Vocational education and training (VET) refers to hands-on, practical training in a particular trade or industry specialisation. These programs are designed to give you career-ready skills and boost your employability. You can study VET courses in Victoria as an international student through a TAFE, a dual-sector university or a private training provider.
TAFE refers to public (Government owned) 'Technical and Further Education' institutes, which are an integral part of Australia's education system. TAFE Victoria represents a network of 16 leading training providers, including 12 TAFE institutes and 4 dual-sector universities. Victoria has 12 TAFEs which offer students a wide range of employment-focused VET qualifications including certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, and vocational degrees such as Bachelor and Master degrees.
Victoria is home to 450 education and training providers, and many offer career-focused VET programs courses in a wide range of specialist industry fields.
Read on to find out everything you need to know about VET in Victoria as an international student.
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[Speaker with workshop in background, text on screen: Santhushya Abeysinghe, International Student, Sri Lanka]
Speaker, Santhushya Abeysinghe: If you're an international student looking for hands-on, practical training in a specialised trade or industry, then vocational education and training - known as VET- is perfect for you.
[Visuals of mechanic showing international students how to inspect the engine of a car]
Victoria is home to over 1,100 VET providers, many of which are government-owned technical and further education institutes, more commonly known as TAFEs.
[Visuals include cutting hair, crane at sunset, workers in high-vis vests on wind farm]
From automotive courses to nursing to hairdressing, there are various trades you can prepare for through TAFE and VET courses.
[Visuals of hair and makeup for a fashion shoot, chef demonstrating technique and apprentice chefs working in industrial kitchen]
VET programs are designed to give you career-ready skills and to boost your employability.
You will graduate with a certificate and/or diploma qualification in a shorter period of time than if you were to undertake an undergraduate degree, meaning you’ll save on tuition fees and you can start your career sooner.
Alternatively, if you'd like to attend university in the future, VET can be a great pathway to higher education - it will help you gain extra experience, and your qualifications may fulfil certain prerequisites when you're applying for an undergraduate course.
[Speaker with a friend browsing books at the library, close up of chef working at stove]
There are TAFE providers located all across Victoria, so not only will you be able to find a program that suits you and your future career goals, you can choose a city or country location that suits your lifestyle.
[Visuals of Melbourne skyline, MCG at sunrise, speaker walking with friend, eating chocolate coated doughnuts]
The state’s regional centres offer a relaxed way of life close to beautiful natural attractions, with a lower cost of living, and welcoming, close-knit communities; while Melbourne - voted the world’s friendliest city - is a safe, vibrant and multicultural city.
[Footage over regional town with hills in background, Geelong waterfront, Mildura main street; Melbourne highrise buildings, the Yarra river looking to the MCG]
Whichever course you choose, your VET institution will have state-of-the-art facilities to provide you with the work-ready training you need to launch a successful career.
[Students outdoors at night in the city, lawns at the front of the State Library, student and friend walking through Vic markets, walking down brightly coloured stairs with indoor and outdoor plant life. Students in science lab, hairdresser, automotive, nurse at hospital]
Simulated laboratories, gallery spaces, training restaurants, salons, automotive workshops, or Australia's first TAFE-based hospital.
The options are endless!
Are you ready to find your perfect course in Victoria?
Use the Study Melbourne Course Finder to start searching today.
[Speaker on laptop with Study Melbourne course search screen]
[Study Melbourne, Victoria Australia logo]
The benefits of TAFE and VET
There are plenty of great reasons international students should consider VET courses through TAFEs or other providers.
Firstly, these qualifications are designed with employment in mind. VET is industry-focused, and designed to give students hands-on, practical training in a particular trade or industry. This means that your TAFE and VET studies can give you the technical skills to set you up for a career in a specialist industry such as healthcare and nursing, construction and engineering information technology, creative industries and design, hospitality and culinary arts, community services, beauty therapy and personal care.
VET programs are also ideal for students looking to gain a certification in a shorter period. VET certificate and diploma courses are usually shorter than undergraduate degrees, with most taking one to 2 years to complete. As a result, you can save on tuition fees and start your career even sooner.
If you are hoping to complete a higher degree or attend university in the future, VET can offer a direct pathway to higher education, namely undergraduate degrees. In some instances VET providers offer Bachelor or Master degrees that you can study at a VET provider, rather than enrolling in a university to complete these qualifications.
TAFE and VET providers in Victoria
Bendigo TAFE
The only thing better than getting a hands-on education at Bendigo TAFE is getting to live in Bendigo while you do it! With friendly people, fantastic food and drink, and beautiful nature, there are plenty of reasons to choose this regional gem for your overseas adventure.
Institution Trading Name: Bendigo TAFE
CRICOS Provider Code: 01218G
Locations: Bendigo
Courses: International students at Bendigo TAFE can study community services.
Facilities: Bendigo TAFE’s Health and Community Centre of Excellence provides an advanced learning environment designed to prepare students for real-world careers in health and community services. The centre features purpose-built spaces such as simulated hospital wards, aged care facilities, and community service environments. Students train using industry-standard equipment and realistic scenarios, ensuring they graduate with practical skills and confidence. Collaborative learning areas and technology-enabled classrooms create an immersive experience that reflects modern healthcare and social service settings.
Box Hill Institute
Box Hill Institute (BHI) is a trusted VET provider in Victoria that connects more than 25,000 students each year with genuine employment outcomes. With modern state-of-the-art facilities, high training standards and a focus on flexible and practical learning, students can gain skills and qualifications aligned to industry standards and needs.
Institution Trading Name: Box Hill Institute
CRICOS Provider Code: 02411J
Locations: Box Hill, Lilydale Lakeside, and Melbourne City.
Courses: There are a range of programs for overseas students, including ELICOS, Automotive Technology, Commerce, Fashion and Design, Health, Community Services, Education, Hospitality, Music and Information Technology.
Facilities: Box Hill Institute offers a number of facilities designed specifically for industry aligned training, including the Creative Design Hub, Health and Nursing, Cyber Security Operations Centre and Refrigeration and Climate Control Centre of Excellence.
Chisholm Institute
Along with a quality learning experience, Chisholm Institute offers many free employment support services through its Skills and Jobs Centre such as career counselling and workshops. Located in Melbourne’s multicultural south-eastern suburbs, students can experience beachside living through its Frankston campus, study near the mountainous Dandenong Ranges at its Dandenong campus, or be part of the community in the historic township of Berwick.
Institution Trading Name: Chisholm Institute
CRICOS Provider Code: 00881F
Locations: Berwick, Cranbourne, Dandenong and Frankston.
Courses: At Chisholm Institute, you can study subjects such as accounting, business management, community services, cookery and patisserie, early childhood education, engineering, nursing and psychology.
Facilities: Chisholm Institute offers a diverse range of specialist industry training facilities design to give students real world skills and experience, such as its $15 million Centre for Health at its Berwick campus, and specialist training facilities in manufacturing and robotics, building and construction, and automotive.
The Gordon TAFE
The Gordon is one of Victoria’s largest regional TAFE institutions and was named the International Education Provider of the Year at the 2021-22 Victorian International Education Awards. What’s more, Geelong - where 2 of The Gordon’s campuses are located - boasts a laid-back beachy lifestyle that you’re sure to love, and only an hour from Melbourne.
Institution Trading Name: Gordon Institute of TAFE
CRICOS Provider Code: 00011G
Locations: East Geelong, Geelong City and Werribee.
Courses: As an international student, you can develop your skills in aged care, beauty therapy, cookery and hospitality, early childhood education, hospitality, nursing, building and construction, and many more at The Gordon.
Facilities: Across its campuses, The Gordon has many learning and training facilities where students can build their skills. One such example is The Studio, where future hairdressers and beauty therapists can put their skills and abilities into practice. Culinary students also have the chance to perfect their dishes at The Gordon’s on-campus training restaurant, The Davidson.
Holmesglen Institute
Holmesglen Institute of TAFE has over 40 years of experience in providing VET in Victoria, with more than 140,000 graduates. Holmesglen also manages offshore projects in several countries - including China, Indonesia and Japan - giving students an opportunity to launch a global career.
Institution Trading Name: Holmesglen, Holmesglen Institute
CRICOS Provider Code: 00012G
Locations: Chadstone, Glen Waverley, Melbourne City, Moorabbin and Southbank.
Courses: Holmesglen offers many options for international students, including qualifications in diverse fields including art and design, sports and fitness, business, technology, hospitality and healthcare.
Facilities: Award-winning campus facilities including the Victorian Tunnelling Centre which focusses on specialist training in underground construction and tunnelling, and the access to state of the art facilities at Holmesglen Health precinct including the Holmesglen Private Hospital, the first TAFE-based hospital in Australia.
Kangan Institute
Kangan Institute is a leader in practical, hands-on training, with a strong focus on community services and automotive service and repair. Students gain real-world experience through purpose-built facilities that replicate industry environments.
Institution Trading Name: Kangan Institute
CRICOS Provider Code: 01218G
Locations: Broadmeadows (Community Services) and Docklands (Automotive).
Courses: International students at Kangan Institute can study community services and automotive service and repair.
Broadmeadows Campus: Home to the Health and Community Centre of Excellence, featuring simulated hospital wards, aged care facilities, and community service environments. Students train with industry-standard equipment and realistic scenarios, ensuring they graduate with practical skills for health and community services careers.
Docklands Campus: Features the Automotive Centre of Excellence (ACE), Australia’s largest automotive training facility. Students access advanced vehicle and engine-testing labs, auto electrical workshops, and diagnostic technology. ACE is Australia’s leading provider of training in emerging technologies, including Electric Vehicles (EVs), Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs), and new fuels – all conveniently located in downtown Melbourne.
Melbourne Polytechnic
In addition to its diverse range of courses (which include accounting, business, music, education and more), Melbourne Polytechnic offers an array of scholarships, many of which are exclusively for international students. Some of these include the Recognition of Excellence in Transnational Studies Scholarship, which offers up to 50% off tuition fees, and the International Higher Education Scholarship, which provides up to 20% off tuition fees.
Institution Trading Name: Melbourne Polytechnic
CRICOS Provider Code: 00724G
Locations: Collingwood, Eden Park, Epping, Fairfield, Greensborough, Heidelberg, North Melbourne, Prahran, Preston and Yan Yean.
Courses: Melbourne Polytechnic has a range of programs available to international students including accounting, business, creative and performing arts, engineering and hospitality.
Facilities: From gallery spaces and jewellery workshops to pathology labs, Melbourne Polytechnic is home to a wide array of specialist training facilities. Viticulture students will have access to vineyards and wineries, while makeup students can build their skills in the Specialist Makeup Room.
Sunraysia Institute of TAFE (SuniTAFE)
Nestled in Victoria’s northwest, studying at SuniTAFE allows you to launch your career surrounded by the stunning natural environment of Mildura. Horticulture students even have the chance to learn innovative techniques firsthand at the institute’s Smart Farm.
Institution Trading Name: Sunraysia Institute of TAFE
CRICOS Provider Code: 01985A
Locations: Mildura.
Courses: At SuniTAFE, you can complete qualifications in areas such as early childhood education and care, English language, finance and accounting, and horticulture.
Facilities: SuniTAFE houses various workshops and fully equipped learning spaces. Hospitality students will benefit from the institute’s two commercial kitchens and its training restaurant, while dedicated building and plumbing workshops can help trades students achieve new skill levels.
William Angliss Institute
William Angliss Institute has a presence in 5 countries across the Asia-Pacific region: Australia, China, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Vietnam. The institute specialises particularly in events, food, hospitality and tourism training.
Institution Trading Name: William Angliss Institute
CRICOS Provider Code: 01505M
Locations: Melbourne City.
Courses: At William Angliss Institute, you can choose to study in any of the following course disciplines: food and culinary management, hospitality, hotel management and tourism.
Facilities: Given its specialisation in food and hospitality, William Angliss Institute boasts several facilities specifically for skill development in these disciplines. Some of these include 10 high-end commercial kitchens, an onsite café and bakeshop, a chocolate laboratory, the Angliss International Hotel School five-star accommodation and hotel management training centre, a mock airplane cabin, and a food technology laboratory.
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