Australian way of studying

Australian teaching is different from other methods of teaching as it places more emphasis on practical learning, students not used to this method may find it unfamiliar. Practical learning promotes creativity, autonomous thinking, good communication and debating skills. The teacher’s main objective is to provide students with a comprehensive understanding of a variety of topics and to avoid teaching student‘s to only recall information from the exam or test.

Students are expected to develop their own distinctive thoughts and share them with fellow students during classes, the level of class participation from students may be used as an assessable part of the student’s grade.


Lectures, tutorials and classes

Classes at university comprise of lectures and tutorials. About 200 students from different courses within your field may attend a lecture but tutorial are made up of a much lesser number of students with about 30 or less students attending. Tutorials are meant for students to discuss the information and content that was given during a specific lecture with fellow students and your teacher or tutor during this session. It is important that you attend all your lectures in order to understand and contribute to your tutorial discussions.

Lectures and tutorials at a vocational institute are unlike those provided at universities as the class sizes are smaller and are usually combined.  The presentation of information and its discussion will occur simultaneously. While in schools and English language institutions the teacher will encourage students to add to class discussions. These are generally in small groups of about 30 or so students.


Assessment

The final grade for an individual course will be calculated on the student’s performance in assignments (written and/or practical, depending on your course), exams, and class participation, attendance and group exercises.

At university and vocational institutions you may be assessed continuously throughout the year, at the end of each semester and/or academic year. Assessment of postgraduate research is made by a committee which is responsible for evaluating the quality of a student’s thesis. Student’s may have to undertake an oral examination to support their thesis.