Accredited courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
Australia offers 20 fee free tafe courses courses in 2026, ranging from Short Courses to Master's Degree. You can study fee free tafe courses fully online or on-campus through registered RTOs, TAFEs, and universities. Courses typically take 1 month to 6 years to complete. Many are delivered under state-based fee-free TAFE or JobTrainer-style initiatives targeting priority skill and workforce shortage areas.


Displaying 20 of 20 courses
In Australia, fee free TAFE courses are government-funded vocational and higher education programmes where eligible students pay no tuition fees for selected qualifications. In 2026 there are 77 options, from Short Courses through to Master's Degree pathways, delivered by TAFEs, universities, and private RTOs. Many align with support and education roles, similar to those in the Education Support Industry.
Most fee free TAFE-style options fit within the standard AQF timeframes: a Certificate III commonly runs for 6–12 months, a Diploma takes around 12–24 months, and a Bachelor degree is typically 3–4 years full-time. Overall, available courses range from short skill sets of about 1 month through to advanced programmes lasting up to 6 years part-time.
Yes, many fee free TAFE courses are available fully online, alongside blended and on-campus options. Studyselect lists online, campus and mixed-mode delivery through registered RTOs, TAFEs and universities, so students outside major cities can still access training. Online learning usually includes virtual classrooms, digital resources and supervised work placement where required for roles like Teacher Assistant or Education Support Worker.
Course fees range from low-cost Short Courses up to higher-fee Diplomas, Bachelor and Master's Degree programmes, and durations can span 1 month to several years. For eligible students, fee free TAFE initiatives and state-subsidised training can reduce tuition to $0 for selected priority courses. Higher-level qualifications may also be supported by VET Student Loans or JobTrainer-style funding, depending on government policy in each state or territory.
Graduates commonly move into classroom and learning-support roles such as Education Assistant, Education Support Worker, Teacher Assistant, and Teacher’s Aide. Some pathways can also support progression towards teacher education degrees or specialist inclusion-support roles in schools. For a closer look at one pathway, see the Education Assistant Career guide.