It is administered nationally by the Australian Government's Department of Industry, with oversight from the States and Territories, through the Standing Council of Tertiary Education Skills and Employment.

While the AQF specifies the standards, education and training organisations are authorised by accrediting authorities to issue a qualification.

Universities Australia generates a nationally standardised final score for each SSCE student called the Australian Tertiary Admission Rank.

Universities and other Higher Education providers typically use this mark as the main criterion in selecting domestic students.

ACE has lesser support, and students may also have to additionally pass a Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

VET courses are typically short, practical in nature and delivered by a TAFE college or registered training organisation at a certificate to diploma level.

A process of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) has been implemented to allow competencies gained through work and other experience to be assessed and recognised.

These courses are usually delivered by TAFE colleges, community education centres and registered private training providers.

These courses are usually delivered by universities, TAFE colleges, and private registered training organisations and higher education providers.

The pattern of study generally takes one of the following three forms: Master's degree (extended) are permitted to deviate from the 'Master of ...' naming convention.

Those in legal practice may use the name Juris Doctor but the qualification does not allow a graduate use of the honorific title 'doctor'.

This generally requires the completion of a major thesis, which has to be assessed externally by experts in the field of study.