 Australia has 37 government @-@ funded universities and two private universities , as well as a number of other specialist institutions that provide approved courses at the higher education level . The OECD places Australia among the most expensive nations to attend university . There is a state @-@ based system of vocational training , known as TAFE , and many trades conduct apprenticeships for training new tradespeople . About 58 % of Australians aged from 25 to 64 have vocational or tertiary qualifications , and the tertiary graduation rate of 49 % is the highest among OECD countries . The ratio of international to local students in tertiary education in Australia is the highest in the OECD countries . In addition , 38 percent of Australia 's population has a university or college degree , which is among the highest percentages in the world . 
