• Assessments and academic integrity

    The rapid move to online learning during the pandemic involved changes to assessment, which posed new risks to academic integrity. TEQSA has compiled these resources to assist providers and teaching staff to maintain academic integrity while teaching online.

    TEQSA makes the information on this webpage available to assist higher education providers, ELICOS providers and foundation program providers in building good practice. It has been obtained from a range of external sources and has not been generated by or on behalf of TEQSA unless otherwise noted. You should read, and carefully consider, the disclaimer before accessing any of the material.

    Last updated:

    Related links

  • Protect yourself from illegal commercial cheating services

    TEQSA crest

    WEBSITE BLOCKED

    Access to this website has been blocked because it has been found to facilitate a contravention of section of the provisions of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) regulating academic cheating services.
     

    The relevant provisions in the TEQSA Act

    • make it an offence for any person to provide or advertise academic cheating services relating to the delivery of higher education in Australia, whether that person is in Australia or elsewhere
    • allow TEQSA to apply under section 127A to the Federal Court for an injunction requiring carriage service providers to take steps to disable access to websites found to contravene or facilitate a contravention of sections 114A or 114B of the TEQSA Act
    • provide for financial and custodial penalties where an offence is proven of up to 500 penalty units, 2 years imprisonment, or both. The TEQSA Act distinguishes between cheating services provided on a commercial basis, and where the cheating service is provided without payment.

    If you use academic cheating services you might not learn all the skills you need for your career. You also risk losing your money, your enrolment, and even your student visa. In some cases, you could be blackmailed by the cheating service providers who might threaten to tell your institution or a future employer that you cheated.
     

    Cheating is never the right answer.

    Why are we blocking academic cheating websites?

    Australia’s anti-cheating laws make it an offence to provide or advertise academic cheating services in higher education, with penalties of up to 2 years’ imprisonment or fines of up to 500 penalty units ($111,000 on 30 June 2021) or both.

    TEQSA  is working to disrupt access to these sites to protect students and the integrity of higher education.

    Which academic cheating services have been blocked?

    Complain about a commercial academic cheating website

    How to complain

    You can help to stamp out academic cheating. Complete the form to complain about suspected commercial academic cheating services (cheating websites).

    If you are unable to submit your complaint using the online form, you can make a complaint by emailing TEQSA at concerns@teqsa.gov.au.

    TEQSA may use any information it receives from any person who contacts it about suspected commercial academic cheating services in taking enforcement action (including in the pursuit of civil penalty or criminal penalty proceedings pursuant to sections 114A and 114B of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Act 2011), either independently or in conjunction with other agencies.

    Complain or raise concerns about the blocking of a website

    You can tell us why you think a particular website shouldn’t be blocked (you don’t have to give us any personal details) or that you have concerns about the blocking, by submitting the form you can access using the link above.

    If you are unable to submit your complaint or concerns using the online form, you can make a complaint by emailing TEQSA at highereducationintegrityunit@teqsa.gov.au.

    TEQSA may use any information it receives from any person who contacts it about the disruption of access to an online location in taking enforcement action (including in the pursuit of civil penalty or criminal penalty proceedings pursuant to sections 114A and 114B of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Act 2011), either independently or in conjunction with other agencies.

    Last updated:

  • What is academic integrity?

    Academic integrity 

    Academic integrity is:

    ‘the expectation that teachers, students, researchers and all members of the academic community act with: honesty, trust, fairness, respect and responsibility.’ 

    Breaching academic integrity is also known as ‘academic misconduct’ or ‘academic dishonesty’.

    All Australian higher education students are expected to uphold academic integrity during their studies. An important way of upholding your academic integrity is by contacting your teachers or your school if you are having study problems and working with them on solutions. 

    Studying and learning provides the knowledge expected of a graduate from your course but any form of cheating means that you could miss important professional knowledge and practice that you need to succeed in your future career.  

    Protecting your reputation

    Students become part of a learning community when they study. Actions that undermine the academic integrity of your course or institution could affect your reputation in the future. For example, if you are caught cheating during your studies, professional bodies may refuse to accredit you.

    Avoiding criminals 

    Maintaining academic integrity also protects you from criminals.

    Commercial cheating services are illegal in Australia.  

    Students who use illegal cheating services, to buy an essay, study notes or have someone impersonate them in an exam, are also at risk of blackmail. Operators of illegal cheating services can threaten to inform the university or the student’s future employer about their cheating unless the student pays them a large sum of money – sometimes years after the cheating took place.

    Behaviours that support academic integrity

    You can support academic integrity by1:

    • acknowledging where the information you use comes from, clearly citing or referencing the source
    • sitting your own exams and submitting your own work
    • accurately reporting research findings and abiding by research policies
    • using information appropriately, according to copyright and privacy laws 
    • acting ethically or doing the 'right thing', even when you are facing difficulties.

    If you are having problems that could affect your academic performance, it is best to speak to your lecturer or tutor or course coordinator.

    Behaviours that undermine academic integrity

    A range of student behaviours can undermine academic integrity. Sometimes, students mistakenly believe that these behaviours are commonplace or don’t have consequences. This is wrong. Substantial penalties can apply for breaching academic integrity (see Penalties for breaching academic integrity below for more information).

    Behaviours that undermine or breach academic integrity include2: 

    Plagiarism

    Submitting work that is not your own without acknowledging, citing or referencing the original source of the work, is known as plagiarism. It doesn’t matter whether you do this accidentally or on purpose, whether you change the words to make them your own or simply copy and paste. When you are using another person’s thoughts and ideas, you must reference the source material.

    Recycling or resubmitting work

    Recycling involves submitting (or resubmitting) work that has already been assessed, without your teacher’s permission. For example, submitting a report that you were graded on in a first-year class as part of your work in a third-year class. If you want to build on your previous work, you should discuss this first with your teacher.

    Fabricating information

    Fabrication involves making up information for research-focused assessment tasks, such as experimental or interview data. It can also include inventing sources of data, evidence or ideas by citing publications that are incorrect or that simply don’t exist.

    Collusion

    Collusion involves engaging in illegitimate cooperation with one or more other students to complete assessable work. This is different to working on group assignments that are set by your teachers. Examples of illegitimate cooperation include working with a friend or group of friends to write an essay or report that is meant to be an individual piece of work. It can also include sharing quiz or test questions and answers with other students, as well as written assignments like reports and essays. Illegitimate cooperation can unfairly advantage a student or group of students over others. Students should also never share their work with others as there is a risk the person you share it with could upload it to an illegal commercial cheating service or circulate it to others. 

    Exam cheating

    Exam cheating includes:

    • writing ‘cheat notes’ on your body or materials you take into the exam room
    • attempting to copy from other students
    • communicating with other students or people outside the exam venue while the exam is in progress 
    • using electronic devices to access information related to the exam while it is in progress
    • bringing prohibited items, such as unapproved calculators or textbooks into exams.

    Contract cheating and impersonation

    Contract cheating is a type of illegal commercial cheating. It involves getting someone else to complete part or all of your work and then submitting the work as if you had completed it yourself. This can include asking someone else to sit an exam for you or having them write an essay, report or some other kind of assignment, which is sometimes referred to as 'ghost-writing'. 

    Actions that support illegal contract cheating services are also considered breaches of academic integrity. This includes students uploading teaching materials such as practice exams, lecture slides and assignment questions to 'study notes'.

    Penalties for breaching academic integrity

    Students can face a range of penalties for breaching academic integrity, which is commonly referred to as ‘academic misconduct’ or ‘academic dishonesty’. It is often thought that students rarely get caught. Yet research shows teachers and institutions can detect breaches of academic integrity, and students doing the wrong thing do get caught3. And ways of catching cheating are constantly improving.

    Penalties for breaching academic integrity can include:

    • having to repeat the assessment task or unit of study
    • failing the assessment task, unit of study or course
    • being expelled from your institution, which may impact your student visa
    • facing criminal charges.

    In addition to the risk of academic or criminal penalties, being found to have breached academic integrity can impact your relationships with other students, family and friends; impact your future career and cause you to suffer a financial loss or even lose your student visa.

    Getting help

    If you have questions about academic integrity, or need study skills advice and support, you should speak with your institution. Your teachers or course coordinator are a good place to start. 

    If you are alleged to have breached academic integrity, you should treat this matter seriously. Your institution must have clear policies and procedures related to student discipline, complaints and appeals. You should read these policies, and you may also be able to seek advocacy and support services from your student association if there is one at your institution.

    The next section (Identifying, avoiding and reporting illegal cheating services) outlines why you should avoid accepting help from websites or services advertised on social media because they might be illegal cheating services.

    Notes

    1. Definitions adapted from material developed by La Trobe University.
    2. Definitions adapted from material developed by The University of Sydney.
    3. Dawson, P. & Sutherland-Smith, W. (2017). Can markers detect contract cheating? Results from a pilot study, Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education.
    Last updated:

  • Complete privacy policy

    Body

     

    Documents

    Complete privacy policy  (PDF, 263 KB)

    1. Introduction

    The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) is Australia’s independent national quality assurance and regulatory agency for higher education.

    Our purpose is to protect student interests and the reputation of Australia’s higher education sector through a proportionate, risk-reflective approach to quality assurance that supports diversity, innovation and excellence.

    The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) which established us as an agency, calls for us to:

    • register regulated entities as higher education providers and accredit their courses of study
    • conduct compliance and quality assessments
    • conduct re-accreditation assessments of courses developed by providers without self-accrediting authority
    • provide advice and make recommendations to the Commonwealth Minister responsible for Education on matters relating to the quality and regulation of higher education providers
    • cooperate with similar agencies in other countries
    • collect, analyse, interpret and disseminate information relating to quality assurance practice and quality improvement in higher education
    • to investigate and take action against individuals or organisations offering or advertising commercial academic cheating services to students at Australian higher education providers.

    More information is available on the TEQSA website.

    1.1. Who should read this privacy policy?

    You should read this privacy policy if you are:

    • a student
    • a higher education provider
    • a professional accreditation body
    • a contractor, consultant, or supplier of goods or services to us
    • a person whose information may be given to us by a third party, including other Australian Government agencies
    • a current or past employee
    • a person seeking employment with us, or
    • any other individual whose personal information we may collect, hold, use and disclose from time to time.

    1.2. Purpose of this privacy policy

    The purpose of this privacy policy is to:

    • describe the types of personal information that we collect, hold, use and disclose
    • outline our personal information handling practices
    • explain our authority to collect your personal information, why it may be held by us, how it is used and how it is protected
    • notify whether we are likely to disclose personal information to overseas recipients and, if possible, to whom
    • provide information on how you can access your personal information, correct it if necessary and complain if you believe it has been wrongly collected or inappropriately handled.

    This privacy policy has been developed to follow the ‘layered policy’ format, which means that it offers layers of greater or lesser detail so people can read as much as they wish and find what they need fast.

    For a snapshot of our personal information handling practices, please go to the Condensed Privacy Policy. This offers an easy-to-understand summary of:

    • how we collect, use, disclose and store your personal information
    • how you can contact us if you want to access or correct personal information we hold about you or complain if you believe it has been wrongly collected or inappropriately handled.

    Full details of these practices are contained in this document.

    1.3. Privacy Act 1988

    TEQSA, including its employees, contractors and agents, is subject to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act) and to the requirements of the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act.

    The APPs regulate how federal public sector agencies and certain private sector organisations can collect, hold, use and disclose personal information and how you can access and correct that information.

    The APPs only apply to information about living individuals, not information about corporate entities such as businesses, firms or trusts. Detailed information and guidance about the APPs can be found on the Office of Australian Information Commissioner website.

    1.4. Information covered under this privacy policy

    This privacy policy has been developed in accordance with Australian Privacy Principle 1 and embodies our commitment to protecting the personal information we collect, hold, use and disclose.

    This privacy policy is not intended to cover our handling of commercially sensitive information or other information that is not defined in the Privacy Act as personal information.

    ‘Personal information’ means any information (or an opinion) about an identified individual or an individual who is reasonably identifiable, whether true or not and whether recorded in a material form or not.1

    ‘Sensitive information’ is a subset of personal information and includes information about your health, genetics, biometrics or disability, racial or ethnic origin, religious, political or philosophical beliefs, professional association or trade union memberships, sexuality or criminal record.2 Additional requirements apply to the collection and handling of sensitive information.

    2. Our personal information handling practices

    2.1. Collection of personal information

    Personal information may be collected directly by us, or by people or organisations acting on our behalf (e.g. contracted service providers). It may be collected directly from you, or on your behalf from a representative you have authorised.

    We may also obtain personal information collected by other Australian Government departments or agencies, higher education providers, other third parties, or from publicly available sources. This will only occur where you consent, where it is unreasonable or impractical to collect the information only from you, or where we are required or authorised to do so by law.

    We will only collect information for a lawful purpose that is reasonably necessary or directly related to one or more of our functions and activities, or where otherwise required or authorised by law.

    2.2. Types of personal information collected by us

    We collect and hold a broad range of personal information in records relating to:

    • performance of our legislated regulatory and quality assurance functions
    • employment and personnel matters for our employees, labour hire workers, contractors and consultants
    • management of contracts and consultancy arrangements
    • communication and engagement with the sector
    • requests made to us under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) (FOI Act) or the Privacy Act
    • the provision of legal advice by internal and external lawyers.

    This personal information may include but is not limited to:

    • your name, address, signature and contact details (e.g. phone, email and fax)
    • photographs, video recordings and audio recordings of you
    • information about your personal circumstances (e.g. marital status, age, occupation, accommodation, social media accounts and relevant information about your partner or children)
    • information about your financial affairs (e.g. payment details, bank account details and information about business and financial interests)
    • information about your identity (e.g. date of birth, country of birth, passport details, visa details, driver licence)
    • information about your employment (e.g. position title, position responsibilities, term of appointment, work history, referee comments, remuneration)
    • information about your background (e.g. educational qualifications and history, honorifics, the languages you speak and your English proficiency)
    • information about your studies and training (e.g. campus of study, scholarships, academic records or testamurs)
    • government or other identifiers (e.g. AGS Number, tax file number, Unique Student Identifier, student identification number or internet protocol address).

    2.3. Collection of sensitive information

    In carrying out our functions and activities we may collect personal information that is sensitive information (see section 1.4 of this privacy policy). The APPs impose additional obligations on us when collecting, using or disclosing sensitive information. We may only collect sensitive information from you:

    • where you provide your consent and the information is reasonably necessary for, or directly related to, TEQSA’s functions or activities; or
    • where required or authorised by law.3

    We may collect sensitive information for the purposes of human resource management and responding to inquiries by courts, tribunals and other external review bodies.

    This sensitive information may include but is not limited to:

    • information about your health (e.g. physical and mental health, disabilities, gender, dietary requirements or accessibility needs)
    • information about your racial or ethnic origin, religious beliefs or affiliations, sexual orientation or practices, or criminal record
    • information about your political opinions or membership of any political association(s)
    • information about your membership of any professional or trade association(s) or union(s).

    2.4. Collection of unsolicited information

    Sometimes personal information is not sought by us but is delivered or sent to us by either the individual or a third party without us having requested it. This information is considered ‘unsolicited’.

    Where unsolicited information is received by us, we will, within a reasonable period, determine whether that information is directly related to one or more of our functions or activities. If this cannot be determined, we may, as soon as practicable and in accordance with the Archives Act 1983 (Archives Act) and the Privacy Act, destroy or de-identify the information. If this can be determined we will notify you of the purpose of collection and our intended uses and disclosures according to the requirements of the APPs, unless it is impracticable or unreasonable for us to do so.

    2.5. Remaining anonymous or using a pseudonym

    You may wish not to identify yourself or to use a different name (pseudonym) when interacting with us.

    In some cases, you will be able to remain anonymous or use a pseudonym, however, there will be occasions where it will be impractical for you to remain anonymous or use a pseudonym and, where appropriate, we will advise you accordingly. For example, if you do not identify yourself TEQSA may be unable to investigate and resolve a complaint you have or complete an assessment or investigation related to compliance with its procedures or policies.

    There may also be situations where TEQSA is required or authorised by law to deal only with an identified individual, in which case it may be necessary for you to identify yourself.  For example, it would be difficult for TEQSA to give you access to your personal information under the Privacy Act or other legislation such as the FOI Act if you did not provide enough identification to satisfy TEQSA that the relevant personal information was related to you.

    2.6. Information collected by our contractors

    Under the Privacy Act, we are required to take contractual measures to ensure that contracted service providers (including subcontractors) comply with the same privacy requirements applicable to us. When TEQSA enters into agreements with contracted service providers, it imposes contractual obligations on providers to ensure they comply with relevant privacy obligations when collecting, using, disclosing and holding personal information relating to TEQSA’s activities.

    2.7. Storage and data security

    2.7.1. Storage

    We store personal information in a range of paper-based and electronic records. Some electronic records may be stored in the cloud, including in cloud-based systems provided or utilised by our contractors and third-party providers.

    Storage of personal information (and the disposal of information when it is no longer required) is managed in accordance with the Australian Government’s records management regime, including but not limited to the Archives Act, records authorities, general disposal authorities and other whole-of-government policies or standards issued by the National Archives of Australia.

    2.7.2. Data security

    We take all reasonable steps to protect the personal information held in our possession against loss, unauthorised access, use, modification, disclosure or misuse.

    Access to your personal information held by us is restricted to authorised persons who are TEQSA employees or contractors, on a need-to-know basis.

    Electronic and paper records containing personal information are protected in accordance with Australian Government security policies, including the Australian Government’s Protective Security Policy Framework and the Australian Signals Directorate’s Information Security Manual.

    2.8. Data quality

    We take all reasonable steps to ensure that the personal information we collect is accurate, up-to-date, complete, relevant and not misleading.

    These steps include responding to requests to correct personal information when it is reasonable and appropriate to do so. For further information on correcting personal information see section 3 of this privacy policy.

    Audits and quality inspections may be conducted from time to time to ensure the accuracy and integrity of information, and any systemic data quality issues are identified and resolved promptly.

    2.9 Purposes for which information is collected, held, used and disclosed

    We collect, hold, use and disclose personal information for a variety of different purposes including to:

    • perform our legislated regulatory and quality assurance functions
    • perform our management, employment and personnel functions and responsibilities in relation to our staff and contractors
    • manage contracts and consultancy arrangements
    • administer requests received by us under the FOI Act or the Privacy Act
    • manage correspondence and engagement with stakeholders, members of the higher education sector and the public
    • obtain legal advice from internal and external lawyers.

    Our legislated functions under the TEQSA Act include, but are not limited to:

    • assessing applications of higher education providers for registration, renewal of registration, course accreditation, and renewal of course accreditation
    • conducting assessments of compliance
    • notifying and generally communicating with prospective and registered higher education providers in relation to TEQSA’s regulatory functions
    • collecting and retaining student records following a provider ceasing to operate (and to allow students and providers to request access).

    Our legislated functions under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) include, but are not limited to:

    • assessing applications for Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) registration and renewal of CRICOS registration
    • assessing applications to make changes to CRICOS registration, including making changes or adding courses, locations, student capacity and third-party arrangements
    • monitoring compliance with all requirements under the ESOS Act and related legislation, and acting where there is non-compliance or risks of non-compliance.

    We use and disclose personal information for the primary purposes for which it is collected.

    We will only use your personal information for secondary purposes where we are able to do so in accordance with the Privacy Act. This may include where you have consented to this secondary purpose, or where the secondary purpose is related (or if sensitive information, directly related) to the primary purpose and you would reasonably expect us to use or disclose the information for the secondary purpose, where it is required or authorised by law or where a permitted general situation exists such as to prevent a serious threat to safety.

    Likely secondary purposes for which we may use or disclose your personal information include but are not limited to quality assurance, auditing and reporting.

    2.10. Our online services

    When you use TEQSA’s online services, our servers automatically record information that your browser sends whenever you visit a website. These server logs may include information such as your server address, your top-level domain name, the date and time of the visit to the site, the pages accessed and documents viewed, the previous sites visited, and the browser type, browser language, and one or more cookies that may uniquely identify your browser. The information does not contain anything that identifies individuals.

    2.11. Disclosure of personal information overseas

    It is unlikely the records we hold that contain personal information will be disclosed to any overseas recipients. However, where TEQSA does so, we will ensure that appropriate steps are taken to comply with Australian Privacy Principle 8.4

    2.12. Unauthorised access, use or disclosure of personal information

    We will take seriously and deal promptly with any unauthorised access, use or disclosure of personal information.

    The Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme in Part IIIC of the Privacy Act, which commenced on 22 February 2018, generally requires agencies and organisations to notify individuals whose personal information is involved in a data breach that is likely to result in serious harm to those individuals. These entities are also required to notify the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. We comply with the NDB scheme when dealing with these types of data breaches.

    TEQSA also has regard to relevant guidance material issued by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, including the ‘Data breach preparation and response - a guide for organisations and agencies to help them prepare for and respond to a data breach in line with their obligations under the Privacy Act’, when responding to any incidents involving the unauthorised access of, use or disclosure of personal information.

    3. Accessing and correcting your personal information

    3.1. How to seek access to and correction of personal information

    You have a right under the Privacy Act to access personal information we hold about you.

    You also have a right under the Privacy Act to request corrections of any personal information that we hold about you if you think the information is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading.

    To access or seek correction of personal information we hold about you, please contact us using the contact details set out at section 6.1 of this privacy policy.

    3.2. Our access and correction process

    If you request access to, or correction of, your personal information, we must respond to you within 30 calendar days.

    While the Privacy Act requires that we give you access to, or correct, your personal information on request, it does set out circumstances in which we may refuse you access or decline to correct your personal information.

    If we refuse to give you access or decline to correct your personal information we will provide you with a written notice which, among other things, gives our reasons for refusing your request.

    It is also possible to access and correct documents held by us under the FOI Act. Further information about how to make an FOI application is available on the Freedom of Information page of our website. You can also contact our FOI team at foi@teqsa.gov.au.

    3.3. If you are unsatisfied with our response

    If you are unsatisfied with our response, you may make a complaint, either directly to us (see section 5 below), or you may wish to contact:

    • the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at enquiries@oaic.gov.au or phone 1300 363 992
    • the Commonwealth Ombudsman by lodging a Complaint Form online or phone 1300 362 072.

    4. Privacy impact assessments

    4.1. What is a privacy impact assessment

    A privacy impact assessment (PIA) is a systematic assessment of a project that identifies the impact that the project might have on the privacy of individuals, and sets out recommendations for managing, minimising or eliminating that impact.

    4.2. When we conduct privacy impact assessments

    The Privacy (Australian Government Agencies — Governance) APP Code 2017 (Privacy Code) requires us to undertake a PIA in certain instances and to maintain a register of those PIAs from 1 July 2018. In accordance with the Privacy Code, we publish a version of our PIA register on our website.

    5. Privacy complaints

    5.1. How to make a privacy complaint

    If you think we may have breached your privacy you may contact us to make a complaint using the contact details set out at section 6.1 of this privacy policy. In order to ensure that we fully understand the nature of your complaint and the outcome you are seeking, we prefer that you make your complaint in writing.

    Please be aware that it may be difficult to investigate or respond to your complaint if you provide insufficient detail. You may submit an anonymous complaint, however if you do it may not be possible for us to provide a response to you.

    5.2 Our privacy complaint handling process

    We are committed to quick and fair resolution of complaints and will ensure your complaint is taken seriously and investigated appropriately. You will not be victimised or suffer negative treatment if you make a complaint.

    For further information about our complaint handling process please read our Complaints about TEQSA policy.

    5.3. If you are unsatisfied with our response

    If you are not satisfied with the way we have handled your complaint in the first instance, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner to refer your complaint for further investigation. Please note that the Information Commissioner may not investigate if you have not first brought your complaint to our attention. 

    Office of the Australian Information Commissioner

    Phone: 1300 363 992
    Email: enquiries@oaic.gov.au
    Post: GPO Box 5288, Sydney NSW 2001

    6. Contact us

    6.1. General enquiries, complaints, requests for access or correction

    If you wish to:

    • query how your personal information is collected, held, used or disclosed by us
    • ask us questions about this privacy policy
    • request access to or seek correction of your personal information
    • make a privacy complaint

    please contact us:

    By mail:
    Privacy Contact Officer
    Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency
    GPO Box 1672
    Melbourne VIC 3001

    By email:
    foi@teqsa.gov.au

    By phone:
    1300 739 585

    6.2. Availability of this privacy policy

    If you wish to access this privacy policy in an alternative format (e.g. hard copy) please contact us using the contact details set out at section 6.1 above. This privacy policy will be made available free of charge.

    7. Privacy policy updates

    This privacy policy will be reviewed at least annually and updated as required.

    Date policy last updated: December 2025

    Notes

    1. See section 6 of the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (Privacy Act) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APP) Guidelines issued by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.
    2. As above.
    3. Australian Privacy Principle 3.4 provides for specific circumstances in which the collection of sensitive personal information is authorised.
    4. For further information on cross-border disclosure of personal information, see Chapter 8 of the APP Guidelines issued by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

    Document control information

    Document Name: Privacy Policy
    Document owner: General Counsel
    Version: 4
    Approval date: 11 December 2025
    Next review date: 11 December 2026
    Approver: Accountable Authority

    Subtitle
    December 2025
    Stakeholder
    Publication type

    Related links

  • Privacy

    Complete privacy policy

    Privacy documents

    TEQSA, its employees, contractors and agents (collectively, 'the agency') is subject to the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) (the Privacy Act) and to the requirements of the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in Schedule 1 of the Privacy Act.

    We also adhere to applicable Privacy guidance for organisations and government agencies provided by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.

    The remainder of this webpage contains an abridged version of the complete privacy policy (condensed privacy policy).

    Condensed privacy policy

    The complete privacy policy provides more detailed information about:

    • the types of personal information that we collect, hold, use and disclose
    • our personal information handling practices
    • our authority to collect your personal information, why it may be held by us, how it is used and how it is protected
    • our use of artificial intelligence
    • whether we are likely to disclose personal information to overseas recipients and if possible, to whom and
    • how you can access your personal information, correct it if necessary and complain if you believe it has been wrongly collected or inappropriately handled.

    You should read our complete or condensed privacy policy if you are:

    • a student
    • a higher education provider
    • a professional accreditation body
    • a contractor, consultant, or supplier of goods or services to us
    • a person whose information may be given to us by a third party, including other Australian Government agencies
    • a current or past employee
    • a person seeking employment with us, or
    • any other individual whose personal information we may collect, hold, use and disclose from time to time.

    Information we collect and why we hold, use and disclose it

    Our purpose is to protect student interests and the reputation of Australia’s higher education sector through a proportionate, risk-reflective approach to quality assurance that supports diversity, innovation and excellence.

    The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) which established us as an agency, calls for us to:

    • register regulated entities as higher education providers and accredit their courses of study
    • conduct compliance and quality assessments
    • conduct re-accreditation assessments of courses developed by providers without self-accrediting authority
    • provide advice and make recommendations to the Commonwealth Minister responsible for Education on matters relating to the quality and regulation of higher education providers
    • cooperate with similar agencies in other countries
    • collect, analyse, interpret and disseminate information relating to quality assurance practice and quality improvement in higher education
    • to investigate and take action against individuals or organisations offering or advertising commercial academic cheating services to students at Australian higher education providers.

    We collect, hold, use and disclose personal information for a variety of purposes, including:

    • perform our legislated regulatory and quality assurance functions
    • perform our management, employment and personnel functions and responsibilities in relation to our staff and contractors
    • manage contracts and consultancy arrangements
    • administer requests received by us under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (Cth) or the Privacy Act
    • manage correspondence and engagement with stakeholders, members of the higher education sector and the public
    • obtain legal advice from internal and external lawyers.

    Our legislated functions under the TEQSA Act include, but are not limited to:

    • assessing applications of higher education providers for registration, renewal of registration, course accreditation, and renewal of course accreditation
    • conducting assessments of compliance
    • notifying and generally communicating with prospective and registered higher education providers in relation to TEQSA’s regulatory functions
    • collecting and retaining student records following a provider ceasing to operate (and to allow students and providers to request access).

    Our legislated functions under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) include, but are not limited to:

    • assessing applications for Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) registration and renewal of CRICOS registration
    • assessing applications to make changes to CRICOS registration, including making changes or adding courses, locations, student capacity and third-party arrangements
    • monitoring compliance with all requirements under the ESOS Act and related legislation, and acting where there is non-compliance or risks of non-compliance.

    We only collect, hold, use and disclose personal information for a lawful purpose that is reasonably necessary or directly related to one or more of our functions or activities or where otherwise required or authorised by law.

    We use and disclose personal information for the primary purposes for which it is collected. We will only use your personal information for secondary purposes where we are able to do so in accordance with the Privacy Act.

    Our online services

    When you use TEQSA’s online services, our servers automatically record information that your browser sends whenever you visit a website. These server logs may include information such as your server address, your top-level domain name, the date and time of the visit to the site, the pages accessed and documents viewed, the previous sites visited, and the browser type, browser language, and one or more cookies that may uniquely identify your browser. The information does not contain anything that identifies individuals.

    Disclosure of personal information overseas

    It is unlikely the records we hold that contain personal information will be disclosed to any overseas recipients. However, where TEQSA does so, we will ensure that appropriate steps are taken to comply with Australian Privacy Principle 8.

    Storage and data security

    Storage of personal information (and the disposal of information when no longer required) is managed in accordance with the Australian Government's records management regime.

    We take all reasonable steps to protect the personal information held in our possession against loss, unauthorised access, use, modification, disclosure or misuse.

    Data quality

    We take all reasonable steps to make sure that the personal information we collect and store is accurate, up-to-date, complete, relevant and not misleading.

    Access to and alteration of records containing personal information

    You have a right under the Privacy Act to access personal information we hold about you.

    You also have a right under the Privacy Act to request corrections of any personal information that we hold about you if you think the information is inaccurate, out-of-date, incomplete, irrelevant or misleading.

    It is also possible to access and correct documents held by us under the FOI Act. Further information about how to make an FOI application is available on the Freedom of Information page of our website. You can also contact our FOI team at foi@teqsa.gov.au.

    Changes to this condensed privacy policy

    Please note that the condensed privacy policy may change from time to time.

    Last updated: February 2026.

    Privacy impact assessments

    A privacy impact assessment (PIA) is a systematic assessment of a project that identifies the impact that the project might have on the privacy of individuals, and sets out recommendations for managing, minimising or eliminating that impact.

    The Privacy (Australian Government Agencies - Governance) APP Code 2017 (Privacy Code) requires us to undertake a PIA in certain instances and to maintain a register of those PIAs from 1 July 2018. In accordance with the Privacy Code, we publish our PIA Register (see below).

    Privacy impact assessment (PIA) register

    The agency's PIA register has been prepared in accordance with section 15(1) of the Privacy Code.

    Last updated: 25 February 2026.

    Date Document Title
    14 November 2019 Documents obtained from the University of New South Wales regarding Australian and overseas providers
    30 March 2022 COVID-19 vaccination mandate
    13 May 2024 Student records management solution
    19 December 2024 Records management project (digital uplift)
    27 August 2025 PIMS 2.0 – P Drive Data Migration (Stage 1-3)

    Complaints

    If you think we may have breached your privacy you may contact us to make a complaint using the contact details below. In order to ensure that we fully understand the nature of your complaint and the outcome you are seeking, we prefer that you make your complaint in writing.

    For further information about our complaint handling process please read our Complaints about TEQSA policy.

    Contact us

    If you have any enquiries or complaints about privacy, or if you wish to access or correct your personal information, please email us at foi@teqsa.gov.au or write to:

    Privacy Contact Officer
    Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency
    GPO Box 1672
    Melbourne VIC 3001

    Last updated:

    Related links

  • Before applying for registration as a higher education provider

    Applicants should carefully consider whether they meet the following fundamental requirements for registration before applying to become a higher education provider. Applicants should consult with TEQSA before applying to ensure they understand the evidence they will need to submit.

    This guidance is intended to be used by applicants to ensure that some of the major shortcomings that commonly arise in applications for registration have been addressed. It is not a summary or restatement of all relevant criteria, standards or matters that we will consider in assessing an application for registration.

    Before applying for registration as a higher education provider, applicants should ensure that they are able to demonstrate that:

    1. They are an entity listed under the definition of regulated entity in Section 5 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act).
    2. They have a clearly articulated higher education purpose that includes a commitment to freedom of speech and academic freedom – Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (HES Framework 2021), Standard B1.1.1.
    3. They have a formally constituted and accountable governing body, which includes independent members that exercise competent governance oversight of all of its proposed higher education operations in or from Australia – HES Framework 2021, Part A, Standard 6.1.1.
    4. Members of its governing body are fit and proper persons – HES Framework 2021, Part A, Standard 6.1.2.
    5. Members of its governing body meet the Australian residency requirements (if any) of the instrument under which the applicant is established or incorporated, or otherwise there are at least two members of the governing body who are residents of Australia – HES Framework 2021, Part A, Standard 6.1.2.
    6. Their proposed staffing for each course of study is sufficient to meet the educational, academic support and administrative needs of students undertaking the course. This includes oversight by academic leaders with sufficient experience to develop a higher education learning environment – HES Framework 2021, Part A, Standard 3.2.1.
    7. They can operate effectively and sustainably and in compliance with all relevant legislative requirements and their constitution or equivalent – HES Framework 2021, Part A, Standard 6.2.1.
    8. Their application for registration is in the approved form, accompanied by any information, documents and assistance requested (including a concurrent application for accreditation of at least one higher education course and all other information specified in the relevant application guide) as well as the relevant fee – Section 18(3) of the TEQSA Act.
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  • How to apply for registration as a higher education provider

    To apply for registration as an Australian higher education provider, applicants must be:

    • a constitutional corporation
    • a corporation established by (or under) a law of the Commonwealth or Territory
    • a person who conducts activities in a Territory.

    Under the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011, all applications for registration must be accompanied by an application for accreditation of at least one course of study.

    Applications must be on the approved online application form (available from the Provider portal), include all information requested, and be accompanied by the applicable fee and payment/invoice form. See more information on our fees page.

    If the application for renewal registration is successful, we will determine the time period of registration. Under the TEQSA Act, this period can’t exceed seven years.

    After reviewing the relevant guidance materials, and at least six months before submitting an application, prospective providers should contact new.registration.enquiries@TEQSA.gov.au to advise us of an intention to apply for registration.

    Before applying to become a higher education provider

    There are minimum requirements that all applicants must meet prior to applying for registration as a higher education provider.

    For more information on these requirements, visit our Before applying to become a higher education provider page.

    Application guides and the Higher Education Standards Framework

    TEQSA evaluates applications to register higher education providers against the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (HES Framework).

    Visit our Contextual overview of the HES Framework 2021 page for information regarding its context and an introduction to the Standards. More detailed overviews of each of the HES Framework’s Domains can be accessed from our Higher Education Standards Framework 2021 page.

    We have produced a number of application guides to assist prospective higher education providers which can be accessed from our Application guides and support page.

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  • Compliance reports

    This report outlines our compliance priorities for the upcoming year, as well as our compliance and enforcement activities for the previous year.

    The report also includes compliance in focus guidance to support higher education providers in meeting their obligations.

    Latest report

    Past reports

    Last updated:

    Related links

  • Australian Qualifications Framework

    What is the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)

    The AQF is the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australian education and training. Delivered through the Australian Government Department of Education in consultation with the states and territories, it incorporates the qualifications from each education and training sector (schools, vocational and higher education) into a single comprehensive national qualifications framework.

    One of the key objectives of the AQF is to facilitate pathways to, and through, formal qualifications. It also complements national regulatory and quality assurance arrangements for education and training.

    The AQF is split into 10 levels, ranging from certificate 1, all the way through to Doctoral degree, with higher education awards including levels 5-10. For more information on the individual AQF levels, visit the AQF’s levels webpage.

    TEQSA’s responsibilities under the AQF

    TEQSA’s role is to register all higher education providers and to ensure their courses meet, and continue to meet, the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (Threshold Standards). The Threshold Standards include the requirement that the learning outcomes of all higher education qualifications (Levels 5-10 of the AQF) must be consistent with the level of the course. To assess whether the expected learning outcomes for a course meet the AQF level, we will compare the expected course learning outcomes with the specified learning outcomes for the relevant AQF level and assess whether the design of all components of the course support achievement of the course’s learning outcomes as a whole.

    For more information, visit TEQSA and the Australian Qualifications Framework: Questions and answers.

    Higher education AQF levels

    Higher education AQF levels span levels 5-10 and include:

    AQF level Qualification Degree level Regulatory responsibility
    10 Higher Doctoral Degree * ^ Postgraduate TEQSA
    10 Doctoral Degree * ^ Postgraduate TEQSA
    9 Masters Degree (Research) * ^ Postgraduate TEQSA
    9 Masters Degree (Coursework) * Postgraduate TEQSA
    9 Masters Degree (Extended) * Postgraduate TEQSA
    8 Graduate Diploma * Postgraduate TEQSA
    8 Graduate Certificate * Postgraduate TEQSA
    8 Bachelor Honours Degree Undergraduate TEQSA
    7 Bachelor Degree Undergraduate TEQSA
    6 Associate Degree Undergraduate TEQSA/ASQA
    6 Advanced Diploma Undergraduate TEQSA/ASQA
    5 Diploma Undergraduate TEQSA/ASQA
    • * = Higher degrees, also known as postgraduate degrees/qualifications.
    • ^ = Higher degrees by research

    For a breakdown of each AQF level, visit the AQF levels webpage.

    Each AQF level comprises of a set of learning outcomes, the requirements for the application of the AQF level in the accreditation and development of the qualification and a set of policy requirements. For more information on these policies, visit the AQF policies webpage.

    Undergraduate Certificates

    The Undergraduate Certificate was developed in response to community and industry need based on the AQF review and as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Undergraduate Certificate qualifications are not located at a particular level in the AQF, however they cover AQF levels 5, 6 or 7. 

    For more information, visit the AQF website.

    More information

    For more information, visit TEQSA and the Australian Qualifications Framework: Questions and answers.

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