Gross Enrolment at Tertiary Level
Participation in tertiary education is an important driver of economic, cultural and social development, and a vital determinant of international competitiveness. In 2005, Australia's gross enrolment ratio in tertiary education was higher than that of the United Kingdom, France, and all Asian countries except Korea, and one of the highest in the world.
Australia's impressive level of participation in tertiary education is confirmed by other international comparisons provided by the OECD. In its Education at a Glance, 2005 publication, the OECD found that five-year-old children in Australia could expect to receive an average of 21 years of formal schooling (on a full or part time basis) during their lifetimes, the highest of all OECD countries. Additionally, in Education at a Glance, 2007, Australia was ranked first in the OECD for the percentage of its population of typical graduation age completing tertiary degrees in 2005 at 59%.
Formal tertiary education in Australia is mainly provided through universities, Technical and Further Education (TAFE) colleges and other vocational education and training institutes. There are 39 universities operating in Australia, with 11 of these in New South Wales. In 2006, total student enrolment in Australia’s higher education institutions was more than 984,146, with New South Wales accounting for 302,880 or 31%. This compares with about 60,000 university students in Singapore in 2005 and 92,000 in Hong Kong SAR (at University Grants Committee-funded institutions only) in 2005-06.
Gross Enrolment Ratio at Tertiary Level (1), 2005 (%)
| Country |
Ratio |
| Korea (2) |
91 |
| United States |
83 |
| New Zealand |
82 |
| Australia |
72 |
| United Kingdom |
60 |
| France |
56 |
| Japan |
55 |
| Thailand (2) |
43 |
| Malaysia (3) |
32 |
| Hong Kong SAR |
31 |
| Philippines |
28 |
| China |
20 |
| Indonesia (4) |
17 |
| India |
11 |
| Germany (5) |
.. |
| Singapore (5) |
.. |
Footnotes:
Preliminary data for all countries except Korea and Hong Kong SAR
1: The Gross Enrolment Ratio in tertiary education is the total enrolment in tertiary education regardless of age, expressed as a percentage of the population in the five-year age group following on from the secondary school leaving age.
2: Data are for 2005-06.
3: Data are for 2003-04.
4: UNESCO Institute for Statistics estimate.
5: No data available.
Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Global Education Digest 2007.