Reputation

The Williams family has owned and run the College hands on for 114 years. Tens of thousands of quality business graduates have made Williams a trusted name that employers know and value.

New thinking, modern facilities

We haven't kept going for over a century without being sharp, creative and innovative: an impressive and superbly equipped campus, new teaching methods, new technology, new courseware.

It’s all about YOU!

We prefer to keep our college on a human scale, with a few hundred rather than a few thousand students -- large enough for diversity but small enough for us to know and care for each student personally. No two students are alike, so we structure our teaching methods, support systems and progress interviews to manage your individual needs.

Courses that are practical and fast

Employers want people that are computer savvy and can communicate, write, analyse, think independently, work with a team, and make right decisions. If you work with us, you will gain these qualities along with your nationally recognised qualifications. We fast-track courses consistent with good educational practice. You work harder but are advancing your career and earning a salary earlier. Williams incorporates e-business principles and thinking throughout the syllabus, supported by e-business-aware teachers, subject content and delivery, and the use of the College's IT facilities.

A smart alternative route to Higher Education

Gain practical skills in one year with an Advanced Diploma, then work and further your career at the same time as completing your Degree. Williams has assisted hundreds of its students to follow this smart alternative approach to Higher Education.

Williams Advanced Diploma and Diploma graduates meet the minimum entry requirements for most Australian universities. Provided you have completed HSC or equivalent and meet minimum entry grades in your Williams course, you can apply to any university or Higher Education Provider (HEP) for credit transfer or advanced standing into one of their relevant undergraduate degrees. See williams.edu.au for details of Williams' Higher Education articulation agreements.

Time out on Fridays, and other people-friendly methods of study

For full-time students, study at Williams is designed to make your hectic lives a little more relaxed, organised and flexible. Structured classes are held between 9am and 5pm Mondays to Thursdays leaving you time out on Fridays to do what's needed. This may be additional study, team projects, work experience or a casual job. Other features of study at Williams:

• Our average class size is under 20 -- large enough for interaction and team learning, but small enough for your voice, ideas, questions and concerns to be heard.
• Subjects are delivered over 5 or 10-week periods. Each subject has clear objectives and a timeframe short enough to encourage active, organised study.
• There's a holiday after each 10 weeks to recover!
• Assessment is less stressful, based on total learning experience rather than just dreaded final exams.
• Project work, often in teams and sometimes across subjects, is a major part of both learning and assessment. It's based on real-world business situations with teachers role-playing as clients and acting as mentors.
• We make increasing use of online distribution of course materials; helpful for revision, additional materials and in case of sessions missed.
• You will work harder in a Williams program, but you will be in employment sooner.

Full time or part time?

Courses may be taken full time (Monday to Thursday) or part time (Monday+Wednesday or Tuesday+Thursday), so part time study takes twice the time of full time study. It is possible to switch between modes, defer, discontinue or resume any program at the end of any term. There are 4 terms in the year.

Teachers you can relate to

Williams teachers are professionals with qualifications in both training/education and their specialised subject areas. For Advanced Diploma subjects, teachers will have tertiary qualifications and current professional practice giving them a wealth of current information, industry contacts and "war stories" to draw on. Our subjects allow sufficient class time not only for lectures and teaching, but mentoring individuals as well.

Support networks and a friendly atmosphere

We want you to enjoy yourself while you are at learning at Williams. Williams has supportive networks of people to make your time at college fulfilling and fun.

• A mentor network of teachers for academic support.
• A Director of Studies to help you manage your program and any difficulties that might affect your studies..
• Student Services personnel to help in other areas, including personal welfare and guidance.
• An active Student Council to manage the social, cultural and charitable activities in the College, and student/management liaison.
• A family of College Directors that has been in the business of educational caring for over a century.
• Email access to teachers and staff at any time.

An impressive campus with top facilities and resources

Williams' campus impresses all visitors with its light and airy classrooms, sunny balconies and parkland outlook. It is a very pleasant place to work, with superbly equipped labs, classrooms and project break-out rooms. It is a block from North Sydney CBD and an easy walk from trains and buses. Student amenities include a well-equipped student common room, outside balconies, a lunch café at the entrance to the campus building, and personal lockers.

Computer workstation to student ratio is better than 2 to 1. IT facilities are concentrated in four labs used for training and private study. All workstations have high-speed internet access and are managed by a high-tech network backend. The software we use is that commonly found in business today: Microsoft Office, MYOB, Galileo and Fidelio. Williams provides all students with an email account that can be used and accessed from any computer that has internet access. A williams.edu.au address looks far more professional than a hotmail or yahoo address when seeking employment, and increases the changes of the emails being read.

Job support services

A series of seminars on Career Development and Planning is part of every course. It covers resumé preparation, application letter guidance, interview techniques, job-hunting strategies, and planning for ongoing career development.

This is followed by one-on-one sessions to refine your job application documents, then a mock interview and feedback session with external employment specialists. You are well prepared by the time you look for work.

Finally, the College routinely receives more positions for graduates from employers than we can fill. We pass these on to relevant students.

Affordability

Williams is a non-profit organisation which means that all your fees are returned to you in the services and resources you use. This is a significant investment in your future, and there are ways of making it easier.

• All qualifications have payment plans that give a number of ways of spreading your fees payments. If you'd like to know more, call our Student Services people or submit an online enquiry.
• You may also be eligible for Austudy or Youth Allowance.
• Student loans are available through the National Australia Bank Tertiary Student Loan scheme. More details on the Student Loans page.
• The College's own Dora Isherwood Foundation provides loans for students who would not otherwise be able to afford to come to Williams.
• Many of our part-time students have their fees sponsored by the company they currently work for. Discuss how this works with our Student Services people.
• FEE-HELP: Changes announced in the 2007 Commonwealth Budget mean that from 2nd semester 2008, students in approved Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses will be able to access FEE-HELP to a maximum of $80,000.

You may not have to do all subjects

You may be granted exemptions from some subjects based on previous study or work experience. This Recognition of Prior Learning is offered as a free service by the College and may save you significant study time and fees. More details>>>

Flexible start dates and course structures

We offer five starting dates through the year and flexible course structures.

You practise globalisation

Today's workplace is global. At Williams we are lucky to have a multi-cultural mix of students and staff, which can only be beneficial to you as a student when learning about business around the world and establishing international networks for future use in business.

In the past two years, about 25% of our students have come from the following countries: Bhutan, Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and the USA.

Williams students also have the chance to participate in our strategic alliances with sister Colleges in other countries to facilitate exchange programs for our students.

Endorsement

The College is a Registered Training Organisation, and the qualifications we offer are approved by the New South Wales Vocational Education and training Accreditation Board (VETAB). It is a foundation member of the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET).

The qualifications are also recognised internationally, and are listed on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).