Regular planned maintenance for Provider Portal.
| Decision: | Rejected |
|---|---|
| Date of decision: | 11 June 2025 |
| Main reasons for decision: |
The decisions were made on the basis that TEQSA was not satisfied that Virtu Design Institute Pty Ltd meets the following provisions of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021:
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| Review stage: |
| Decision: | Rejected |
|---|---|
| Date of decision: | 19 June 2025 |
| Main reasons for decision: |
The decisions were made on the basis that TEQSA was not satisfied that New Medical Education Pty Ltd meets the following criteria for establishing a greenfield ‘University College’ B1.2:
The decision to reject the application for accreditation of the course was made as a consequence of the application for registration being rejected. |
| Review stage: |
In an event that a non-exempt registered higher education provider fails to commence or ceases to deliver a unit and/or course to their students (that is, the provider “defaults”), that provider has responsibilities under three different mechanisms depending on whether the student is an overseas student, a domestic student accessing Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) loans, or a domestic up-front fee-paying student. These mechanisms are summarised in the table below.
Mechanisms covering different types of students
| International student | Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) |
| FEE-HELP or HECS-HELP student | Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA) |
| Domestic up-front fee-paying | Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) |
Providers with overseas and/or HELP students are already part of the tuition protection scheme. Regarding overseas students, providers should refer to Sections 46B and 46D of the ESOS Act for their specific obligations in the event of a default. For FEE HELP and HECS HELP students, providers1 should refer to Part 5-1A of HESA for their obligations in the event of a default.
As of 1 January 2021, there are new requirements for providers2 regarding domestic students who pay their tuition fees up-front. Providers must pay any tuition protection levies (and any late payment penalty), keep records for tuition protection purposes, and disclose tuition protection information and documents to the Department of Education. Providers must also comply with certain obligations in the case of a default such as to provide a refund or alternate suitable unit and/or course replacement within 14 days to their students affected by the provider default.
Providers are also required to report certain information in the approved form under Section 12 of the Tuition Protection (Up-front Payments Guidelines) 2020. The approved form is available from the Department of Education (TPS).
Part 5A of the TEQSA Act sets out tuition protection arrangements for domestic up-front fee-paying students. It is a condition of registration for private higher education providers to meet the tuition protection requirements, including reporting student information and student notification requirements.
The Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2015 (HES Framework) contains obligations under Standard 6.2.1 for providers to ensure there are credible business continuity plans and adequately resourced financial and tuition safeguards to mitigate disadvantage to students who are unable to progress in a course of study due to unexpected changes to the higher education provider’s operations.
The TPS alone does not fulfil this obligation and is not a replacement for it. For further advice on financial and tuition safeguards and implications of the new scheme for your context, contact the TEQSA Enquiries Management team at providerenquiries@teqsa.gov.au.
Table A providers (i.e. public universities), TAFEs and other government owned providers are exempt from the requirements relating to the up-front payments tuition protection arrangements, except for obligations relating to providing information about replacement courses (section 62N of TEQSA Act) and obligations of replacement providers (Section 62P and 62Q of the TEQSA Act). Further, they are still required to have arrangements for financial and tuition safeguards as per Standard 6.2.1 of the HES Framework.
In June 2024, TEQSA issued a request for information to all Australian higher education providers. This request asked for a credible institutional action plan addressing the risk generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) poses to award integrity. TEQSA received a 100% response rate to this request, and this toolkit, Gen AI strategies for Australian higher education: Emerging practice, was the first resource developed from the analysis.
The toolkit includes 3 dimensions: Process, People and Practice. Each dimension can be read individually, in any order, or in conjunction with the broader toolkit. It seeks to share ideas and experiences to support institutions in effectively and ethically integrating gen AI into teaching and learning, while also managing the risks these evolving technologies pose to assessment integrity.
The toolkit is complemented by Gen AI strategies for research training: Emerging practice, which was published in June 2025.
A new toolkit to share strategies and ideas in managing the risks of gen AI
TEQSA has opened consultation on the following 3 draft documents:
This consultation closes at 5:00pm (AEST) on Friday 22 August 2025.
You can submit feedback to consultation@teqsa.gov.au. Submissions in Microsoft Word or PDF format are preferred.
This consultation supports TEQSA’s work to improve the efficiency of our regulatory operations and support greater self-assurance within the higher education sector by continuing to enhance our suite of guidance notes.
On 1 April 2025, TEQSA implemented a new centralised enquiries approach through our Enquiries Management team. The team has now marked more than 100 days in operation. They are the dedicated first point of contact for all new provider enquiries.
TEQSA's Enquiries Management team can be contacted:
The recording of TEQSA Talks #2, 2025, held on 24 July is now available.
The webinar featured a panel of:
The recording of July’s webinar, along with all other previous TEQSA Talks webinars, is available on the TEQSA Talks webinar series webpage.
While you’re there, register for the next TEQSA Talks webinar which will be held on Wednesday 24 September 2025, at 2pm (AEST).
This practical workshop seeks to support Australian higher education providers in strengthening their institutional action plan to address the risks generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) poses to assessment integrity, while also considering the opportunities.
To attend a free, online workshop providers are asked to nominate a minimum delegation of 2, and a maximum of 6, who can attend from the same location.
Institutions should nominate a lead representative to register on behalf of all members of their delegation (each individual member of the delegation does not need to register). Please register for 1 session only.
Note: this is a single workshop, not a series.
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To celebrate the launch of the TEQSA 2025 Conference and the release of this year’s fantastic program, early bird tickets are available until 11:59pm on Friday 19 September (AEST).
This is your only opportunity to secure your attendance at a discounted price.
Our 9th annual conference on Wednesday 19 November will focus on the theme of Trust, Transparency, Transformation.
This year, we're delighted to welcome distinguished speakers including Liz Hughes, CEO of the National Institute of Dramatic Art, as our Master of Ceremonies, and our opening keynote speaker, Melinda Cilento, CEO for the Committee for Economic Development of Australia and Chair, Expert Council on University Governance.
