrabooka space Perth College has two factors that make it different: the Aged Care Practical Room, and the crèche. The crèche, in particular, is an extremely useful feature for parents who want to advance their education.
Stanley college Mirrabooka is focused on work-based training. You’ll be learning in an actual workplace setting, which ensures proper preparation for a real job.
There’s a great choice of vocational courses at Stanley: business & management, health, hospitality, translation & interpreting, early childhood education, security, and more. Short first aid, barista, and cocktail courses are also available.
As for the fees at Stanley College Mirrabooka, local students can count on governmental funding. If you’re an international student at Stanley, you can still count on affordable prices. A course for certificate in business, for example, comes with a tuition fee of $2300.
The website of Stanley is pretty detailed, so you can find all information regarding courses and tuition there.
2. Perth International College of English
This is one of the most popular colleges in Perth for international students. Located in the hearth of Perth, it offers English courses to students from all around the world. If you want to learn English in a fully immersive experience, then this is the right choice for you.
International students often take courses at Perth International College before they start their education at an Aussie university. Others come simply and specifically for the travel and experience.
The staff at Perth International College is quite experienced and accessible. The average class size is 12 students, so everyone gets individual attention. The courses include: General English (Beginners to Advanced levels), EAP (IELTS preparation course for people who aim to immigrate to the country), and Cambridge (intensive courses for exam preparation).
The fees vary depending on the course, but they are relatively affordable. The General English course, for example, costs $290 per week and lasts from 4 to 12 weeks.
3. Queen College Sydney
If you’re focused on finding the best business college Sydney, this might be a good choice. Queen College offers III and IV certificates in business. The Certificate III is recommended for individuals who focus on professions such as receptionist, general clerk, word processing operator, customer service advisor, administration assistant, or data entry operator. The Certificate IV is suitable for job opportunities such as administrator and project officer.
Queen College Sydney also offers an advanced diploma of business, as well as an advanced diploma of leadership and management. In addition, you may opt for a General English course if you’re a foreign student.
Although this is one of the most reputable colleges in Australia, the fees are still reasonable. To find out more about the financial packages, you may use the Queens College contact provided at the official website.
4. Melbourne City College
Melbourne is probably the city with the most youthful vibe in Australia. Students come to colleges in Melbourne not only because they want to learn, but because they are after the “fun student lifestyle” as well. If you want to study in an environment that’s all about making connections while productively learning, this is it.
As for community colleges in Melbourne Australia, we have the perfect suggestion for you. Melbourne City College offers the following courses: Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management, Diploma of Business, English for Academic Purposes, General English, Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care, and Certificate III in Individual Support.
The website is nice, and you have the option to apply online. As for the prices, they are slightly more expensive when you compare them to the offer of other colleges in Australia. If you’re an international student and you want a Diploma of Business from Melbourne community college, you’ll have to pay a fee of $8000. For domestic students, the fee is $3500.
Keep in mind that this is one of the best colleges in Melbourne and in Australia overall, so the fee is justified by the reputation and quality of education.
5. Stirling Theological College
The colleges in Australia are quite versatile. As most Aussies would say, there’s something for everyone in this country. This college is a proof of that! This is a theological college, which prepares God’s people for ministry, mission, and leadership.
The Stirling College courses include few options: undergraduate degrees, undergraduate diplomas, and postgraduate coursework and research. As you may see, the education at this institution is closer to the one you get in a typical Aussie university.
There three types of undergraduate diplomas you can get: Diploma in Theology, Diploma of Ageing and Pastoral Care, and Advance Diploma in Theology and Ministry.
The college is located in Mulgrave, a suburb of Melbourne. The annual cost of full-time study for diploma/degree courses is $12384. Keep in mind that this is not your typical college; you get an actual degree.
6. Western Sydney University – The College
Western Sydney University opened the community college in 2009. It offers a wide range of pathway diplomas, which are the equivalent of the first year in a standard undergraduate degree program.
The options include business, arts, communication arts & design, social science, science, IT, health science & nursing, English language program, construction & engineering, and more. Vocational courses are available, too. They include: cryptocurrency bootcamp, Certificate III in individual support, First Aid training, and more.
Typically, the prices at Community College Western Sydney vary according to the chosen program. For example, the international fee for business studies of two terms is $22000. It’s not the most affordable community college in Australia, but it’s definitely one of the best ones.
7. Brisbane College of Australia
Brisbane is an interesting city, to say the least. The main positive upshot is that the people are happy and friendly. It may be the ocean, or it may be the gorgeous architecture of the city. Maybe it’s the standard of living. Whatever the case is, you’ll love Brisbane as the choice of a city for your studies.
This community college Brisbane offers an interesting choice of courses, including English, early childhood education and care, management studies, accounting, community services, business, hospitality, animal technology, and more.
Student homestay accommodation is a great option to consider. It means you’ll be living with a local family, which is great if you’re an international student looking to advance their English language skills while obtaining great education.
As usual, the fees are different for domestic and international students. Certificate IV in accounting and bookkeeping, for example, comes with a tuition fee of $6500 for domestic and $8500 for foreign students.
8. Australian Adelaide International College
Do you know what the best thing about Adelaide is? – The food. It’s fresh and almost entirely locally sourced. You’ll be able to eat healthy, and that will basically change your entire lifestyle. There are other great things about the city, too. We should never underestimate the ocean, right?
But you’re interested about the education. You’ll be happy to know that the residential colleges Adelaide will certainly meet your criteria of quality.
The Australian Adelaide International College provides outstanding education both international students from four disciplines: automotive, hospitality, business, and leadership & management.
The automotive category is particularly interesting, mainly because it’s not widely available across Aussie educational institutions. The Student Support Services are another important factor of attraction. Since this Australia city college aims at international students, it fully supports them to adjust to the life and studies in the country.
The fees differ depending on the program. A Diploma of Leadership and Management, for example, comes with a tuition fee of $12000.
9. Hunter Institute of TAFE
TAFE NSW is one of the most prominent providers of vocational training across the country. Over 1200 courses are available under this program. The Hunter Institute is situated in the Hunter Valley, only two hours drive from Sydney.
There’s an immense choice of courses in baking, automotive, architecture & drafting, aged care and disabilities, finances and bookkeeping, building & construction, and more. There are different study options available. If you don’t want to be a full-time student, you can opt for a flexible schedule, part-time day or evening studies, workplace schedule, or even online education.
As for the fees, they are pretty reasonable. The best part is that the institution offers a great range of payment options, so you can start your educational journey at this community college without feeling an immense financial burden.
10. Sydney College of Business and IT
You’re interested in IT colleges in Sydney? Then you’ll love this one! It’s a college focused on providing education in business, management, and IT. The website looks a bit outdated, but don’t let that factor drive you away. You’ll get high-quality education and you’ll be in Sydney. That’s a double win!
The campus is just two minutes away from Town Hall Railway Station, which connects you to every important point in the city.
The courses include, but are not limited to: software development, business administration, information technology, and business. One-year education for Diploma of Software Development will cost you $9000. This is one of the more reasonably priced IT colleges in Australia, so it’s definitely worth of your attention.
Over to You
The Aussie educational system is one of the best ones in the world. The country itself is very attractive for travelers. Combine that fact with the excellent education, and you have a winning combination.
Hopefully, you’ll find the perfect college in the list we suggested above. Your choice will depend on your needs for type of diploma and location, as well as on your budget. You can rest assured that whichever college you opt for, you’ll still be making a great decision!
