This year’s Gaokao results will be released on 23 June. For parents and students who have just received their scores, this is an anxious time as they look into study-abroad options. In my previous article, I explained how to use your Gaokao results to gain direct entry to a leading Australian university, and the favourable Western Australian policy that lets you achieve migration through study (for details, see: Australia’s best study-and-migration policy? The WA-exclusive pathway from Gaokao → study at a leading university → rapid migration after graduation! Favourable and stable!). In this article, I will mainly introduce the Western Australia top universities flagship programmes, to give students one more reference point when choosing a field of study.

UWA/ The University of Western Australia

2024 QS ranking: 7th in Australia ≈ City University of Hong Kong (70) ＞ University of Science and Technology of China (137)

2024 QS ranking: 72

2023 U.S. News World University Ranking: 83

2023 ShanghaiRanking (ARWU) Academic Ranking of World Universities: 99

2023 THE World Ranking: 131

2023 QS Subject Rankings:

Engineering – Mineral & Mining Engineering: 7th

Entry programme: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Mining Engineering

Intake dates: approx. February and July

Duration: 4 years

Gaokao score: no lower than 525 (at least 70% of the maximum Gaokao score)

English requirement: IELTS overall 6.5, no band below 6

Other requirements: studied Chemistry or Physics in senior secondary school

A world-leading mining engineering centre has established industry partnerships with UWA, giving students a head start in their careers.

Taught by world-leading industry lecturers, it provides a comprehensive knowledge base and is highly regarded within the industry.

Key advantage: UWA sits among the top universities in the world for Mining and Mineral Engineering (QS 2023: ranked 7th; ARWU 2022: ranked 4th).

Software Engineering — Engineering and Technology: 173rd

Entry programme: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Software Engineering

Intake dates: approx. February and July

Duration: 4 years

Gaokao score: no lower than 525 (at least 70% of the maximum Gaokao score)

English requirement: IELTS overall 6.5, no band below 6

Other requirements: studied Chemistry or Physics in senior secondary school

Develops a deep, practical understanding of core software engineering concepts and extends that knowledge into more specialised fields such as web development, application development, big data, software architecture, networking and security.

Graduates become industry-ready software engineers with a broad skill set, able to find work across IT, finance, government, education, defence and more, with wide-ranging employment opportunities.

Key advantage: After graduating and meeting certain conditions, you can apply for two separate skills assessments — one in engineering and one in IT — opening up two different occupational migration routes. This “double-insurance” programme makes the study-to-migration journey more secure.

Electrical and Electronic Engineering: 201-250

Entry programme: Bachelor of Engineering (Honours) – Electrical and Electronic Engineering

Intake dates: approx. February and July

Duration: 4 years

Gaokao score: no lower than 525 (at least 70% of the maximum Gaokao score)

English requirement: IELTS overall 6.5, no band below 6

Other requirements: studied Chemistry or Physics in senior secondary school

Opportunities to work with members of the electrical engineering industry advisory group, including Clough, Lycopodium, Western Power, Atlas Copco, South 32 and Alcoa, putting you ahead of others in the field.

Gain career opportunities in innovative areas such as developing sustainable energy solutions, designing technology to improve healthcare, creating systems that support industry or communities, and designing life-changing electronic products.

Work on Renewable Energy Vehicle (REV) projects or in robotics laboratories.

Accounting and Finance: 101-150

Entry programme: Bachelor of Commerce – Accounting

Intake dates: approx. February and July

Duration: 3 years

Gaokao score: no lower than 525 (at least 70% of the maximum Gaokao score)

English requirement: IELTS overall 6.5, no band below 6

Accounting prepares students for cross-border careers.

Accounting is widely recognised as the “language of business”, with employment options spanning government agencies and departments as well as not-for-profit organisations worldwide.

An accounting major opens up a range of career paths across the private and public sectors, public accounting firms, small business and self-employment.

Psychology: 50th

Entry programme: Bachelor of Psychology

Intake dates: approx. February and July

Duration: 3 years

Gaokao score: no lower than 525 (at least 70% of the maximum Gaokao score)

English requirement: IELTS overall 6.5, no band below 6

Key advantage: Psychology is ranked 1st in Western Australia and 5th in Australia, and the programme is accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC).

Psychology research is relevant not only to traditional psychology careers but also to a wide range of professions — for example, designing computer software interfaces, staff selection systems or age-appropriate toys; developing market research strategies; or training people in a variety of settings.

Students who wish to pursue further academic study can progress to master’s and doctoral degrees.

English language course available: For most of the programmes above, if you cannot meet the English requirement for the course, an English language course can be packaged with it!

Curtin / Curtin University

Curtin University 2024 QS ranking: 14th in Australia ≈ Wuhan University (194)

2024 QS World University Ranking: 183

2023 U.S. News World University Ranking: 160

2023 Times Higher Education World Ranking: 201-250

2023 ShanghaiRanking World Ranking: top 1% globally

2023 QS Subject World Rankings:

Engineering – Mineral and Mining: 2nd

Entry programme: Mining Engineering; Bachelor of Engineering (Honours)

Intake dates: approx. February and July

Duration: 4 years

Gaokao score: no lower than 525 (at least 70% of the maximum Gaokao score)

English requirement: IELTS overall 6, no band below 6

Other requirements: studied Chemistry or Physics in senior secondary school

Students use studios that include electrical and mechanical laboratories and one-on-one engineer assistance points, encouraging learning by doing.

Study focuses on emerging engineering topics including data analytics, 3D printing, machine learning and automation.

In the final year, students undertake an honours-level independent research project that develops their ability to plan and carry out complex work.

Key advantage: Graduates meet the Stage 1 competencies for professional engineers required by Engineers Australia.

Nursing: 51-100

Entry programme: Bachelor of Science (Nursing)

Intake dates: approx. February and July

Duration: 3 years

Gaokao score: no lower than 503 (at least 67% of the maximum Gaokao score)

English requirement: IELTS overall 7, no band below 7

Graduates are eligible to apply for registration as a registered nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Study in advanced facilities and develop the skills and knowledge needed to meet the demands of an evolving healthcare system and technology.

Key advantage: The programme offers extensive simulation practice and fieldwork, providing students with no fewer than 840 hours of clinical placement across hospitals, private clinics and rural and regional health services.

*Places in this programme are limited. Offers are made to eligible applicants who submit a complete application, until all places are filled. We therefore recommend applying early.

Accounting and Finance: 151-200

Entry programme: Accounting Major (BCom); Bachelor of Commerce

Intake dates: approx. February and July

Duration: 3 years

Gaokao score: no lower than 503 (at least 67% of the maximum Gaokao score)

English requirement: IELTS overall 6, no band below 6

For students who plan to study accounting and obtain Western Australian state nomination after graduating, to satisfy the accounting skills assessment requirements you need to pay attention to your choice of Major when selecting units:

First Major selection: Accounting

Second Major selection: Audit Analytics, Taxation, Business Law or Finance

*Choosing other units may mean that, after graduating, you do not meet all the course requirements for the accounting skills assessment and need to take additional make-up units.

Computer Science and Information Systems: 351-400

Entry programme 1: Bachelor of Commerce – Business Information Systems Major (BCom)

Intake dates: approx. February and July

Duration: 3 years

Gaokao score: no lower than 503 (at least 67% of the maximum Gaokao score)

English requirement: IELTS overall 6, no band below 6

For students who plan to study business information technology and obtain an ICT or BA skills assessment after graduating, the recommended unit selection is as follows:

Major selection: Business Information Systems Extension (do not select Business Information Systems)

Key advantage: Curtin Business School is accredited by EQUIS, AACSB International and EFMD, and is recognised as one of the world’s elite business schools.

In the Eduniversal ‘Palmes of Excellence’ rankings (2021), Curtin Business School topped the list of business schools in Western Australia and led the Australian “4 Palmes” group of “top business schools with significant international influence”.

This major focuses on how information is gathered and processed within organisations, with in-depth coverage of application design, system implementation and management.

Entry programme 2: Bachelor of Computing

Intake dates: approx. February and July

Duration: 3 years

Gaokao score: no lower than 525 (at least 70% of the maximum Gaokao score)

English requirement: IELTS overall 6, no band below 6

Uses C and Java as tools for learning core concepts such as object orientation and algorithms. Linux skills are taught throughout the course, starting from the fundamentals and progressing to advanced topics.

Curtin works closely with industry partners to refine course content and to offer suitable students internship opportunities in their final year.

Key advantage: Outstanding performance in the first year of this programme may allow you to transfer into the Bachelor of Advanced Science (Computing) (Honours) (subject to an interview).

Bachelor of Advanced Science (Computing) (Honours)

Intake dates: approx. February and July

Duration: 4 years

Gaokao score: no lower than 630 (at least 84% of the maximum Gaokao score)

English requirement: IELTS overall 7, no band below 7

This course is designed together with industry to ensure the skills and knowledge are those that employers in this dynamic field need.

Work-integrated learning (WIL) is ensured through immersive industry and/or research experiences. In the second and third years of study, there are opportunities for internal and external internships and immersive work experience, which can count towards credit.

There are opportunities to engage with potential employers through a final-year capstone project, in which you tackle real-world problems set by industry.

Students who achieve excellent results and wish to pursue an academic path may have the opportunity to progress directly to a PhD through this programme.

English language course available: For most of the programmes above, if you cannot meet the English requirement for the course, an English language course can be packaged with it!

Combined with Western Australia’s study-and-migration policy — one of the best in the country and very generous towards local study-abroad graduates — there is a lot to consider. If you would like to understand the full plan as a package, feel free to get in touch with me!

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