Comparison and Contrast: Tertiary Education System in Australia and the

Philippines
Society classifies education as a continuous learning process that
contributes to the succession of skill development. Education is a key to success.
Education is divided into three main levels: the primary, secondary and the
tertiary. Tertiary level is where a student has to formulate, unravel or even come
to a decision with complex problems.
Comparing the similarities and differences of the tertiary educational
systems of two different countries such as Australia and the Philippines is very
testing and very educational. It is testing in a way that a test of resourcefulness in
research is involved to find information to construct this essay with facts and
transparency. And it is educational as the reader will know the differences and
similarities of Australias tertiary educational system and the one in the
Philippines. Australias tertiary educational system and the one in the Philippines
have similarities in terms of students admission, classification of qualifications
and class sessions. The differences between the two tertiary education systems
are financial aid from the government, subject being taught, campuses and
uniforms.
Both Australia and the Philippines has a grading system to admit a student
to universities. This means that universities in both countries are using a grading
system as a guide for student admission. In the Philippines, before a student can
enrol in private or public colleges, the student has to undertake a national
examination to demonstrate the students literacy in various subjects, such as

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mathematics, science, English subjects, Filipino and Araling Panlipunan. National

Secondary Achievement Test known as NSAT in 1990s and now is called
National Achievement Test. Students who could reach 75% or up are competent,
while 50% or below shows inadequacy of the learned subject. Australia has a
similar national test known as High School Certificate or HSC for short. Students
who wish to enrol in university should undertake the test. A course such as
medicine and laws would require a higher HSC mark.
School types are very similar in both private and public universities in both
countries. Private universities in the Philippines are either sectarian or nonsectarian. Most private universities are catholic colleges such as Ateneo de
Manila University (Jesuit) and University of Sto Thomas (Dominican). Siliman
University (Protestant) and Trinity University of Asia (Anglican) are non-sectarian.
Australia has one catholic university (Australian Catholic University), which is
funded buy the Australian government. Public universities in the Philippines are
divided into two groups: (a) the state universities and colleges: (b) the local
colleges and universities. Whilst in Australia, there are 39 public universities such
as the University of New South Wales (UNSW), the University of Sydney and the
University of Technology Sydney (UTS). Australia has 2 private universities the
Bond University in Wagga Wagga and the University of Notre Dame. TAFE
(Technical and Further Education), on the other hand, is the only national
provider of both vocational courses and skilled training programmes so far.
Classifications of qualifications in the Philippines are very similar to the
ones provided by the Australias tertiary educational system. Both offer a

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Bachelor Degree within a four year course. Masteral and Doctoral Degree are for
another two years. Some private institutions in both countries can offer a two
year certificate or diploma courses. TAFE colleges offer a diploma course such
as information technology and some skill enhancing courses. Similarly public
colleges in the Philippines such as BCAT (Bicol Colleges of Arts and Trades) also
offer diploma and graduate courses teaching engineering and mechanical skills.
Class sessions in the Philippines vary, depending on subjects availability
and students flexibility. Those students who wish to attend a class in the
morning, or afternoon, or in the evening class should enrol with the
corresponding subjects. Summer class sessions are offered in most of the
universities in the Philippines. In Australia similar class sessions are presented.
Despite the above mentioned similarities between the Australian tertiary
education system and the one in the Philippines, there are differences when it
comes to the government funding, subjects, campuses and uniforms.
The government funding has an enormous impact on the tertiary
education system in each country. Education is regarded as a very important
aspect of their life in Australia. That is why the government tries to support its
students with financial aid such as HECS, which means that an applicant can
study first and repay later to HECS. In addition, AUSTUDY and Youth Allowances
and some other form of scholarships are offered in some universities. Whereas,
in Philippine the government only concentrates on the major state universities.
The University of the Philippines and other major universities around metro

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Manila stand a chance to receive a colossal amount of funding. Scholarships are

granted to brilliant students.
Subjects taught in the Philippine universities completely focus on
mandated subjects, for instance life and works of Dr. Jose Rizal (the national
hero of the country), three subjects of Filipino language, basic math and science,
and Filipino cultural. Whereas in Australia it is diverse, TAFE, for instance,
focalizes its courses on developing or enhancing students skills.
Some college campuses in the Philippines have three educational levels
namely primary, secondary and tertiary. They are in one campus. The University
of Nueva Caceres is one of such example. While in Australia, it is different as
these three levels are put on separated campuses. In terms of uniform, major
catholic universities in the Philippines are on compulsory uniform policy. Such
example is the Universidad de Sta Isabel. Australian tertiary colleges do not
oblige their students to wear uniform.
Although there are differences between the Australias tertiary education
system and the one in the Philippines in terms of government funding, subjects,
campuses and uniforms. There are similarities in terms of students admission,
classification of qualifications and class session. There is a hope in pursuing a
good education no matter what the circumstances are or which country a person
happens to be. No matter what the barriers are, there is always a way to get a
good education. It is up to an individuals eagerness and yearning for education
to pursue higher level of education.

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Point of Similarities and

Differences
Entrance Test or Admission of
Students before enrolling in university
Types of School
Classification of Qualification for
public and private institution or
universities

Class session on public and private

Financial aids from government

Subjects being thought

Philippines

Australia

Same or Different

National Secondary
Achievement Test (NSAT) 1990
National Achievement Test
Private and Public University
Associates, Certificate and
Diplomas offered in private and
public institution 2 year course
Bachelor Degree 4 year course
Masteral Degree 2 year course
Doctoral Degree 2 year course
Morning Class
Evening Class
Afternoon Class
Summer Class
Private university and institution
are not funded by government
Public university funded by
government but huge budget in
major university
Scholarships
Mandated subject

High School Certificate (HSC)

Same

Private and Public University

Certificate and Diploma offered
in TAFE 2 year course
Bachelor Degree 4 year course
Masteral Degree 2 year course
Doctoral Degree 2 year course

Same
Same

Morning Class
Evening Class
Afternoon Class

Same except for summer class

Private and public university

such as TAFE are funded by
Australian government
Financial aids like HECS,
AUSTUDY and Youth
Allowances
Major subjects and developing
of student skills
Separated campuses
No uniform

Different

Campus and uniforms

Three levels of education

system are in one campus
Compulsory uniforms in Catholic
university

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Different
Different

OUTLINE
Topic: Comparison and Contrast: Tertiary Education System in Australia
and the Philippines
I.

Introduction and Definition

II.

Similarities
A. Entrance test or Admission of Student
a. NSAT or NAT and HSC
B. Classification of Qualification
a. both are similar in term of classifying the students
qualification
C. Class Session
a. morning, afternoon and evening class
b. summer class in the Philippines

III.

Differences
A. Financial aid from the government
a. Philippines only concentrate on major universities in
Manila
b. Australian universities are funded by government
B. Subjects being thought
a. mandated subjects on Philippines universities
b. TAFE focus on skills and vocational
C. Campuses and Uniforms
a. three level of universities are in one school in the
Philippines

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