The acronym TAFE means Technical and Further Education. These are educational institutions that are government funded and are considered as Registered Training Organizations or RTOs. Their curriculum and course offerings are practical oriented degrees such as Vocational Education and Training.

Vocational and educational courses provide students the right skills, training and qualifications for their integration into the Australian workforce. Other practical training courses are offered by private RTOs, known as private colleges. Many students though opt to study in TAFE institutes because as government funded educational providers, their training and qualifications have a higher appreciation when seeking future employment.

Currently, TAFE is the third largest educational sector in Australia. Not only do local Australians enter these educational providers but a great many international students seek to enter these institutions to benefit from the wide variety of options in the courses as well as subject areas that provide training in vocational work and other skills based expertise for future careers in the Australian economy.

There are many other reasons that international students choose to enroll in Australian TAFE courses. These are as follows:

1. Improving chances to be accepted into university studies;

2. Obtain practical work skills to be able to improve chances of employment;

3. Being able to take advantage of the wide range of options as to courses available;

4. Maximize individual instruction due to small class sizes;

5. Enjoy the life as a student in Australia;

There are many differences between TAFE education from university schooling. These are as follows:

1. Practical courses. University courses often focus on academics while TAFE courses are hands on practical training that provide workplace skills in demand in the industry. TAFE facilities provide students with industry-standard equipment as well as out of classroom educational experiences such as workshops and other venues. The main focus of TAFE courses is a well rounded on the job training for future work use.

2. Options for Courses. TAFE courses are vocational educational training leading to certificates and diplomas. These individual VET courses cost less as well as require shorter time frames. These courses though offer a lower qualification level compared to a degree, thus may be bit of an issue when it comes to future employment requisites. Some TAFE institutes also offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees for future options of the individual.

3. Accessibility. Compared to universities, TAFE institutes have lower entry requirements compared to universities. These include the basic requirement of completion of Australian year level 10 to 12 and English competency or their equivalents.