How University differs from TAFE
Both university and TAFE offer an excellent education and great qualifications. You will need to decide which one suits you. Here are some of the differences:
Different qualifications
On completion of university, the qualification most undergraduates receive is a Bachelor degree. At TAFE, the qualifications available are Certificate (I, II, III or IV), Diploma and Advanced Diploma.
The Australian Qualification Framework ranks the Bachelor degree higher than the TAFE qualifications, but different professions require different qualifications, so if you have a particular career in mind you should look into which qualifications you'll need.
Course duration
An undergraduate degree at university will usually take three to four years' full-time study. A TAFE course will usually take one to three years, depending on the qualification.
Style of learning
You may have heard that universities place a lot of emphasis on theory, whereas TAFE is more hands-on. In some ways this is true - TAFE offers predominantly 'vocational' courses, which prepare students to work in fields like hospitality, tourism, construction, office work and community work. University, on the other hand, offers a lot of 'professional' courses which prepare graduates to be supervisors, managers and consultants in their chosen field.
This doesn't mean you miss out on practical experience if you study at Curtin. In fact, Curtin prides itself on equipping its graduates not only with solid theoretical knowledge, but also with strong, practical skills.
