If you want to work, think about what to study:
- Which subjects to study
- Type of qualification you need
There are two pathways to get qualifications: you can study in an academic or vocational pathway. The vocational path includes a traineeship or an apprenticeship.
The academic path starts in Year 10. Year 12 VCE or VCAL is the next step. The list of academic qualifications starts at entry level through to the most advanced qualifications:
- Certificate I, II, III, IV
- Diploma/Advanced Diploma
- Bachelor degree
- Bachelor degree with Honours
- Masters degree
- PhD and Doctorate
Traineeship
For example working in a fast food outlet, office or a shop.
Traineeship qualifications range from Certificate II to Advanced Diploma.
A traineeship in the workplace usually takes 12 months and must be agreed by the trainee and the employer.
Australian Apprenticeships Pathways is a good place to start looking for different types of jobs that include traineeships. Click here to go to the website.
Other good websites for more information include:
- During school
- After school (at any age)
- If you are unemployed
- Working in a different job
- to work and earn money while you get your qualification
- a mix of classroom or workshop learning (off-job) and practical (on-job) learning
- real life experience in the workplace
Traineeship is training in a non-trade related area:
- Cafe
- Office administration
- Retail (clothing, products, shoes)
- Cleaning
- Community services
- Disability
- Real Estate
Apprenticeship
For example working as a hairdresser, plumber, builder or an electrician.
Apprenticeship qualifications range from Certificate II to Advanced Diploma. Apprenticeship qualifications take between three to four years of training. Training must be agreed by the apprentice and the employer.
Demo Content
Websites
- Australian Apprenticeships Pathways
- Australian Apprenticeships
- Australian Apprenticeships and Traineeships Information Service
- Youth Central - Apprenticeship and Traineeship
- Education and Training - Apprenticeship and Traineeship
- Victorian Government - Apprenticeship and Traineeship
- Victorian Skills Gateway - Apprenticeship and Traineeship
- During school
- After school (at any age)
- If you are unemployed
- Working in a different job
- to work and earn money while you’re getting your qualification
- a mix of classroom or workshop learning (off-job) and practical (on-job) learning
- real life experience in the workplace
Apprenticeship is training in a trade related area.
- Aircraft Engineering
- Automotive (Cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles)
- Boating
- Bricklaying & Stonemasonry
- Carpentry, Cabinet Making, Joinery & related occupations
- Electrical
- Engineering & Metals
- Flooring, Carpet Laying and Upholstery
- Gardening, Horticulture & related occupations
- Hairdressing
- Painting & Decorating, Tiling & Glazing
- Plastering
- Plumbing & Gasfitting
- Printing
Certificate I, II, III, IV
Certificate courses run between six months to four years. Certificate courses can also lead to a Diploma or a Bachelor Degree or both!
Below are some training organisations in Victoria that offer Certificate courses:
- Getting skills and knowledge for an area of work
- Getting a qualification to work
- A pathway to a degree
- Gain basic knowledge, skills and qualifications to work in an area
- To study a trade or subject
- Combine an Apprenticeship and Certificate qualifications
- To upgrade or improve your existing skills
- To specialise in your area of work
Diploma
These courses are delivered by community education centres, TAFEs, private colleges and universities.
Students can study Diplomas in almost any TAFE and RTOs.
Click here to go to a list of TAFEs available in Victoria.
You want to improve your skills or further qualifications in the area you already work in.
You want to work or do more study in a particular field. For example:
- Office Management
- Sales
- Business
- Architecture
- Building and construction
- Education
- Design, Illustration or Fine Art
- Writing and editing
Demo Content
Bachelor degree
Bachelor degrees take three to four years of full time study.
- More job opportunities
- Increase in knowledge of a specific area
- Increase in salary
- Pathway to Master degree or Doctorate degree
Bachelor degree with Honours
Please see Where to study Bachelor for a list of universities to study Honours year.
- To complete a small research project
- To increase chances of entering a Master course or PhD or Doctorate course
- Some courses require you to complete your Honours year in order to work in the industry (ie. Psychology)
Masters degree
Some jobs require you to complete a Masters degree before you can work in the field. Click on “Masters degree – examples” for job specialisation examples.
Masters by Coursework involves completing specified units of study, assignments and in some cases, sitting an exam.
Masters by Research is more demanding, involving independent research and the completion of a research paper. There may be some compulsory units on research skills that you attend.
Almost all universities offer Masters courses. However, not all universities offer the same courses. See Where to apply for a Bachelor degree for locations.
For example -
A health student decides she wants to become a psychologist. However, her university does not offer the course, Master of Clinical Psychology. This means the student must apply the course in a different university.
- Gain specialist knowledge of a subject
- Gain higher qualification in order to work in the specific area
- Advance your career in the specialised area
- Gain a pathway to further research and study
- Increase earning potential
Some jobs require a Master degree or equivalent before you can work in that specific job:
- Accounting
- Architecture
- Health specialisation (Audiology, Doctor, Speech Pathology)
- Law
- Psychology
- Teacher of the Deaf
PhD and other Doctoral degrees
Very few students choose to pursue a PhD or a Doctorate but if a student receives a high mark in their Masters degree, they may be eligible to do further research. Students studying at PhD or a Doctorate levels must complete a thesis of 80,000 to 100,000 words on a specialised topic. Students need to have a supervisor to support their study and research.
PhD degrees are three-year, full time programs. Doctorate degrees are three to five-year, full time programs.
PhD and Doctorates are only offered at university level.
Most universities offer PhD and Doctorate positions. Students must apply to get into the PhD or Doctorate programs.
- Interested in doing research
- Want to become an expert in your area
- Enjoy the academic environment
- Doctor/Medical Scientist/Scientist
- Psychologist
- Engineer
- Architect
- Law
- Any subject!
Do you have a question? Or do you want to improve this page? Send us a message!