Yeah, it depends on who is asking. If they recognise it for what it is, then the Honours degree from Australia can be the stepping stone to a doctorate. You may not need any MSc/MRes/MPhil. Of course this is not just for Australian Honours degrees, in England not every doctoral student has done prior graduate study either.

On the other hand, they seem to think that a non-Honours Australian degree (3 years) is inferior to their 3 year Honours degrees. They consider it a proper degree but not at the same level (but I think not as a Pass or Ordinary degree, which is a completed degree but with quite bad marks). But if you do a proper subject, it isn't - it can actually be more work. In Australia the semesters are quite long, I think holidays are fewer/shorter than the British schools' breaks. But there are easier and less demanding degrees that (even though require the same credits/units in total) may be less work than a British Bachelor's with Hons.

This disadvantages Australian students looking at grad school overseas... as sometimes non-Honours graduates may be asked of higher grades. Which is quite unfair when there is every possibility that 3 year Australian degree was harder (or took the same effort) to do than the 3 year British Hons degree in an equivalent subject.

Change of heart after you spoke to them in person... does that mean you were successful? What happened before was unfortunate!

Would you mind revealing the name of the university?

This disadvantages Australian students looking at grad school overseas... as sometimes non-Honours graduates may be asked of higher grades. Which is quite unfair when there is every possibility that 3 year Australian degree was harder (or took the same effort) to do than the 3 year British Hons degree in an equivalent subject.

Right! I am a product of UK universities but I always think an Australian Honours is equivalent to a Masters in the UK. Why don't you try applying to other universities? I think Imperial College would be delighted to accept someone like you .

Yes, Imperial charges exorbitant fees and it is so much more expensive to live in London than other parts of the UK.

Hmmph, typical of Oxbridge or any other UK universities. In spite of their fame, Oxbridge is not rich and more often than not, unable to fund international (Non EU) students.

Yes, I do post at Recom every once in a while.

Right, I was going to mention something about that particular university being misinformed about Aussie degrees but stopped short least I bring up something controversial.

It seems to me you have made a right decision. I hope things do work out for you. As you mentioned, it is ridiculous for that particular university to disregard your achievements as inadequate for their PhD programme.

It's terrible.

Would you still go to that school if you got accepted? After how you were treated? Maybe that's going a little far since you weren't a student there, but the whole situation definitely sucks.

The problem is that although the Australian universities want to brand themselves as world class, top universities (and indeed many feature or featured in the top 20-50 of the major rankings) they do not do enough to elevate or solidify their standings worldwide... hence the problems that people such as yourself now face (qualifications not being recognised for what they are).

Forget rankings, reputation... many schools are famous for specialty disciplines but are ranked poorly overall because the rankings address incredibly silly things rather than the standards of teaching or of graduates. Qualifications not being recognised properly are a fundamental flaw. It's like reducing one's education to junk and wasted time. If this is already a huge problem for the "best" and "top" Australian universities, you can imagine what a nightmare this presents to the international students or Australian students who have schooled in Australia but are looking for work overseas.

Australian degrees are good if you're staying in Australia, to study (mainly) or to work. Question is, when they don't seem to translate, would your school stand up for you?