What is an associate degree?
By Ralph BrownPublished on
An associate degree is a two-year university qualification, and one of the more accessible ways into higher education. Here’s what it involves, how to get into one and where it can take you.
What is an associate degree?
An associate degree is a nationally recognised higher education qualification, designed and awarded by universities, that prepares you for skilled, hands-on roles. It can also be a stepping stone into a bachelor degree later on.
This course suits a lot of people who don’t need or see themselves in a traditional three-year or four-year degree. You might be returning to study after years out of the classroom, or moving into a new field without the qualifications that field usually expects. Entry requirements for an associate degree are typically lower than they would be for a bachelor degree, making it an easier place to start your study journey. For some careers, it can be all you need.
You may also see the older term ‘associate diploma’ on job ads or in conversation. That name was phased out under the current qualifications framework, and the associate degree is the closest modern equivalent.
If you want to talk it through with someone first, a student advisor like myself can help you work out whether an associate degree fits where you’re heading, at no cost.
You can also browse our qualifications explainer for information on other qualification types.
What level is an associate degree?
An associate degree sits at Level 6 of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF), the national system that defines every recognised qualification in Australia, from a certificate I through to a doctorate. That means it is the same level as an advanced diploma, one level above a diploma (Level 5), and one level below a bachelor degree (Level 7).
The AQF describes the purpose of an associate degree as qualifying people to apply technical and theoretical knowledge in paraprofessional work, and as a route into further learning. That second half matters. The qualification is designed with progression in mind, which is why many associate degrees are structured to line up with a related bachelor degree for those who want to keep studying.
Because it is a higher education qualification, an associate degree is delivered by universities and other institutions registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), the national regulator. So when people ask whether an associate degree is a ‘real’ qualification, the answer is yes. It is nationally recognised, and it is regulated in the same system as bachelor and postgraduate degrees.
How long does an associate degree take?
Most associate degrees take about two years of full-time study. Study part time and it stretches out accordingly, so one subject a study term rather than two will roughly double the time.
Part time is how a lot of our students do it, and many associate degrees available through us can be studied entirely online, so you can fit study around work and family rather than around a campus timetable.
When you enrol with your university through us, you can start with as little as one subject in a study term, then increase your load when life allows and ease off again when it doesn't. You don't have to lock in a full-time load from day one.
Associate degree at a glance
Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
AQF level | Level 6, the same as an advanced diploma |
Typical duration | About two years full time, longer part time |
Purpose | Paraprofessional and technical roles |
Pathway | Can earn credit toward a related bachelor degree, subject to the university's rules |
What can you do with an associate degree?
An associate degree qualifies you for paraprofessional and technical roles in the field you have studied, and it can carry you into a bachelor degree with credit for the study you have already done.
Paraprofessional is a word that trips people up. It describes skilled roles that work alongside fully qualified professionals. Think of an engineering associate supporting a chartered engineer, or a technical officer in a lab. The work is hands-on and specialised, and it exists across fields like engineering, business, health, information technology and criminal justice.
The kinds of roles graduates move into include:
- Paralegal or legal assistant
- Engineering associate or technical officer
- Administration officer, school support officer or teacher’s aide
- Help desk and IT support roles
- Marketing associate
- Team leader or supervisor roles in fields like tourism, construction and community health
The pathway side is the reason many students enrol in the first place. Where an associate degree is designed to articulate into a related bachelor degree, graduating can mean entering that degree with credit for study you have already completed, so you finish sooner than you would have starting from scratch.
How much credit you get is set by the university, not by us, and it varies by course. That’s worth checking before you enrol rather than after. It’s one of the first things I look at with students.
What I tell students:
The question I get asked most is whether starting with an associate degree closes the door on a bachelor degree. It usually does the opposite. Students who go this way often arrive at the bachelor degree with credit for study they’ve already done, and with far more confidence that uni works for them.
Associate degree vs diploma vs bachelor degree
The difference is mostly one of depth and length. A diploma sits a level below at AQF 5 and is usually a year of full-time study. An associate degree sits at AQF 6 and takes about two years. A bachelor degree sits at AQF 7 and takes three years or more, going deeper into theory and preparing you for professional rather than paraprofessional roles.
If you’re weighing two of these against each other, read our explainers on what a diploma is and what a bachelor degree is.
How to get into an associate degree
Entry requirements are set by the university that runs the course, and they vary.
Depending on the degree, entry may be based on:
- your ATAR if you have one, although some associate degrees don’t ask for one and only require completion of Year 12
- previous study or relevant work experience
- completion of a preparatory subject
- completion of a single subject or undergraduate certificate, the alternative pathways we recommend most often
Being out of school for a decade isn’t the barrier people often assume it is.
We’re not a university, so we don't set those requirements or decide who gets in. What we do is help you compare associate degrees from a range of Australian universities in one place, understand what each one asks for, and find a pathway in if you need it, so you can enrol once you know which course you want.
How much does an associate degree cost?
It depends on the associate degree. But eligible students can apply for a HELP loan to defer their fees rather than paying upfront.
Commonwealth supported places may also be available. This means the Australian Government covers part of your fees, reducing the amount you need to pay overall.
Visit ourfees and financial options page for more information about how this works, and Study Assist to check current loan rules and eligibility.
Is an associate degree right for you?
Only you can answer that, but you don’t have to answer it alone, and you don’t have to answer it today. If you’re torn between an associate degree and a diploma, or wondering whether to go straight into a bachelor degree, the difference usually comes down to how much time you have and where you want to end up.
Compare associate degrees through us
Australian universities deliver and award associate degrees. Our job is to make it easier for you to compare them, choose one, access them online and enrol, without having to visit ten different university websites to work out what you’re looking at.
Get in touch with a student advisor like me for free, personalised guidance on whether an associate degree suits you and which course to pick.
If you’d rather explore on your own first, try Help Me Choose or browse the associate degrees available through us.
About the author
Ralph Brown
Student advisor specialising in qualification advice
Ralph Brown is an experienced student advisor at Open Universities Australia. Over nine years, he has helped thousands of students compare courses, understand their options and take their next step with confidence. Ralph believes there is often more than one path forward. He gives clear, practical advice without pressure, helping students make decisions that suit their goals, circumstances and readiness to study.
Frequently asked questions
Is an associate degree a tertiary qualification?
Yes. It belongs to the higher education system rather than the vocational one, and it’s regulated by TEQSA alongside bachelor and postgraduate degrees. Employers and universities across Australia recognise it as a completed qualification in its own right, whether or not you go on to further study.
Can an associate degree get you a job?
Yes. Associate degrees are designed for paraprofessional and technical roles, so graduates often move into support and specialist positions alongside fully qualified professionals. What it opens up depends heavily on the field you study and the industry you enter, so it’s worth looking at the specific course and where its graduates end up before you enrol.
Can an associate degree count as credit toward a bachelor degree at a different university?
Sometimes. It’s up to the university you’re applying to. They will assess how closely your associate degree matches the bachelor degree you want to enter. You’ll usually get the most credit where the associate degree was designed to articulate into that particular bachelor degree, and less when you are moving across universities or fields. Ask the university, or ask us to help you check, before you enrol.
Is a US ‘associate of arts (AA)’ the same?
Not quite, though the two are close cousins. In the United States, an associate of arts (AA) or associate of science (AS) is a two-year qualification, often studied at a community college, and often used to transfer into the third year of a four-year bachelor degree.
The Australian associate degree does a similar job, but it’s a higher education qualification set at AQF Level 6 and awarded by universities here. here is no exact Australian equivalent of the American community college system. If you’ve studied an AA overseas and want to know how it will be recognised in Australia, the university you’re applying to makes that call. Our advisors can help you find out what each course will accept.
