Renewal of registration
Report on renewal of registration of Torrens University Australia Ltd
On 3 September 2025, TEQSA:
- renewed under section 36 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act) the registration of Torrens University Australia Ltd as an Australian University for a period of 7 years until 3 September 2032.
- renewed under section 10E of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act), the CRICOS registration of Torrens University Australia Ltd, for a period of 7 years to align with the renewal of TEQSA registration.
- revoked, under section 32 of the TEQSA Act, Conditions 1, 2, 3 and 4 on the registration of Torrens University Australia Ltd imposed by TEQSA on 25 September 2019.
- imposed, under section 32 of the TEQSA Act, 2 conditions on the registration of Torrens University Australia Ltd.
Condition 1: Governance, Accountability and Risk Management
- By 31 January 2026, Torrens must provide evidence of ongoing and regular engagement between its Governing Board, Academic Board and delegated committees on the management of institutional risks indicated, or arising from, Torrens's pre-admission, post-admission and agency management practices, high student attrition rates, and high proportion of casual staffing. Such evidence includes but is not limited to evidence that the Governing Board and Academic Board have assured themselves that:
- Torrens has appropriate systems in place to collect and record relevant data to accurately measure and track its student outcomes (pre and post admission), agent performance, student attrition rates and casual staffing proportion at an institutional level
- Torrens has established appropriate thresholds for determining the level at which the outcome, performance measure, rates and proportion above indicate institutional risks
- Torrens undertakes an analysis to evaluate the institutional risks and takes action to treat the underlying cause of the risks as identified
- Torrens communicates and consults across its institution to raise awareness of the risks
- Torrens periodically reviews its risk management process, to improve its risk management practices
- Torrens continues to monitor and evaluate the risks and the treatment and to report to the Governing Board on their progress and efficacy
The institutional risks include, but are not limited to:
- poor levels of student and staff engagement, performance and support
- the numbers, qualifications, experience and expertise including the mix of sessional and full-time academic staff are not appropriate to the courses of study being taught
- inadequate monitoring and management of agent performance
- inadequate evaluation of student performance post admission, including early identification of at-risk students
- a lack of analysis and evaluation of action plans in relation to student attrition
Condition 2: Research
- By 30 September 2026, Torrens must engage a suitably qualified independent expert to undertake a review of the University's research performance and research training activities. The terms of reference for the review must include an assessment of whether:
- Torrens has met the research performance requirements under B1.3.17a of the Threshold Standards
- Torrens has appropriate systems in place to monitor and evaluate research performance against the requirements of B1.3.17a of the Threshold Standards, and periodically reviews these systems to ensure they remain appropriate
- Torrens uses appropriate research quality indicators including those under section 5 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Quality of Research) Determination 2021 (Quality of Research Determination) to assess its research performance against the requirements of B1.3.17a and B1.3.19a of the Threshold Standards and uses appropriate methodologies in measuring performance against these indicators
- Torrens identifies, assesses and mitigates risks of underperformance against the requirements of B1.3.17a and the Quality of Research Determination, including risks relating to:
- insufficient numbers of projects, subfields or researchers,
- insufficient research investments or funding
- apportioning multi-disciplinary papers across more than one Field of Education without a rigorous and academically sound methodology for doing so
- insufficient reviews and external referencing of methodologies in measuring research performance
- Torrens has realistic and achievable plans in place to ensure B1.3.16a will be met (or continue to be met) by 1 July 2031, in line with B3.2 of the Threshold Standards and is implementing those plans.
- By 18 December 2026, Torrens must provide TEQSA with:
- a copy of the completed expert review
- evidence that Torrens's Governing Board has considered the review report, including any action plans to address or implement recommendations from the review
- a copy of any action plans developed
- By 30 September 2029, Torrens must provide to TEQSA a report on its progress against the actions and plans referred to in Condition 2 paragraph b(iii), including areas for (further) improvement, existing challenges, specific actions to address the challenges, the timeline for each action, and the resources required to carry out the actions.
Main reasons for the decision
TEQSA made these decisions in light of risks that Torrens University Australia Ltd may not meet, or continue to meet, the following provisions of the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 and the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (National Code):
- Standards 1.1.1, 3.2.1, 6.2.1, 3.2, and 7.1.4 of the Threshold Standards and Standard 2.2, 4.4, 4.5 and 4.6.3 of the National Code, in relation to management of risks with respect to casual staffing, student admission, student attrition, and agent performance and management
- Criteria B1.3.16 of the Threshold Standards, in relation to continuous monitoring and improvement of research performance and training activities.
Application to withdraw conditions
In accordance with section 32 of the TEQSA Act, TEQSA may vary or revoke a condition imposed on the registration of a higher education provider, either on its own initiative, or upon application by the provider for variation or revocation.
Decision
