Australian Universities

Australian Universities

Tertiary education in Australia is education that is provided by a higher education providers and by vocational education and training (VET) providers. A higher education provider is a body that is established or recognised by or under the law of the Australian Government, a State, the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory. VET providers, both public and private are registered by State and Territory governments.

In 2009, the Australian higher education system consisted of:

• 41 universities, of which 37 are public institutions, 2 are private, and 2 are Australian branches of overseas universities;
• 3 other self-accrediting higher education institutions; and
• non-self-accrediting higher education providers accredited by State and Territory authorities, numbering more than 150 as listed on State and Territory registers. These include several that are registered in more than one State and Territory.

The non-self-accrediting higher education providers form a very diverse group of specialised, mainly private, providers that range in size and include theological colleges and other providers that offer courses in areas such as business, information technology, natural therapies, hospitality, health, law and accounting.