About Tertiary Education

Many people browsing through SATAC's web will already have an understanding of what tertiary education is, and know about some of the terms used. They will feel comfortable applying through TAFEWeb and UniWeb accessed from the SATAC home page.

If, however, you are thinking of applying to study through SATAC for the first time you may be unsure of such things as:

• what is meant by "tertiary study"
• what is the difference between TAFE, VET and university
• what is the difference between a "diploma" and a "degree"
• what steps you should undertake before starting to make an application

This section is designed to provide you with an understanding of some of the basic concepts about tertiary study, the terms used and what things you should think about before making an application.

The following frequently asked questions are designed to give you a basic understanding of our world of tertiary study.

What do people actually mean by "tertiary education"?

What is the difference between "TAFE", "VET (Vocational Education and Training) and "University"?

What is the difference between a "certificate", a "degree" or a "diploma"?

Which course is best for me?

I've heard there are different ways of getting in to the course I'm interested in - is this right?

When you are investigating tertiary study, remember that all TAFE campuses and universities have staff who are there to help you. In addition, all institutions have websites and printed information to help you find out about what they offer. All institutions have open days and similar events so you can visit them on campus to make your enquiries.