Australia’s Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 requires all higher education providers to have plans and safeguards in place to protect the interests of students if they cease operating, experience financial difficulties, or are unable to effectively deliver higher education.

In the rare event of a closure, TEQSA works with other Australian Government agencies to ensure that students are supported.

Accessing your student records

The TEQSA Student Portal enables students to verify their identity with us to apply for their records from a provider that has ceased operating.

If you require access to your records, the portal may hold this information.

Please read our frequently asked questions to assist you.

• Frequently asked questions for students

Using the portal

You must register an account to access the portal, before you can submit an application for your records.

• Access the TEQSA Student Portal

Information for providers

Information received from many, but not all, providers that have ceased operating is held in the TEQSA Student Portal.

If you are a provider, please read the following information to assist you:

• withdrawing provider registration
• frequently asked questions for providers.

Tuition protection in Australia

The Tuition Protection Service (TPS) helps Australia’s domestic and international students who have concerns about how their private higher education provider is handling their case following closure of an institution or a course.

If a private higher education provider fails to begin, or stops delivering, a unit or course to their domestic or international students, the provider is obliged to assist students to receive a refund for their up-front payments or a re-credit of their FEE-HELP or HECS-HELP loans for their affected study, transfer them to a different unit or course, or transfer them to a different provider to continue their studies.

If the provider does not help, the TPS will step in to help the affected students.

• Visit the TPS website for more information

The TEQSA Student Portal holds student records from many, but not all, Australian registered higher education providers that have ceased operating.

The portal is free to use.

What records are held in the TEQSA Student Portal?

Records held in the portal cover qualifications of:

• diplomas
• associate degrees
• bachelor degrees
• graduate certificates
• graduate diplomas
• masters degrees
• doctorates (PhDs).

What records are not held in the portal?

Records not held in the TEQSA Student Portal are accredited vocational education training (VET) qualifications such as:

• certificates 1-4
• diplomas
• advanced diplomas.

Please contact the Australian Quality Skills Authority for further information about how to access these records.

How do I find my student records?

If the provider with whom you studied is still active, they must retain all records of your study and must be able to provide a transcript to you upon request.

If your provider is inactive (i.e. it has ceased operating), your records may be retained in the TEQSA Student Portal.

How do I search for my provider?

TEQSA’s National Register shows the status of every higher education provider in Australia.

You can search the register with the legal name of your provider, a trading name or its Australian business number (you can usually find this on an invoice). Be aware that a provider’s trading name and legal name may be different.

Please search all 3 categories – legal name, trading name and Australian business number – to maximise the success of your search results.

What if my provider is listed as ‘active’ in the National Register?

If your provider is listed as ‘active’, contact them directly for anything in relation to your records.

What if my provider is listed as ‘inactive’ in the National Register?

If your provider is listed as ‘inactive’, your student records may be held in the TEQSA Student Portal.

How do I know if my records are held in the TEQSA Student Portal?

Go to the portal’s main page and you will see a list of higher education providers that have ceased operating. If your provider is listed, TEQSA may hold your records.

You must register to use the portal before you can apply to access copies of your records.

What if my provider is not listed in the TEQSA Student Portal?

TEQSA may not hold records for all inactive providers, particularly for those who ceased operating prior to TEQSA’s establishment in 2012.

In these instances, make your own enquiries to confirm if the provider has been acquired by another provider or if these records may be available by other means.

For example, an overseas university that ceased operating in Australia as a higher education provider may have its records available through its base of operations in another country.

How do I register for the TEQSA Student Portal?

Access the TEQSA Student Portal.

You should have available the following information before commencing the registration process:

• identification documents (Australian driver’s licence, Medicare card, Australian passport or Australian visa)
• a working email address.

An email will be sent to your email account, containing details of next steps.

TEQSA will not share this information with any other organisation.

What happens if I can’t find my identity documents today?

Log out and return another time to complete the registration process.

What if I don’t have sufficient ID documents to complete the registration process? 

Contact TEQSA directly (enquiries@teqsa.gov.au) to discuss your circumstances.

What if I no longer have valid documents?

Contact TEQSA directly (enquiries@teqsa.gov.au) to discuss your circumstances.

What types of documents are held in the portal?

TEQSA maintains a range of student records for selected providers that have ceased operating, including:

• student records (personal details about each student that has studied with this provider)
• student results (actual course and unit results for each student)
• student certificates:
  • testamurs
  • academic transcripts
  • Australian Higher Education Graduate Statement (AHEGS).

Can I give someone else, such as a prospective employer, access to the portal to obtain my records?

No. Evidence of attempts to access your records by anyone other than you will result in being locked out of the system.

How do I create an application?

Once your identity has been verified, you can apply for your records. You will need:

• your provider’s legal name
• dates when you attended
• courses studied.

When will my records become available in the portal?

You will receive an email to advise when your records can be accessed from the portal.

Why do I need to verify my identity to obtain my student records?

To protect your privacy, we need to ensure that you – and only you – have access to your records in the TEQSA Student Portal.

TEQSA takes privacy very seriously. Please read our privacy policy.

Can I contact TEQSA with more questions?

Yes. Contact the TEQSA Student Portal team directly by emailing enquiries@teqsa.gov.au. To assist us, please provide as much information as possible in the email regarding your circumstances.
 

Under the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (the TEQSA Act), TEQSA may request or require providers to provide all their student records to TEQSA.

This ensures that TEQSA can make providers’ information available to students in the future.

TEQSA does not take any responsibility for the accuracy of student records supplied by providers. This information will be sent to a student on behalf of your organisation.

What information does a provider submit to TEQSA?

The following information is accepted and held by TEQSA:

• student records (personal details about each student that has studied with this provider)
• student results (actual course and unit results for each student)
• student certificates such as:
  • testamurs
  • academic transcripts
  • Australian Higher Education Graduate Statement (AHEGS).

Where are student records stored?

Information received from many, but not all, deregistered providers is held in the TEQSA Student Portal.

TEQSA will endeavour to respond to student queries regarding their records following a provider being deregistered.

How do I submit student records to TEQSA?

The TEQSA Enquiries Management team at providerenquiries@teqsa.gov.au will advise options for submitting these records.

What format is needed to submit the information to TEQSA?

TEQSA requires providers to follow uniform formats when submitting student information.

Please refer to the table below for guidance, and discuss additional needs with TEQSA as soon as possible.

Student results data definition

• single * denotes a mandatory column
• double ** denotes a conditional column
• all other columns are optional
• text formats can include special characters like () $ @.

• Note 1: If the study level is set to ‘Course’, indicating that the student result is for a course of study, then the ‘Course of Study Code’ and ‘Course of Study Name’ fields must contain a value.
• Note 2: If the study level is set to ‘Unit of Study’, indicating that the student result is for a unit of study, then the ‘Unit of Study Code’ and ‘Unit of Study Name’ fields must contain a value.
• Note 3: Either ‘Mark Awarded’ or ‘Grade Awarded’ are required to have a value. They can also both be populated. If ‘Grade Awarded’ contains a value, then the ‘Grade Description’ is mandatory.

Student records data definition

• single * denotes a mandatory column
• all other columns are optional
• text formats can include special characters like () $ @
   

File naming convention

Student records file: studentrecords v1.csv

Student results file: studentresults v1.csv

Academic transcripts: studentidentificationcode-academic transcripts.pdf
For example: 
12345-academic transcripts.pdf
12345-academic transcripts 2.pdf

Testamurs: studentidentificationcode-testamurs.pdf
For example: 12345-testamurs.pdf

AHEGS: studentidentificationcode-ahegs.pdf
For example: 12345-ahegs.pdf

TEQSA Commission

Our Commissioners are appointed by the Commonwealth Minister for Education based on their expertise in higher education quality assurance and regulatory practice. Commissioners are responsible for making regulatory decisions, setting strategic directions, monitoring risk in the sector and deciding on matters relating to the development of our quality assurance and regulatory functions. The Commissioners are TEQSA's accountable authority.

TEQSA's Commissioners also inform the higher education sector about our work and the responsibilities of higher education providers under the Australian Government’s regulatory system. Our Commissioners are:

Professor Kerri-Lee Krause (Chief Commissioner)

Professor Krause, former Vice-Chancellor and President of Avondale University, commenced as TEQSA’s Chief Commissioner on 7 April 2025.   Professor Krause brings extensive higher education leadership and knowledge to TEQSA, with more than 30 years’ experience in public universities and independent institutions. The current chair of the Higher Education Standards Panel (until 7 April 2025), her leadership has focused on systemic institutional turnaround strategies through enhancing the quality of university learning, teaching and student experiences, particularly among diverse student cohorts. An Honorary Professorial Fellow at the University of Melbourne’s Centre for the Study of Higher Education, Professor Krause’s most recent book, Learner-centred leadership in higher education, is a practical guide on strategic higher education leadership practices with learners at the heart.   Most recently, as Vice-Chancellor of Avondale University, Kerri-Lee successfully led Avondale’s transition from University College to University, applying lessons learned over many years of leading sector-level quality enhancement and university-wide organisational renewal and strategic improvement. Other executive leadership roles have included Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at Western Sydney University and La Trobe University and Provost at Victoria University where she led the introduction of the block model curriculum initiative and workforce renewal spanning the higher education and TAFE sectors. As Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Melbourne, she led the Student Life executive portfolio, partnering with students, heads of student residential halls and colleagues across the University to enhance the quality of student engagement, safety and wellbeing.   Her previous sector leadership includes four years as elected Chair of the Universities Australia Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) group and non-Executive Director on numerous boards. She led the national admissions transparency of higher education strategic priority on behalf of the Higher Education Standards Panel from 2017 to 2025. Professor Krause is internationally recognised for her contributions to higher education policy research and practice, including research on the evolving nature of higher education curricula, learners, academic work and implications for leadership, quality, standards and university governance.

Adrienne Nieuwenhuis (Commissioner)

Before her appointment as a TEQSA Commissioner in 2021, Adrienne was the Director of the Office of Vice-Chancellor at the University of South Australia. Prior to this, Adrienne was the Director Quality, Tertiary Education, Science and Research in the South Australian Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology.   Adrienne has provided strategic leadership, policy advice and investment direction to support tertiary education, science and research in South Australia. She was also responsible for the regulation of both higher education and vocational education and training (VET) in South Australia and worked closely with the Australian Government in the establishment of the national regulatory systems for both higher education and VET.   Adrienne was an inaugural member of the Higher Education Standards Panel (2011–14) and the National Skills Standards Council (2011–13). She was reappointed to the Higher Education Standards Panel for a further three-year term in 2018.   Adrienne has been a member of the South Australian Skills Commission since 2013 and has held several roles within the Commission, including Deputy Chair of the Commission (2013–14, 2019–20) and Chair of the Commission’s Traineeship and Apprenticeship subcommittee (2013 – present). Adrienne was also a member of the Australian Industry and Skills Committee (2019–22).   Adrienne has over 30 years’ experience in tertiary education and has been a member of various state and federal committees and working parties associated with tertiary education. She holds an honours degree in science and a master’s degree in education policy and administration.    Adrienne served as Acting Chief Commissioner from 11 May 2024 to 6 April 2025.

Emeritus Professor Elizabeth More AM, MAICD (Commissioner)

Professor More was appointed to the TEQSA Commission in February 2025.   Prior to her appointment to the TEQSA Commission, Professor More held a number of senior academic and leadership roles in higher education. Most recently, Elizabeth has been Chair of the Academic Board of the SP Jain School of Global Management, Board Chair of Nexus Education, and on the Council and Academic Board of Kings Own Institute. Previously, she was the Chief Academic Advisor/Director of Research at Study Group and a member of its senior leadership team. She has also served as Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Macquarie and Canberra universities and Director of the Macquarie University Graduate School of Management (MGSM), Managing Director of MGSM Pty Ltd; Chair of the Academic Senate at Macquarie University; Foundation Executive Dean of the Faculty of Business at the Australian Catholic University; Professor of Management and MBA and Research Director at MGSM; and Academic Director of Macquarie University’s city campus. She was also the Dean of the Faculty of Business, Management and Wellness, incorporating the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) School of Business and the Australasian College of Health and Wellness.   A past president of the Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management, and of the Australian Communication Association, Elizabeth also has extensive experience in governance, and consulting to both private and public sector organisations. Before becoming a university academic, she worked as a classical ballet dancer in theatre and television, and in the advertising industry.   In addition to being a member of the 2019 Australian Qualifications Framework review panel, Professor More has been on the editorial boards of the Journal of Global Responsibility, Asia-Pacific Journal of Business Administration, Australian Journal of Communication, Journal of Communication Management, Journal of International Communication, Knowledge and Process Management, and the Journal of Corporation Transformation.   Professor More’s academic achievements were acknowledged in the Queen’s Birthday 2005 Honours List, when she received the award of Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to education, particularly in the fields of communication, management and organisational change. Her most recent research presentations and publications have been focused on change management in the non-profit sector, highlighting the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. Her latest publication with co-editors Associate Professor David Rosenbaum and Mark Orr, Journeys through the Disability and Mental Health Nonprofit Sector – The Theory and Practice of Leadership, will be published in April 2025 by Springer UK. Her academic qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) (UNSW), Graduate Diploma in Management (Central Queensland University), Masters of Commercial Law (Deakin University), and a PhD (UNSW).   Her recent work in the nonprofit sector has been as Chair of Flourish Australia, a Director of the Symphony for Life Foundation, and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ NFP Chairs’ Forum.

Stephen Somogyi (Commissioner)

Steve Somogyi was appointed a TEQSA Commissioner in November 2021. He has extensive global experience in the financial services, health care, higher education and prudential regulation sectors and has chaired boards and audit and risk committees.   Steve served as the Chief Operating Officer at RMIT University for 10 years from July 2006 until July 2016. He then became a Strategic Adviser to Monash University, Victoria University, the University of Melbourne, the University of Adelaide, Siemens, Queensland Investment Corporation and Energy Trade.   He has chaired complex projects including the Queen Street Precinct project to improve student experience for Victoria University. He also helped create the Net Zero Program for Monash to achieve energy savings and zero net carbon emissions by 2030 and developed a strategic approach to the Higher Education and Health Care sectors for the Siemens Smart Cities Business Unit.   He was a member of the Expert Review Group for the Australian Council for Educational Research.   Steve has held a range of senior roles in government and industry at the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, Trowbridge Consulting, Mayne Nickless, Bonlac Foods, IOOF and the CPI Group. He worked at National Mutual for 27 years and ended his career there as Chief Finance Executive and Chief Actuary.   His work on boards includes serving as a Commission Member of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission, former Chair of Guild Group, Director of UniSuper including Chair of the Audit, Risk and Compliance Committee, former Chair of Higher Ed Services, Chair of Course-Loop and former Director of Study Loans.   Earning a Master of Science in High Energy Physics from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Science in Management (Sloan Fellow) from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Steve is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries of Australia, of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and of the Financial Services Institute of Australia.

Chief Executive Officer

Dr Mary Russell, CEO

Dr Mary Russell is CEO at TEQSA. She was appointed to the role in May 2024, having led TEQSA as acting CEO since June 2023.   Mary joined TEQSA as the Executive Director of Regulatory Operations in 2022. In this role she led the regulatory teams which manage higher education provider registration, course accreditation, compliance and regulatory risk assessments.   Before joining TEQSA, Mary was Assistant Ombudsman for Dispute Resolution at the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman. She held executive roles at the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) for six years, including as State Manager for Victoria, National Manager of Notifications and National Manager of Regulatory Risk Strategy. While at AHPRA, she led the development and implementation of a risk-based approach to managing concerns about the performance and conduct of health practitioners.   Mary has served as chair and member of regulatory boards, concurrently with roles as a health practitioner and a tertiary educator. She has extensive experience of university teaching, curriculum development and delivery, and has completed her PhD in Health Sciences.

Executive Leadership Team

The Commission is supported by an Executive Leadership Team (ELT) comprising the Chief Executive Officer, Executive Director of Regulatory Operations and senior managers. ELT is responsible for the management of our regulatory business, corporate processes and people.

Organisation structure

Audit and Risk Committee

We have established an Audit and Risk Committee in compliance with the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and PGPA Rule.

• View the Audit and Risk Committee Charter

Higher Education Standards Panel

The Higher Education Standards Panel (HESP) is an expert statutory advisory body, established under the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act), with responsibility related to the standards for delivery of higher education in Australia. 
HESP is independent of TEQSA. 

•    Learn more about HESP [External website]
 

This page contains all published TEQSA resources to support institutions, staff and students in considering the potential impacts and benefits generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) tools pose for teaching, learning, assessment and research.

This page contains TEQSA resources published in the last 12 months, to support institutions, staff and students in considering the potential impacts and benefits gen AI tools pose for teaching, learning, assessment and research.

This page contains resources to support institutions, staff and students in considering the potential impacts and benefits generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) tools pose for research.

This page contains links to resources which support and guide students to ethically and responsibly use generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) tools for learning.

This page contains resources, advice and consultations on generative artificial intelligence (gen AI) use from governments in Australia and overseas.