With the 2023 Gaokao just around the corner, it is once again that pivotal time of year when students choose the path for “their future”. As Gaokao competition grows ever fiercer, studying abroadhas now become a direction many Gaokao candidates and high-school students are choosing.

Let’s now talk through several options for progressing to an Australian undergraduate degree!

Option One

Use your Gaokao resultsto apply to an Australian university and enter first year directly (except the University of Melbourne)

For students whose Gaokao scores reach the first- or second-tier admission line, or who study at an international high school —for example, those who have completed A-Levels and have strong academic ability, with high-school marks of 70–80%. The required average varies by university and by major.IELTS of 6.5 with no band below 6.0 is generally required; PTE may be used in place of IELTS, and where English does not meet the requirement, some universities offer an accompanying English language course.

All Go8 universities except the University of Melbourne accept Gaokao results for undergraduate applications.

Option Two

Year 12 (without sitting the Gaokao)enrol in an Australian Diploma fast-track course + undergraduate degree

After finishing Year 12,use your high-school average to apply for an Australian university Diploma fast-track course, which is equivalent to the first year of an undergraduate degree and articulates directly into second year once completed.The total time to complete the bachelor’s degree stays the same,saving a significant amount of time, and you receive a Diploma qualification after the first year.

When you apply for the fast-track course, the undergraduate offer is issued at the same time.

Option Three

Year 11 (without sitting the Gaokao)enrol in an Australian Foundation programme + undergraduate degree

For students in Year 11 who decide not to sit the Gaokao and wish to go overseas earlier,an Australian Foundation programme is worth considering. You apply using your high-school marks, and after completing the one-year Foundation programme you can move straight into the first year of an undergraduate degree.All Go8 universities offer Foundation programmes.

Well suited to students whose results may not be strong enough for a top university and whose English ability is weaker.

How do you choose a university to match your major?

Thinking about employment? Easier migration?

When choosing a major, it can help to look at current trends in Australian migration policy. For instance,teaching, nursing and social workare three fields that currently have relatively low invitation scores and stronger migration prospects. The corresponding universities are as follows:

· Teaching (early childhood and secondary teaching)

University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of Sydney, University of Queensland, Deakin University, Queensland University of Technology, University of New South Wales, Macquarie University and others

· Nursing

University of Sydney, Monash University, University of Technology Sydney, Griffith University, University of Melbourne, Queensland University of Technology, Western Sydney University, Deakin University, University of Queensland, University of Adelaide and others

· Social work

University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales, Australian National University, University of Sydney, Monash University, University of Queensland and others

University application process and timeline:

Australian universities generally have two intakes, February and July, and some majors at some universities have a third intake.Using the February intake as an example:

– By July, prepare your transcripts, graduation certificate and other academic documents, and apply to your chosen universities

– August–October, receive your conditional offer (con-offer) and submit a qualifying language score

– November, exchange your con-offer for a full offer and pay part of the fees to obtain the university CoE

– December, lodge your student visa application and await the grant

Main supporting documents required:

– Transcripts in Chinese and English

– Graduation certificate (for a Foundation programme, only Year 10 and Year 11 transcripts are required)

– Passport bio page

– Language results (may be supplied later)

Every student’s situation is different, so the timeline and the documents to prepare will vary. If you would like more detailed information on universities and a study-abroad assessment, contact our education consultants for a free consultation.

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Recommended in 2023

Gaokao & Study Abroad Together! A Complete Guide to High-School-to-Australian-Undergraduate Applications — You Can Start Preparing Now!

New Zealand’s migration policy this year — the perfect stepping stone to an Australian green card?

Subclass 189 sends another invitation round after six months — but “no surprises”?

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