For more than 100 years, TAFE New South Wales (NSW) has been a leading public vocational education and training (VET) provider. It is the largest Australian VET provider with over 450,000 Australian students and 4,200 international students enrolled at 120 campuses in Sydney and throughout the state of NSW.

In some countries, TAFE is known as a Polytechnic, Technical College or Community College. TAFE stands for Technical and Further Education.

TAFE NSW Institutes rely on innovative learning technologies and highly-qualified teaching staff to be leaders in the digital information age.

All TAFE NSW Institutes are government owned, government operated and government accredited.

TAFE NSW Institutes provide over 250 certificate, diploma and advanced diploma courses including many programmes that articulate to a number of Australian universities.

Study areas include:

Accounting and business

Advertising

Bakery

Bricklaying

Children Services

Cookery

Dental technology

Digital Media

Electronics and engineering

Fashion and dress making

Fitness and sport

Information technology

Graphic and interior design

Hairdressing

Horticulture

Management

Marketing

Pâtisserie

Real estate

Tourism

Welfare work

Wall and floor tiling

So, why do so many students chose to study at TAFE NSW Institutes?

Location

Whether you love a busy city lifestyle or prefer a more relaxed coastal environment, TAFE NSW has a location to suit you – there are 120 TAFE NSW campus locations to choose from. Regardless of where you decide to live and study, all campuses offer access to modern, state-of-the art facilities, skilled teachers and student support.

Reputation and strength

TAFE NSW Institutes are government-owned and have been leading public vocational education and training providers in Australia for more than 100 years. You can be sure that TAFE NSW Institutes are professionally run, internationally respected and financially secure. We carefully follow your academic progress and provide learning support throughout your course. We want you to achieve your best, graduate well, and move into a successful career.

 Internships and Practical Training

TAFE NSW courses are developed in consultation with national Industry Skills Councils, certified by the Australian Government, and meet rigorous teaching and assessment standards. Our focus
is on flexible, highly interactive and personalised learning and our courses keep pace with the latest developments in industry and commerce.

 Learn from the experts

Our teachers are highly-qualified, experienced industry and education professionals. Class sizes are small, with an average 1:15 teacher-student ratio, which ensures that students receive individual attention. Face-to-face tuition and practical work takes place in specialist rooms on campus including computer resource centres, commercial-scale kitchens and restaurants, design and multimedia centres, engineering workshops, childcare centres, science laboratories and maritime simulators.

Paolo Polimeni from Italy studied a Diploma of Community Welfare followed by a Diploma of Disability Work at TAFE NSW

“I wanted to help people but in Italy there were no vocational courses focusing on welfare available. I did a lot of research and found a course at TAFE NSW – Kingscliff campus. I chose TAFE NSW because it is a government institution and I wanted to study with Australian students.

“Australia has a great quality of life, level of education and the possibility to find work after graduation. As part of my course, I completed a number of work placements with local charities. The placements were very useful as they gave me an opportunity to see what community work is really like. After graduation, I applied for permanent residency and now work for a local charity in Sydney. At TAFE NSW, I perfected my English and got on the job training that led to my current employment.”

Phillip Norris from the UK is studying a Diploma of Horticulture (Landscape)

“I was attracted to TAFE NSW Northern Sydney Institute because of its reputation in horticulture – relatives in Australia recommended the course to me. I am currently doing a two year course in landscape horticulture which I hope will prepare me for a job in the industry. Currently there is a shortage of workers in landscape works in Australia, and I am confident that at TAFE I’ll learn the skills required to get a good job. The teachers here are excellent and very approachable, and the teaching methods combine the theoretical aspects along with the practical skills.

“Sydney offers a fantastic lifestyle with lots of activities, great weather and very welcoming people. Sydney as a city is very multicultural and international students mix with Australian students at campus. I have made lots of friends here.”

Photo: Pierre Toussaint. Courtesy Tourism New South Wales