Australian Universities

Australia’s universities create, preserve and transmit knowledge.

They educate undergraduates and postgraduates, undertake research and scholarship, and provide expert advice and comment on issues of national and international importance. They are closely involved with their local and wider communities. Diversity and autonomy are central features of Australian universities. Each institution has the freedom to specify its own mission and purpose, modes of teaching and research, constitution of the student body and the range of educational programs.

The wide variety of needs and expectations from employers and students is reflected in the range of institutional goals and objectives, staff profiles and the emphasis placed on particular courses. This plurality of approach is one of the most important strengths of the Australian system, and is essential to its long-term vigour.

Higher education in Australia enjoys a high international reputation. Australian universities are part of a clearly recognised international community of scholarship, with academic staff in Australian universities recruited internationally, and students also increasingly coming from overseas as well as from across Australia.

Statuts

Apart from the Australian National University, which is constituted under an Act of the federal parliament, all of Australia’s universities are established or recognised under State or Territory legislation. The Federal Government has principal financial responsibility for funding the 36 public universities, although universities are increasingly seeking funds from the wider community as a result of the Government’s stated intention to alter the funding mix for universities.

Participation financière des étudiants

Australian students pay part of the cost of their higher education, mainly under the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS). Students pay back the interest free loan for their education once they begin earning income above a set level, with repayments dependent upon their level of income. The amount payable under HECS is set at three levels, depending on the nature of the course, with high cost or high income-potential courses (eg medicine and law) having the highest repayment. A discount is available for those who pay all their liability each semester up-front or who make partial payments up-front that total $500 or more. The HECS charges in 1999 for a full time year of study under the three-level scheme are $3,409, $4,855 and $5,682.

Public universities have been free to charge 'up-front' tuition fees for Australian students from 1998 for additional unsubsidised undergraduate places, to a maximum of 25% of the total intake of a course. So far, this option has only been offered by a small number of public universities. Tuition fees are charged at private universities.

The formal governing body of each Australian university is the Council, Senate or Board of Governors, presided over by a Chancellor elected by the members of the governing body. Members are drawn from government, industry, the community, academic staff, graduates and students.

The chief executive authority rests with the Vice-Chancellor (increasingly also called the President), who is accountable to the Council, Senate or Board of Governors and is responsible for the academic and administrative operation of the institution.

In 1998 there were 671,853 students enrolled in higher education courses throughout the Australian higher education system, an increase of 2 per cent over 1997. Nearly 59.1 per cent of students were studying full time, and 83 per cent were enrolled in undergraduate courses. Of the total number of students, some 266,712 students commenced their university studies in 1998.

54.7 per cent of all students (a growing proportion) were women. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students accounted for 1.2 per cent of all students, an increase of 3.2 per cent over 1997.

In 1998, there were 80,125 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) staff employed in universities. Of those full-time and fractional full-time staff employed with work contracts (69,414 FTE), 46.3 per cent were undertaking teaching only, research only, and teaching and research only functions. Male staff accounted for 55.2 per cent of full time staff FTE, while female staff accounted for 69.7 per cent of part-time staff FTE. Staff with tenure accounted for 58.2 per cent of all full-time and part time staff.

Further statistics on staff and students can be found at the back of this booklet.

The Outlines to AVCC Member Universities provides useful information on each institution.

[©] [AVCC Home Page] [University Facts 1999]

Contact: Greg Ellis
Last WWW Update: 16Mar99
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