The acquisition of in-depth understanding in a specific area of knowledge, involving a minimum of two thirds of the course being undertaken by research.

Higher Education courses are generally offered by universities, who accredit their own courses. Higher Education courses under the new Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) include Advanced Diploma, Bachelor Degree, Master Degree, Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Doctor Degree (PhD).

This level includes Graduate Certificate, Vocational Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, Vocational Graduate Diploma, Master Degree and Doctor Degree. (Note that the Vocational qualifications are new and few in number).

Animal health, audiology, child care, chiropractic, community services, counselling, dental studies, dietetics, epidemiology, family care, fitness, leisure, medicine, natural therapies, nutrition, nursing, occupational therapy, optometry, pharmacy, podiatry, physiotherapy, rehabilitation, social work, speech pathology, sport, veterinary studies, welfare studies.

A Bachelor Degree with Honours is awarded on completion of an extra research-based year on top of the relevant Bachelor Degree at Pass level. It is a common entry pathway to a Master Degree.