What is the difference between Vocational Education and Training (VET) and uni?

When it comes to your options for further study after school, it’s important to think about the best choices for you. People learn in all different ways, and depending on which career path you want to take, some options may be more beneficial to your learning and career goals than others.

With so much information flying around, below is a helpful summary to explain the key differences between VET and university education.

• Focus on hands-on, practical learning
• Courses are shorter, some ranging from a few months to a few years
• Focus on specific skills for jobs in industries like construction
• Access to industry-standard facilities
• Opportunities for workplace-based learning and apprenticeships for real-world experience
• Open to everyone, regardless of grades
• More affordable compared to university degrees, with government financial assistance available

• More theoretical and lecture-based learning
• Longer courses, usually spanning multiple years.
• Offers a wide range of academic degrees resulting in construction careers that are more office-based rather than onsite
• Research-focused with opportunities for in-depth study
• Higher entry requirements and competitive admission process
• Generally more expensive than vocational education programs, however Australia has a great HECS-HELP scheme to help you manage your university fees

Remember, both VET and university are awesome options that can help you get into the construction industry. They each have their own cool perks, so it’s crucial to think about what you’re into, how you like to learn, and what you want to achieve in the future when choosing between them.