Since the relaxation of Australia’s policy on young international students and the opening of primary school study abroad programs, many Chinese parents have turned their attention to this region. According to statistics from the Ministry of Education of China, Australia has become the third most popular destination for young international students, following the United States and New Zealand.
According to data provided by the Australian Department of Immigration and Border Protection, over 6,000 Chinese students enrolled in local high schools in Australia during the 2015-2016 academic year, and this number is expected to continue to rise as more local high schools open their doors to international students.
General education combined with personal interests allows students to freely choose subjects for their university entrance examinations.
Although Australia’s policy on young international students has been gradually relaxed, many local schools have not yet fully opened to international students. In contrast to the study abroad policies of the United States and New Zealand, which accept a large number of international students, Australian high schools tend to be more selective, with many schools strictly limiting the proportion of international students to below 10%, ensuring that international students have ample opportunities to interact with local students.
For students in the junior high school stage (grades 7/8 to 10), learning is based on personal interests, allowing each individual’s hobbies and strengths to develop freely.
In high school (grades 11 and 12), students begin to experience some pressure regarding further education. Unlike the standardized university entrance examinations in China and the United States, the subjects for the Australian university entrance examinations can be chosen by the students themselves.
Students select subjects for the university entrance examination based on their abilities and interests, drawing from their six years of junior and senior high school education, and the grading teachers and evaluation standards can provide comprehensive and fair assessments based on the different developmental directions of the students.
This educational philosophy is an extension of the principle of teaching according to individual aptitude, rejecting a one-size-fits-all approach to teaching content and objectives, and truly centering on the student. Currently, all Australian high schools offer dozens to hundreds of courses for students to choose from, ensuring that students receive a general education while allowing them to personalize their course selections based on their interests and hobbies.