Postgraduate study: which sector should I choose?
Postgraduate qualifications are those that are not generally available to students unless they have a degree or equivalent qualification. These qualifications are available in two different education sectors: the Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector, and the higher education sector.
There are a range of differences between VET and higher education courses. The three main points of difference are the approach that is taken to study, the institutions that offer the courses and the cost.
VET postgraduate study
Higher education postgraduate study
VET postgraduate study
The VET approach
It might be fair to say that many VET courses focus more on providing skills, whereas higher education courses provide theoretical knowledge. However, there are many exceptions to this simple statement because VET covers such a wide range of different courses and qualifications, and some higher education courses are very practical.
VET courses are often part of national Training Packages, which are updated regularly in consultation with relevant industry bodies. They also comprise of the same curriculum wherever you study them. So, if you need to move interstate during your course, you can transfer your credits to an identical program at a different organisation.
VET courses also have the advantage of being ‘competency based’, which means that you can complete the qualification when the required skill level is achieved, rather than having to complete a certain number of years before you can be recognised for a qualification.
What does VET offer?
There are still only a few vocational postgraduate courses around. They are only available in only a few of the more practical fields, including:
- Built environment
- Business and management
- Education and training
- Engineering and technology
- Community services
- Biotechnology.
Who offers VET courses?
VET is generally associated with the Technical (or Training) and Further Education (TAFE) institutes, but it is much wider. VET is also provided by registered training organisations (RTOs) (check ww.ntis.gov.au), which can include industry bodies, adult education, community and private providers. However, note that only a few VET providers offer postgraduate courses.
VET postgraduates: getting in and paying your way
Entry requirements vary, depending on which institute and course you choose. However, VET sector courses are generally easier to get into than their higher education counterparts. They are also a fair bit cheaper.
Higher education postgraduate study
What are higher education postgraduate programs like?
The main difference between VET and higher education is that the latter generally focuses more on knowledge rather than skills. There are certainly exceptions to this, however, with more and more universities ensuring students include work experience or other skill-building activities in their degree. Plus, there are some areas of study that are very skills-focused and which are only available at university.
University is really the only option for many of the professional postgraduate courses, particularly those relating to careers that are regulated. These include:
- Architecture
- Dentistry
- Law
- Medicine
- Pharmacy
- Rehabilitation (e.g. occupational therapy, physiotherapy)
- Veterinary science.
If you are looking for postgraduate study in these areas, then higher education will generally be your only option.
The other big difference between postgraduate study in the VET and higher education sectors is the qualification levels available. Masters degrees and doctorates are only available in higher education institutes. A masters degree might be necessary in order to meet professional requirements in some fields.
Who offers postgraduate courses in the higher education sector?
Universities make up the biggest group of institutions in the higher education sector, and they offer most of the postgraduate courses around, particularly those that are research-based. However, some private higher education providers also offer postgraduate courses in particular fields.
Getting in and paying your way
Entry requirements vary, depending on which university and course you choose. However, a degree will usually be required for graduate certificates and graduate diplomas. Some masters and most PhDs will require honours or bachelor degrees of four or more years. Postgraduate study in the higher education sector is mostly full-fee and it is generally not cheap. If you decide that a higher education degree is for you, you can ask your university for details.
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