Why enrol in a VET course in Australia?
- 18 November 2020 – Australian Institute of Electrotechnology
When you plan on taking admission into a course, you will be confronted with a plethora of options, and you may be perplexed as to whether you should pursue a vocational course or a higher education degree. This decision is influenced by your career objectives and aspirations.
This article will explain what a VET course is and what benefits you can gain from enrolling in a VET course.
What are VET courses?
VET courses are skill-focused courses that help students gain technical skills and working knowledge required to enter a workforce. They provide a lot of advantages, like acquiring new skills and specialising and give you an edge over others. It is very beneficial in developing and improving your skills so that you can join the industry you are passionate about and advance your career in the field. VET courses help you take the first step in your career or if you are looking for a career change. VET courses include various types of qualifications such as Certificate I, II, III, IV, Diploma, and Advanced Diploma, and their duration is shorter than a university degree. For example, Ausinet offers Certificate III in Electrotechnology Electrician which last for two years and helps you make a career as an electrician in Australia
What does VET stand for and who offers VET courses?
VET stands for Vocational Education and Training. In Australia, VET courses are offered by Registered Training Organizations (RTOs) which can include colleges, universities, private institutes and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutes. CRICOS registration is necessary for RTOs when offering courses to international students.
What are the benefits of doing a VET Course?
- Hands-on training:
Most VET courses are practice-based and focus on developing the core skills required in a particular field or industry. They provide a mix of classroom learning along with practical training to ensure that you have enough know-how of the work and industry you have chosen. The practical training may be a simulated workplace training or work placement, depending on your field of study.
- Lower entry requirements and costs:
VET courses usually have lower entry requirements than University courses. They usually require Australian years 10-12 or equivalent. For international students, English language requirements are also usually lower than University courses, depending on the subjects. And since the duration of the course is shorter than that of Universities, it is also cheaper to study a VET course.
- Better job opportunities:
VET courses provide you with real-life workplace training that most employers look for, and help you develop a network with the community and industry professionals. This allows you to get a job as soon as you finish your course and helps you adapt to the work environment faster. Some studies show that VET students have higher employability than university students; 78% of VET students get jobs in their chosen field after their studies while for University undergraduates, this rate is only 67%.
- Shorter course duration:
As mentioned in this post before, VET courses have a shorter duration. Most VET courses last from 6 months to 2 years, while for the University undergraduate degree, the minimum course duration is 3 years full-time. A shorter course duration means that you get a chance to join the workforce earlier than university graduates. It will also decrease your cost of attaining a degree. You can make a career in business, hospitality, IT as well as tough technical fields like electricians, carpentry etc. in a shorter time than university graduates.
Should you do a VET course?
VET courses and university degrees both have their advantages, but if you are not sure about what type of course to take or what subject you should study, enrolling in a VET course can work as a test ride for you to find out what a certain field will be like. If you want to continue to study, VET can also be your pathway to higher education and help you get a university degree faster. So, considering the cost, short duration, workplace applicability, and chances of employability, VET courses certainly deserve your attention.
Last reviewed date: 18/11/2020
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Good opportunity for international students to study and work in Australia
Thanks for the guidance!
Some courses help you decide which trade you want to be in.
VET saves a lot of time
Having specialised courses to upskill is also a plus point
Does Ausinet have a CRICOS registration?
Yes, VET courses do have many benefits