• TEQSA seeking feedback on interim regulatory guidance

    TEQSA is seeking feedback on new regulatory guidance that has been developed to support safety and wellbeing in higher education.

    TEQSA is consulting on 2 documents:

    • Interim statement of regulatory expectations: Student grievance and complaint mechanisms
    • Interim guidance: Managing external actors.

    These new regulatory materials were developed by TEQSA following roundtable discussions and other engagements last year.

    In preparing these materials, TEQSA heard from students, providers and other stakeholders. We also carefully considered information provided to several parliamentary inquiries and parliamentary committee recommendations.

    The consultation closes at 5:00pm (AEDT) on Thursday 27 March 2025.

    TEQSA will consider all feedback and will aim to publish the final guidance materials in April 2025.

    Further information about how to have your say is available on our consultation page or by downloading the respective consultation paper.

    Read also:
    TEQSA social cohesion page
     

    Date
    Last updated:
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  • Fees and charges

    TEQSA’s fees and charges recover costs for regulatory activities undertaken to support Australia’s higher education sector.

    Costs are recovered from higher education providers in 2 ways:

    1. Registered Higher Education Provider (RHEP) charge paid annually by all providers, the charge is the sum of a base component and a compliance component
    2. Application fees for regulatory activities related to:
      • registration
      • course accreditation
      • variation or revocation of conditions

    TEQSA fees and charges are determined by legislative instruments

    TEQSA’s fees and charges are determined by way of legislative instrument. TEQSA’s fees and charges from 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2025 are determined by the:

    Learn more about fees and charges

    In this section, you can find detailed information about our fees and charges, including:

    For frequently asked questions about cost recovery, visit our FAQs page.

    Last updated:
  • Registered Higher Education Provider (RHEP) charge

    All higher education providers have to pay the annual Registered Higher Education Provider (RHEP) charge. 

    The RHEP charge is the sum of a base component and a compliance component that will cover compliance activities undertaken in relation to the provider in the preceding calendar year.

    This page contains information about the RHEP charge for 2025, which is based on the updated version of TEQSA’s Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS) and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Charges) Regulations 2022.

    Figure 1: An illustration of the composition of the Registered Higher Education Provider (RHEP) charge

    Image showing illustration of the composition of the Registered Higher Education Provider (RHEP) charge

    RHEP charge payment due date

    Invoices for the RHEP charge will be issued to providers early in each calendar year. You will have at least 30 days from the date on the invoice to pay your RHEP charge.

    From 2025 onwards

    TEQSA will issue each registered higher education provider with a RHEP charge invoice. The RHEP charge will comprise:

    • the full amount of base component of the charge, and
    • the compliance component of the charge for compliance activity undertaken in in the previous calendar year that is specific to your higher education provider

     

    To learn more about deadlines for payment, see: Section 5 of Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Registered Higher Education Provider Charge) Guidelines 2022 (Charging Guidelines) for further information.

    Base component of the RHEP charge

    TEQSA will use the below formula, found in the updated version of the CRIS, to determine the base component of your annual RHEP charge for 2025:

    Figure 2: Formula for base component of the RHEP charge

    Image showing the formula for base component of the RHEP charge

    More about this formula

    Registered higher education providers will not be required to pay the full amount of the base component in 2024. The full amount of the base component will have to be paid from 2025 onwards.

    As per subsection 5(2) of the Charges Regulations:

    • number of providers means the number of registered higher education providers at the start of the relevant year.
    • provider’s equivalent full-time students means the total number of students enrolled, on an equivalent full-time basis, in each accredited course that was, in the year that is 2 years before the relevant year, provided by the provider.
    • total equivalent full-time students means the total number of students enrolled, on an equivalent full-time basis, in each accredited course that was, in the year that is 2 years before the relevant year, provided by each entity that, at that time, was a registered higher education provider.

    As per subsection section 5(3) of the Charges Regulations:

    In working out, for the purposes of subsection (2), the number of students enrolled on an equivalent full-time basis in an accredited course in a year:

    1. count a student that has a full-time study load for the course and the year as 1 student; and
    2. count any other student as a fraction that represents the student’s amount of study undertaken as part of the course and the year relative to a student that does have a full-time study load for the course and the year.

    Example: A full-time student is enrolled in 8 units of study as part of a course for a year and is counted as 1 student. A part-time student is enrolled in 4 units of study as part of that course and is counted as half of 1 student. Another student is enrolled in 10 units of study as part of that course and is counted as 1 and a quarter of 1 student.

    Table 1: Phased introduction of the base component charge, see section 6 of the Charges Regulations

    Year You pay
    2023 20% of the amount calculated using the base component formula
    2024 50% of the amount calculated using the base component formula
    2025 100% of the amount calculated using the base component formula

     

    Compliance component of the RHEP charge

    The other component of the annual RHEP charge relates to compliance activities.

    It is based on compliance activity undertaken in relation to your registered higher education provider in the previous calendar year.

    In 2025, the compliance component of the RHEP charge will be for compliance activity undertaken in 2024.

    The amounts a registered higher education provider will have to pay, from 2025 onwards, in relation to compliance activities undertaken in the previous calendar year are summarised below:
     

    Item Compliance Activity Amount

    Assessments

    1 TEQSA commenced an assessment under s 59 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) to assess whether the registered higher education provider continued to meet the Threshold Standards $36,000 for each assessment commenced in the previous calendar year
    2 TEQSA commenced an assessment under s 61 of the TEQSA Act in respect of one of the registered higher education provider’s accredited courses $36,000 for each assessment commenced in the previous calendar year
    3 TEQSA commenced an audit under s 112A(1) of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) $36,000 for each audit commenced in the previous calendar year (for audits conducted after 1 January 2024)

    Conditions imposed under the TEQSA or ESOS Acts

    4

    If at any time during the previous year, conditions imposed under:

    • ss 10B(1) or 83(3) of the ESOS Act; or
    • s 32(1) of the TEQSA Act

    applied to the provider’s registration.

    $4,100 for each condition that applied to the provider’s registration at any time during the previous calendar year (regardless of in which year the condition was originally imposed)
    5 If at any time in the previous year, conditions imposed under s 53(1) of the TEQSA Act applied to the accreditation of a course of study offered by the provider. $3,350 for each condition that applied to the accreditation of a course of study at any time during the previous calendar year (regardless of in which year the condition was originally imposed)

    Compliance undertakings (also known as voluntary undertakings)

    *see definition of ‘compliance undertaking’ in section 4 of Charges Regulation

    6 If, at any time in the previous year, one or more compliance undertakings were in force in relation to the higher education provider $1,675 for each undertaking that was in force during the previous calendar year

    Investigations

    7 If, at any time in the previous year, TEQSA conducted an investigation in relation to a matter that constitutes, or may constitute, a contravention of an offence provision or a civil penalty provision by the provider $165 for each hour spent in conducting the investigation in the previous calendar year (regardless of whether the investigation is ongoing)

    Review rights

    You can request TEQSA reconsider some decisions relating to the RHEP charge or apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal for a review of decisions. See sections 8 and 9 of the Charging Guidelines for further information.

    Last updated:

    Related links

  • Application fees

    This page contains information about TEQSA’s application fees for 2025, which are unchanged from 2024. TEQSA’s application fees are based on the updated version of TEQSA’s Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS) and determined by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Determination of Fees No 1 of 2020 (Fee Determination).

    A summary of the fees that apply to applications made on or after 1 January 2024 is set out below.

    Registration fees from 1 January 2024

    Item Activity for which the fee is imposed Amount of the fee on or after 1 January 2024

    1

    Preliminary assessment of application for registration as a higher education provider (s 19 of the TEQSA Act)

     

     

    $13,900

     

    2

    Substantive assessment of application for registration as a higher education provider (s 20 of the TEQSA Act)

     

     

    $105,900

     

    3

    Renewal of registration application (s 35 of the TEQSA Act)

     

    [where the higher education provider is not also applying for self-accreditation, otherwise see row 4 below]

    Where the approved form for the application requires the applicant to address provisions of the Threshold Standards other than the Core Standards: $106,700

     

    Otherwise: $62,400

    4

    Renewal of registration application combined with application for self-accreditation (ss 35 and 41 of the TEQSA Act)

     

    [where the higher education provider applies for renewal of registration and for authority to self-accredit one or more courses of study at the same time]

    Where the approved form for the application requires the applicant to address provisions of the Threshold Standards other than the Core Standards: $122,000

     

    Otherwise: $70,800

    5

    Application for change of higher education provider category (s 38 of the TEQSA Act) $48,900

    6

    Application to TEQSA as an ESOS Agency for registration to provide a course or courses at a location or locations to overseas students (s 9 of the Education for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act)).

    $23,200

     

    7

    Application to TEQSA as an ESOS Agency for renewal of registration (s 10D of the ESOS Act)

    Where the higher education provider has self-accrediting authority: $12,800

    Where the higher education provider does not have self-accrediting authority: $26,000

     

    8

    Application to TEQSA as an ESOS Agency to add one or more courses at one or more additional locations to a higher education provider’s registration (s 10H of the ESOS Act)

    For each location for which the higher education provider is not registered at the time of the application:

    1. Where the higher education provider has self-accrediting authority, $1,800
    2. Where the higher education provider does not have self-accrediting authority, $9,100

    For each course for which the higher education provider is not registered at any location at the time of the application:

    1. $4,800 per ELICOS
    2. $4,900 per Foundation Program
    3. In all other cases, $500 per course

    Course accreditation fees from 1 January 2024

    Item Activity for which the fee is imposed Amount of the fee
    9

    Application for authority to self-accredit one or more courses of study (s 41 of the TEQSA Act)

    [where the higher education provider has not applied for renewal of registration at the same time, otherwise see row 4 of above]

    For an application by a higher education provider with no existing authority under the Act to self-accredit a course or group of courses of study: $48,900

    For an application by a higher education provider which is authorised under the TEQSA Act to self-accredit one or more courses of study: $34,700

    10 Preliminary assessment of application by a prospective provider for accreditation of a course of study (other than an undergraduate certificate) (s 47 of the TEQSA Act)

    $5,600 per course*

    where a prospective provider has an equivalent full-time student load of less than 5,000, see discussion of discounts below

    11 Substantive assessment of application by a prospective provider for accreditation of a course of study (other than an undergraduate certificate) (s 48 of the TEQSA Act)

    Where an application is for accreditation of a single course of study or multiple courses of study that do not form a nested set of courses: $42,200 per course
     
    Where an application is for accreditation of a nested set of courses:

    • Primary course of study: $42,200
    • Each related course of study: $37,700

    * where a prospective provider has an equivalent full-time student load of less than 5,000, see discussion of discounts below

    12 Preliminary assessment of application by a registered higher education provider for accreditation of a course of study (other than an undergraduate certificate) (s 47 of the TEQSA Act)

    Where an application is for accreditation of a single course of study or multiple courses of study that do not form a nested set of courses: $4,900 per course
     
    Where an application is for accreditation of a nested set of courses:

    • Primary course of study: $4,900
    • Each related course of study: $1,200

    * where a higher education provider has an equivalent full-time student load of less than 5,000, see discussion of discounts below

    13 Substantive assessment of application by a registered higher education provider for accreditation of a course of study (other than an undergraduate certificate) (s 48 of the TEQSA Act)

    Where an application is for accreditation of a single course of study or multiple courses of study that do not form a nested set of courses: $18,000 per course.
     
    Where an application is for accreditation of a nested set of courses:

    • Primary course of study: $18,000
    • Each related course of study: $4,500

    * where a higher education provider has an equivalent full-time student load of less than 5,000, see discussion of discounts below
     

    14 Preliminary assessment of application for accreditation of an undergraduate certificate (s 47 of the TEQSA Act) $300 per course
    15 Substantive assessment of application for accreditation of an undergraduate certificate (s 48 of the TEQSA Act) $1,200 per course
    16 Application for renewal of accreditation for a course of study (other than an undergraduate certificate or an application made on the basis of teach out) (s 55 of the TEQSA Act)

    Where an application is for renewal of accreditation of a single course of study or multiple courses of study that do not form a nested set of courses: $23,100 per course
     
    Where an application is for accreditation of a nested set of courses:

    • Primary course of study: $23,100
    • Each related course of study: $5,500

    * where a higher education provider has an equivalent full-time student load of less than 5,000, see discussion of discounts below

    17 Application for renewal of accreditation for teach out course of study (other than an undergraduate certificate) (s 55 of the TEQSA Act)

    Where an application is for accreditation of a single course of study or multiple courses of study that do not form a nested set of courses: $2,900 per course
     
    Where an application is for accreditation of a nested set of courses:

    • Primary course of study: $2,900
    • Each related course of study: $700

    * where a higher education provider has an equivalent full-time student load of less than 5,000, see discussion of discounts below

    18 Application for renewal of accreditation for an undergraduate certificate (s 55 of the TEQSA Act) $1,100 per course

    Conditions

    Item Activity after 1 January 2024 for which the fee is imposed Amount of the fee
    19 Application to vary or revoke a condition of registration or accreditation (s 32(3) or s 53(3) of the TEQSA Act)

    For an application made under subsection 32(3) in relation to a condition imposed on a higher education provider’s registration: $3,600 per condition.

    For an application made under subsection 53(3) in relation to a condition imposed on the accreditation of a course: $2,900 per condition.
     

    Review of decisions

    Item Activity after 1 January 2024 for which the fee is imposed Amount of the fee
    20

    Application for internal review of a decision made by a delegate of TEQSA (s 184 of the Act and s 169AD of the ESOS Act)

     

    $1,000

    Discounts for providers with an equivalent full time student load of less than 5,000

    TEQSA’s fees and charges model provides for discounts of up to 70% to some course accreditation or renewal of course accreditation application fees.

    The discounts apply to applications made on or after 1 January 2023 by providers with an equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL) of less than 5,000.

    See section 2 in Schedule B of the Fee Determination for further details.

    Review rights

    You can request TEQSA reconsider some decisions relating to application fees or apply to the Administrative Review Tribunal for a review of some decisions. See sections 8 - 10 of the Fee Determination for further information.

    How to pay

    All applications must include the full payment for the service being provided.

    Assessments of applications will not commence until payment has been received in full.

    Payment must be made by:

    • electronic bank transfer to BSB: 093-003, Account no: 110520, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, Official Administered Receipts Account
    • TEQSA's ABN is 50 658 250 012

    NOTE:

    • a receipt will not be issued unless requested
    • payment by credit card is not accepted
    • fees do not attract GST
    • fees are not refundable.
    Last updated:

    Related links

  • TEQSA e-News

    Our email newsletter is published 11 times per year via email and LinkedIn.

    Subscribe to our e-News mailing list

    View previous editions

    Date Edition
    17 March 2025 View TEQSA e-News - February-March
    17 December 2024 View TEQSA e-News - December
    29 November 2024 View TEQSA e-News - November
    14 October 2024 View TEQSA e-News - October
    26 September 2024 View TEQSA e-News - September
    16 August 2024 View TEQSA e-News - July/August
    25 June 2024 View TEQSA e-News - June
    28 May 2024 View TEQSA e-News - May
    22 April 2024 View TEQSA e-News - April
    22 March 2024 View TEQSA e-News - March
    6 February 2024 View TEQSA e-News - February
    13 December 2023 View TEQSA e-News - December
    16 November 2023 View TEQSA e-News - November
    6 October 2023 View TEQSA e-News - October
    8 September 2023 View TEQSA e-News - September
    9 August 2023 View TEQSA e-News - August
    14 July 2023 View TEQSA e-News - July
    16 June 2023 View TEQSA e-News - June
    11 May 2023 View TEQSA e-News - May
    5 April 2023 View TEQSA e-News - April
    7 March 2023 View TEQSA e-News - March
    7 February 2023 View TEQSA e-News - February
    14 December 2022 View TEQSA e-News - December
    18 November 2022 View TEQSA e-News - November
    21 October 2022 View TEQSA e-News - October
    19 September 2022 View TEQSA e-News - September
    10 August 2022 View TEQSA e-News - August
    6 July 2022 View TEQSA e-News - July
    8 June 2022 View TEQSA e-News - June
    11 May 2022 View TEQSA e-News - May
    6 April 2022 View TEQSA e-News - April
    15 March 2022 View TEQSA e-News - March
    10 February 2022 View TEQSA e-News - February
    17 December 2021 View TEQSA e-News - December 
    22 November 2021 View TEQSA e-News - November
    20 October 2021 View TEQSA e-News - October
    27 August 2021 View TEQSA e-News - August
    27 July 2021 View TEQSA e-News - July
    28 May 2021 View TEQSA e-News - May
    30 April 2021 View TEQSA e-News - April
    26 March 2021 View TEQSA e-News - March
    25 February 2021 View TEQSA e-News - February
    22 December 2020 View TEQSA e-News - December
    26 November 2020 View TEQSA e-News - November
    29 October 2020 View TEQSA e-News - October
    30 September 2020 View TEQSA e-News - September
    25 August 2020 View TEQSA e-News - August
    3 July 2020 View TEQSA e-News - July
    11 May 2020 View TEQSA e-News - May
    13 March 2020 View TEQSA e-News - March
    31 January 2020 View TEQSA e-News - January
    20 December 2019 View TEQSA e-News - December
    19 November 2019 View TEQSA e-News - November
    19 September 2019 View TEQSA e-News - September
    20 August 2019 View TEQSA e-News - August
    15 July 2019 View TEQSA e-News - July
    04 June 2019 View TEQSA e-News - June
    29 April 2019 View TEQSA e-News - April
    27 March 2019 View TEQSA e-News - March
    14 February 2019 View TEQSA e-News - February
    18 December 2018 View TEQSA e-News - December
    23 November 2018 View TEQSA e-News - November
    31 October 2018 View TEQSA e-News - October
    28 September 2018 View TEQSA e-News - September
    23 August 2018 View TEQSA e-News - August
    10 July 2018 View TEQSA e-News - July
    30 May 2018 View TEQSA e-News - May
    2 April 2018 View TEQSA e-News - April
    8 March 2018 View TEQSA e-News - March
    8 February 2018 View TEQSA e-News - February

     

    Last updated:
  • Reporting and accountability

    As a statutory agency, we must meet specific government accountability requirements.

    The publications available in this section show how we operate as an open and transparent agency:

    Reporting requirements

    We report on our performance through our annual report to the Australian Parliament.

    Our work is also examined by the Australian Parliament at Senate Estimates committee hearings three times each year.

    Last updated:
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) transparency statement

    TEQSA acknowledges the Digital Transformation Agency’s Policy for the responsible use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in government that sets the approach for the use of AI by government.

    How TEQSA uses AI

    TEQSA participated in a short Microsoft Copilot trial in 2024, which has now concluded.

    TEQSA uses MS productivity tools’ limited AI capabilities but has not authorised the use of AI in service delivery including our regulatory function or decision-making processes.

    Training and assistance

    All TEQSA staff will be required to undertake the DTA’s AI fundamentals training modules to raise awareness and develop basic understanding of AI.

    Accountable officials

    The Chief Information Officer is designated as the accountable official for TEQSA. An AI Steering Committee will be established to develop an overarching agency approach to AI and assess the opportunities and risks in using AI within the agency.

    Statement review and updates

    This AI transparency statement was first published in March 2025. This statement will be reviewed annually, or when significant change is made to our approach to AI.

    Contact information

    If you have any enquiries about this statement, we can be reached via the details on the contact us page of this website.

    Last updated:
  • Policy and benchmarking

    Resources on this page support Australian higher education providers to meet the academic integrity requirements detailed in the Higher Education Standards Framework (2015). These include a benchmarking tool to help institutions determine if the standards are met and evidence recorded, policy development guides and case studies demonstrating good practice.

    Benchmarking

    Benchmarking icon

    Academic integrity project websites

    Websites icon

    Case studies

    Case studies icon

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  • Consultation

    We have developed key aspects of our regulatory approach in consultation with higher education stakeholders. We recognise that consultation influences the quality of our relations with the higher education sector and can be an important way of collecting evidence which allows us to meet the objects of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act).

    Current consultations

    There are no current consultations at TEQSA.

    Previous consultations

    Interim regulatory guidance

    (Closed 27 March 2025)

    TEQSA is seeking feedback on new regulatory guidance that has been developed to support safety and wellbeing in higher education.

    TEQSA is consulting on 2 documents:

    Fees and charges consultation

    (Closed 28 October 2024)

    In accordance with the Australian Government Charging Policy, TEQSA annually reviews the operation of our Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS).

    Following an internal review of the 2023 version of the CRIS, TEQSA has developed a consultation paper for the sector.

    This paper outlines several proposed adjustments to ensure our fees and charges (to take effect from 1 January 2025) accurately reflect the cost of our regulatory activities.

    Revised service charter

    (Closed 20 May 2024)

    TEQSA commenced a service charter review in early 2023. The first phase of consultation was a stakeholder survey about our service charter in August 2023.

    We’ve now developed a revised service charter informed by the survey results.

    This was the second phase of consultation and sought further feedback from stakeholders.

    Draft stakeholder engagement strategy

    (Closed 20 May 2024)

    To support the development of a draft stakeholder engagement strategy.

    Fit and proper person requirements

    (Closed 20 May 2024)

    Consultation for a proposal to amend the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Fit and Proper Person Determination 2018 (Determination).

    Guidance notes on diversity and equity, student grievances and complaints, and wellbeing and safety

    (Closed 15 March 2024)

    In 2023, TEQSA consulted stakeholders on the following guidance notes:

    • Diversity and equity
    • Student grievances and complaints
    • Wellbeing and safety.

    These notes focus on 3 sections of the Threshold Standards that are unified in their intent to protect and provide support to students. TEQSA sought further stakeholder feedback that identified:

    • what additional information can be included in the guidance note to make it useful and up to date
    • any points or areas that require clarity
    • suggestions to assist providers in delivering effective self-assurance.

    Guidance notes on Staffing, Corporate Governance, and Corporate Monitoring and Accountability

    (Closed 9 February 2024)

    To support TEQSA’s ongoing work to improve the efficiency of our regulatory operations and support greater self-assurance within the higher education sector, we are continuing to enhance TEQSA’s suite of guidance notes for higher education providers.

    • Corporate governance
    • Corporate monitoring and accountability
    • Staffing

    Guidance notes on course design, learning outcomes and assessment and learning resources and educational support

    (Closed 20 November 2023)

    To support TEQSA’s ongoing work to improve the efficiency of our regulatory operations and support greater self-assurance within the higher education sector, we are continuing to enhance TEQSA’s suite of guidance notes for registered higher education providers.

    • Course design
    • Learning outcomes and assessment
    • Learning resources and educational support

    Assessment reform for the age of artificial intelligence

    (Closed 20 October 2023)

    TEQSA invited feedback on the proposals outlined in the Assessment reform for the age of artificial intelligence discussion paper, including the principles and propositions.

    At the end of the consultation period, TEQSA and the lead authors of this document will consider all feedback received before publishing the final guidelines in late November 2023.

    If you have any questions about this consultation, or the guiding principles, please email us at integrityunit@teqsa.gov.au.

    Fees and charges consultation

    (Closed 25 September 2023)

    In accordance with the Australian Government Charging Policy, TEQSA annually reviews the operation of our Cost Recovery Implementation Statement (CRIS).

    Following an internal review of the 2022 version of the CRIS, TEQSA developed a consultation paper for the sector. This paper outlined several proposed adjustments to ensure our fees and charges for 2024 accurately reflect the cost of our regulatory activities and the changes we’ve made to streamline processes since the 2022 version of the CRIS was developed.

    See: How we consult on fees and charges for more information

    Service charter review survey

    (Survey closed 25 September 2023)

    Insights from the survey will help us to develop a draft service charter, which we will release for further comment at a later date. Following this consultation, TEQSA will consider stakeholder feedback before adopting our revised service charter.

    See: Service charter review for more information.

    Guidance notes on facilities and infrastructure, academic monitoring and academic and research integrity

    (Closed 10 August 2023)

    To support TEQSA’s ongoing work to improve the efficiency of our regulatory operations and support greater self-assurance within the higher education sector, we are continuing to enhance TEQSA’s suite of guidance notes for registered higher education providers.

    Consultation for sexual harm good practice note

    (Closed 13 July 2023)

    Since the release of the Good Practice Note: Preventing and responding to sexual assault and sexual harassment in the Australian higher education sector (the 2020 good practice note), TEQSA acknowledges there has been significant work across the sector to embed strategies to prevent and respond to sexual assault and sexual harassment, however, the issue remains a key risk.

    Guidance notes on diversity and equity, student grievances and complaints, and wellbeing and safety

    (Closed 13 July 2023)

    To support TEQSA’s ongoing work to improve the efficiency of our regulatory operations and support greater self-assurance within the higher education sector, we are continuing to enhance TEQSA’s suite of guidance notes for registered higher education providers.

    • Diversity and Equity 
    • Student Grievances and Complaints 
    • Wellbeing and Safety

    Guidance notes on academic governance, recognition of prior learning, and delivery with other parties

    (Closed 7 March 2023)

    To support TEQSA’s ongoing work to improve the efficiency of our regulatory operations and support greater self-assurance within the higher education sector, we are continuing to enhance TEQSA’s suite of guidance notes for registered higher education providers.

    Consultation for proposed amendments to Register Guidelines 

    (Closed 16 December 2022)

    TEQSA has commenced a consultation process for proposed amendments to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Register) Guidelines 2017 (Register Guidelines).

    The reason for the proposed amendments is to promote transparency regarding TEQSA's regulatory decisions and actions and remove any doubt about which trading names the Register must include in respect of registered providers' higher education operations.

    Summary of feedback

    TEQSA received two submissions during the consultation period. 

    Both submissions supported the inclusion of the additional information proposed in the consultation paper. One submission opposed the removal of previous trading names and the other supported it (while noting that this information may be useful to future students).

    Guidance Note: Research requirements for Australian universities

    (Closed 7 September 2022)

    To support TEQSA’s ongoing work to improve the efficiency of our regulatory operations and support greater self-assurance within the higher education sector, we are enhancing TEQSA’s suite of guidance notes for registered higher education providers.

    This work will reinforce the role of guidance notes to provide guidance that focuses on a specific section of the Higher Education Standards Framework (2021) while drawing attention to connections with other sections and highlighting potential compliance issues.

    Following sector feedback during consultation last year, this project will ultimately reduce the number of guidance notes from 32 to 28 to ensure each guidance note aligns with a section of the Standards framework. Sector feedback has also informed the development of a new, simpler template for guidance notes.

    The draft guidance note outlines what TEQSA will look for when considering university research in relation to requirements outlined in the TEQSA Act and Higher Education Standards Framework (2021).

    Summary of external consultation

    Revised Guidance Note: Research and Research Training

    (Closed 6 July 2022)

    To support TEQSA’s ongoing work to improve the efficiency of our regulatory operations and support greater self-assurance within the higher education sector, we are enhancing TEQSA’s suite of guidance notes for registered higher education providers.

    This work will reinforce the role of guidance notes to provide guidance that focuses on a specific section of the Higher Education Standards Framework (2021) while drawing attention to connections with other sections and highlighting potential compliance issues.

    Following sector feedback during consultation last year, this project will ultimately reduce the number of guidance notes from 32 to 28 to ensure each guidance note aligns with a section of the Standards framework. Sector feedback has also informed the development of a new, simpler template for guidance notes.

    The Guidance Note outlines, with regard to the Higher Education Standards Framework, what TEQSA will look for and common issues associated with Research and Research Training.

    Register and information guidelines

    (Closed 26 November 2021)

    The Register Guidelines is a legislative instrument that sets out the information that TEQSA must enter on the National Register in respect of each registered higher education provider.

    The Information Guidelines is a legislative instrument that sets out the Commonwealth authorities and the State or Territory authorities to which TEQSA may disclose higher education information under sections 189 and 194 of the TEQSA Act.

    Revised compliance guides

    (Closed 10 November 2021)

    On 1 July 2021 the new Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 (HESF) came into effect. 

    TEQSA is reviewing the current suite of guidance notes to ensure they reflect the requirements of the new HESF. 

    As part of this review, TEQSA developed a new template to streamline our guidance materials.

    TEQSA fees and charges consultation

    (Closed 3 June 2021)

    On 30 April 2021, TEQSA released the TEQSA Fees and Charges Consultation Paper for feedback from the sector. The consultation paper outlined the details of TEQSA’s proposed approach for transitioning to the new cost recovery arrangements.

    Draft legislative instrument

    (Closed 28 April 2021)

    In February 2021, the Australian Parliament passed the Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Provider Category Standards and Other Measures) Bill 2020. The Bill gives effect to the Australian Government’s decision to implement all 10 recommendations arising from the Provider Category Standards review conducted in 2019. 

    Among other things, the Bill amends the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) to allow TEQSA to make a determination of the matters which it must have regard to when assessing the quality of the research undertaken by a provider which is registered, or applies to be registered, in the Australian University category. By approval from the Minister, this determination becomes a legislative instrument.

    TEQSA proposes to make a determination which sets out a number of matters which are relevant to an assessment of research quality. The list is non-exhaustive and does not specify benchmarks or thresholds for quality; it is a determination of considerations in an assessment of research quality.

    Discussion paper: Making and assessing claims of scholarship and scholarly activity 

    (Closed 14 December 2020)

    TEQSA sought to review whether its current approach to assessing claims of scholarship and scholarly activity (as described in the Guidance Note on Scholarship) is adequate, or if the approach needs to be reconceptualised. The purpose of this discussion paper was to set out, for consideration by the sector and other stakeholders, draft principles that were proposed to guide providers in making claims related to scholarship, and to inform TEQSA’s assessments of such claims.

    Information Guidelines

    (Closed 27 March 2020)

    TEQSA sought feedback on the Commonwealth, State and Territory bodies that we proposed to include in an update to our Information Guidelines. 

    The Information Guidelines is a legislative instrument that sets out the Commonwealth authorities and the State or Territory authorities to which TEQSA may disclose higher education information under sections 189 and 194 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011.

    Fit and proper person considerations

    (Closed 1 December 2017)

    As a consequence of the passing of the Education Legislative Amendment (Provider Integrity and Other Measures) Act 2017, TEQSA is able to specify matters that the agency may have regard to in deciding whether a person is a fit and proper person for the purposes of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011.

    Sector consultation on proposed changes to the publication of TEQSA’s decisions

    (Closed 14 March 2017)

    TEQSA sought feedback, via a consultation paper, on the proposed changes to the publication of regulatory decisions.

    The consultation focused on proposed changes to the frequency and way we published decisions.

    Questions about whether we should publish more information, including rejections, involve an important balance between the interests of higher education providers, students and other stakeholders.

    The developments in our practices and in the approaches of other agencies meant that it was timely to revisit these issues. 

    We proposed that a simplified set of principles be adopted, informed by approaches of other Australian Government agencies, to guide our future approach.

    As part of the consultation process, we will carefully consider all feedback before we make any changes to our approach. We are committed to ensuring that all stakeholders have an opportunity to provide us with their views.

    Summary of consultation

    Principles of consultation

    Our approach to consultation is guided by the regulatory principles of: reflecting risk, proportionality and necessity. Our consultations are also guided by the principles outlined in TEQSA’s approach to consultation.

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