Editing Postgraduate education (section)

==Australia==

{{Refimprove section|date=April 2014}}

===Types of postgraduate degrees===

Programmes are divided into coursework-based and research-based degrees. Coursework programs typically include qualifications such as: <ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.studiesinaustralia.com/types-of-education/higher-education-postgraduate | title= Higher education, Postgraduate | website= Studies In Australia | access-date= 29 December 2014 | publisher= Hobsons Australia Pty Ltd | archive-date= 21 March 2021 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210321121012/https://www.studiesinaustralia.com/types-of-education/higher-education-postgraduate | url-status= live }}</ref>
* Graduate certificate, six-month full-time coursework.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://futurestudents.curtin.edu.au/postgraduate/study-options/|title=Postgraduate study options, course types, masters degree - Future Students {{!}} Curtin University, Perth, Australia|last=Smith|first=Jo|date=2016-02-04|work=Future students|access-date=2018-07-05|language=en-GB|archive-date=2021-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321121017/https://study.curtin.edu.au/postgraduate-by-coursework/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* Graduate diploma, twelve-month full-time coursework.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://courses.curtin.edu.au/course_overview/degree-types.cfm|title=What the different degree types mean|date=2009-02-11|website=courses.curtin.edu.au|language=en|access-date=2018-07-05}}</ref>
* Master (of Arts, Science or other discipline). 1 year to 2 years of full-time study for coursework and research master's and 3 to 4 years of full-time study for extended master's degrees (which can allow the use of the word doctor in their title, such as Doctor of Medicine and Juris Doctor). Research master's ends in the submission of a thesis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aqf.edu.au/sites/aqf/files/aqf-2nd-edition-january-2013.pdf|title=Australian Qualification Framework|date=January 2013|website=Australian Qualification Framework}}</ref>
* Doctor of Philosophy, 3 to 4 years full-time study. Also ends in the submission of a thesis.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aqf.edu.au/sites/aqf/files/aqf-2nd-edition-january-2013.pdf|title=Australian Qualification Framework|date=January 2013|website=Australian Qualification Framework}}</ref>

* Higher doctorate, awarded usually ten or more years after the completion of PhD (which is a prerequisite of higher doctorate) after submission of a research portfolio that is of a higher standard than that required for the awarding of a PhD.<ref>{{cite web |title=Higher Doctorates Procedure - University of Southern Queensland |url=https://policy.usq.edu.au/documents/13336PL |website=policy.usq.edu.au |publisher=University of Southern Queensland |access-date=26 July 2022}}</ref>

===Admission===
Generally, the Australian higher education system<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/news/-the-australian-higher-education-system---simplified|title=The Australian Higher Education System...Simplifi|website=www.studyinaustralia.gov.au|language=en|access-date=2018-07-05|archive-date=2021-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321121044/https://www.studyinaustralia.gov.au/cmlogin.aspx?RedirectURL=%2fSite-Layout%2fNews-archived%2f-The-Australian-Higher-Education-System---Simplified|url-status=live}}</ref> follows that of its British counterpart (with some notable exceptions). Entrance is decided by merit, entrance to coursework-based programmes is usually not as strict; most universities usually require a "Credit" average as entry to their taught programmes in a field related to their previous undergraduate. On average, however, a strong "Credit" or "Distinction" average is the norm for accepted students. Not all coursework programs require the student to already possess the relevant undergraduate degree, they are intended as "conversion" or professional qualification programs, and merely any relevant undergraduate degree with good grades is required.

Ph.D. entrance requirements in the higher ranked schools typically require a student to have [[postgraduate research]] honours or a master's degree by research, or a master's with a significant research component. Entry requirements depend on the subject studied and the individual university. The minimum duration of a Ph.D. programme is two years, but completing within this time span is unusual, with Ph.D.s usually taking an average of three to four years to be completed.

Most of the confusion with Australian postgraduate programmes occurs with the research-based programmes, particularly scientific programmes. Research degrees generally require candidates to have a minimum of a second-class four-year honours undergraduate degree to be considered for admission to a Ph.D. programme (M.Phil. are an uncommon route<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.studyoptions.com/research-degrees-mphil-mres-phd|title=Research degrees (MPhil, MRes & PhD) in Australia and New Zealand {{!}} Study Options|website=www.studyoptions.com|language=en|access-date=2018-07-05}}</ref>). In science, a British first class honours (3 years) is not equivalent to an Australian first class honours  (1 year research postgraduate programme that requires a completed undergraduate (pass) degree with a high [[grade-point average]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.uq.edu.au/study/program.html?acad_prog=2031|title=Bachelor of Science (Honours) – Courses and Programs – The University of Queensland, Australia|work=uq.edu.au}}</ref> In scientific research, it is commonly accepted that an Australian postgraduate honours is equivalent to a British master's degree (in research). There has been some debate over the acceptance of a three-year honours degree (as in the case of graduates from British universities) as the equivalent entry requirement to graduate research programmes (M.Phil., Ph.D.) in Australian universities.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au/admissions/entry-requirements/research|title=Entry requirements: Graduate Research Degrees|date=2012-07-11|website=futurestudents.unimelb.edu.au|language=en|access-date=2018-07-05|archive-date=2021-03-21|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210321121015/https://study.unimelb.edu.au/how-to-apply/graduate-research/international-applications/applications|url-status=live}}</ref> The letters of honours programmes also added to the confusion. For example: B.Sc. (Hons) are the letters gained for postgraduate research honours at the University of Queensland. B.Sc. (Hons) does not indicate that this honours are postgraduate qualification. The difficulty also arises between different universities in Australia—some universities have followed the UK system.

===Professional programs===
There are many professional programs such as medical and dental school require a previous bachelors for admission and are considered graduate or [[Graduate Entry]] programs even though they culminate in a bachelor's degree. Example, the [[Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery|Bachelor of Medicine (MBBS)]] or [[Dentistry|Bachelor of Dentistry (BDent)]].

There has also been some confusion over the conversion of the different marking schemes between British, US, and Australian systems for the purpose of assessment for entry to graduate programmes. The Australian grades are divided into four categories: High Distinction, Distinction, Credit, and Pass (though many institutions have idiosyncratic grading systems). Assessment and evaluation based on the Australian system is not equivalent to British or US schemes because of the "low-marking" scheme used by Australian universities. For example, a British student who achieves 70+ will receive an A grade, whereas an Australian student with 70+ will receive a Distinction which is not the highest grade in the marking scheme.

===Funding===
The Australian government usually offer full funding (fees and a monthly stipend) to its citizens and permanent residents who are pursuing research-based higher degrees. There are also highly competitive scholarships for international candidates who intend to pursue research-based programmes. Taught-degree scholarships (certain master's degrees, Grad. Dip., Grad. Cert., D.Eng., D.B.A.) are almost non-existent for international students. Domestic students have access to tuition subsidy through the Australian Government's FEE-Help loan scheme. Some students may be eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP), via the HECS-Help scheme, at a substantially lower cost.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Palmer |first1=Nigel |last2=Abrahams |first2=Natasha |last3=Pace |first3=Mark |last4=De Rango |first4=Emily |title=Mind the Cap? Postgraduate Coursework Degrees and Tuition Fees in Australia |journal=Australian Universities' Review |date=2018 |volume=60 |issue=2 |pages=57–65 |url=https://search.informit.org/doi/abs/10.3316/INFORMIT.818762780597626}}</ref>

===Degree requirements===
Requirements for the successful completion of a taught master's programme are that the student pass all the required modules. Some universities require eight taught modules for a one-year programme, twelve modules for a one-and-a-half-year programme, and twelve taught modules plus a thesis or dissertation for a two-year programme. The academic year for an Australian postgraduate programme is typically two semesters (eight months of study).

Requirements for research-based programmes vary among universities. Generally, however, a student is not required to take taught modules as part of their candidacy. It is now common that first-year Ph.D. candidates are not regarded as permanent Ph.D. students for fear that they may not be sufficiently prepared to undertake independent research. In such cases, an alternative degree will be awarded for their previous work, usually an M.Phil. or M.Sc. by research.