Between 1 January and 30 June 2025 the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) completed 23 compliance assessments of higher education providers, resulting in 6 providers having their registration cancelled or not renewed. On 19 May 2025 TEQSA issued a public statement confirming the cancellation of registration for the Australian Graduate School of Leadership, citing failure to meet the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021. International students enrolled with a cancelled provider risk losing both tuition fees and eligibility for a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which is required to maintain a Student visa (subclass 500) under the Migration Regulations 1994. As at 12 June 2025 the Department of Home Affairs policy requires education providers to be registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) for international enrolment; CRICOS registration is contingent on current TEQSA registration. Verifying TEQSA provider status before enrolment is a regulatory safeguard that directly affects visa validity, tuition protection, and qualification recognition under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).
The TEQSA National Register and Its Legal Basis
TEQSA maintains the authoritative national register of all registered higher education providers under section 198 of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (TEQSA Act). The register is the single source of truth for determining whether an institution holds current registration to offer higher education awards in Australia. Registration status is categorised as either ‘Registered’, ‘Registered (renewal required)’, or ‘No longer registered’.
What the Register Contains
The TEQSA National Register displays the provider’s legal name, trading name, Australian Business Number (ABN), registration status, registration period, and the scope of self-accrediting authority where applicable. Each entry also lists the provider category — Australian University, Australian University College, Institute of Higher Education, or Overseas University — as defined by the Higher Education Standards Framework. A provider that appears as ‘Registered (renewal required)’ remains authorised to deliver courses while TEQSA assesses its renewal application, provided the application was lodged before the registration expiry date.
When TEQSA Cancels or Suspends Registration
Under section 38 of the TEQSA Act, TEQSA may cancel a provider’s registration if it is no longer satisfied the provider meets the Threshold Standards. Grounds for cancellation include financial non-viability, systemic academic governance failures, or failure to report material changes. A cancellation decision takes effect on the date specified in the notice, and the provider must cease enrolling new students immediately. On 19 May 2025 TEQSA confirmed that the Australian Graduate School of Leadership had its registration cancelled effective 16 May 2025, with existing students transferred to alternative providers under a teach-out arrangement approved by TEQSA (TEQSA Public Statement, 19 May 2025). A suspension under section 41 has immediate effect and typically precedes a show-cause process.
Distinguishing TEQSA Registration from CRICOS Registration
TEQSA registration is a prerequisite for CRICOS registration but does not automatically confer it. A domestic-only provider may hold TEQSA registration without CRICOS registration. International students must verify both registers: the TEQSA National Register confirms the provider can legally award AQF qualifications, and the CRICOS register confirms the provider can enrol international students on a Student visa (subclass 500). As at 12 June 2025, 176 TEQSA-registered providers also held CRICOS registration (Department of Education CRICOS data, accessed 12 June 2025).
Step-by-Step: How to Verify Provider Status
The verification process uses only official government databases. Third-party education agent representations, promotional materials, or provider self-reported status do not constitute reliable evidence of registration.
Step 1: Access the TEQSA National Register
Navigate to the TEQSA National Register at teqsa.gov.au/national-register. The register is a free, publicly accessible database updated in real time. No login or account is required. The search interface accepts provider name, ABN, or provider category filters. Enter the full legal name of the provider as it appears on the Letter of Offer. Partial name searches may return multiple results; match the ABN on the Letter of Offer to the ABN displayed in the register entry.
Step 2: Confirm Registration Status and Expiry
Once the provider record is displayed, verify that the status field reads ‘Registered’ or ‘Registered (renewal required)’. Check the ‘Registration expiry’ date. If the expiry date has passed and the status does not show ‘Registered (renewal required)’, the provider is no longer authorised to enrol students. Record the TEQSA Provider ID (PRV number) for cross-referencing on the CRICOS register.
Step 3: Cross-Check on the CRICOS Register (International Students)
International students must perform a second verification on the CRICOS register at cricos.education.gov.au. Search by provider name or CRICOS Provider Code. Confirm the provider’s CRICOS status is ‘Active’. If the provider appears on TEQSA but not on CRICOS, or if the CRICOS status shows ‘Suspended’ or ‘Cancelled’, the provider cannot issue a valid CoE for a Student visa (subclass 500). The Department of Home Affairs will refuse a visa application if the CoE is issued by a non-CRICOS provider as per the Migration Regulations 1994, Schedule 2, clause 500.211.
Step 4: Check for Conditions and Undertakings
Some TEQSA registrations carry conditions imposed under section 32 of the TEQSA Act. Conditions may restrict the provider to specific courses, limit maximum student enrolments, or require third-party oversight of governance. A provider with active conditions remains registered but operates under enforceable constraints. Conditions are listed on the TEQSA National Register entry. Prospective students should assess whether conditions affect the course they intend to enrol in. For example, a condition limiting a provider to undergraduate diploma-level delivery means the provider cannot lawfully offer a bachelor degree, even if it advertises one.
Red Flags That Signal an Unregistered or High-Risk Provider
Certain patterns in provider behaviour correlate with registration problems. These indicators do not confirm non-registration but warrant immediate verification through the TEQSA National Register.
Unusually Low Tuition Fees
Australian higher education tuition fees for international students typically range from AUD 20,000 to AUD 45,000 per annum depending on the course and provider category (Department of Education, International Student Data 2024). A provider offering a bachelor degree below AUD 15,000 per annum may be operating outside the AQF framework, delivering unaccredited courses, or facing financial distress. TEQSA’s financial viability assessments consider whether a provider can sustain operations for at least the duration of current student enrolments. A provider charging fees insufficient to cover delivery costs is unlikely to meet the Financial Viability Threshold Standard.
Absence of a TEQSA Provider ID on Marketing Materials
Registered providers are required under the TEQSA Act to display their TEQSA Provider ID (PRV number) and provider category on all public-facing materials, including websites and Letters of Offer. A provider that omits the PRV number or uses a non-standard identifier may be unregistered or attempting to trade on a similar name to a registered entity. The TEQSA National Register is the only definitive source; the presence of a PRV number on a website should be verified against the register.
Pressure to Pay Full Fees Upfront
Registered providers operating under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) are subject to tuition protection requirements. Under section 28 of the ESOS Act, providers must not require more than 50% of total tuition fees to be paid before the student commences the course, unless the student chooses to pay more. A provider demanding full upfront payment exceeding this limit may be breaching ESOS Act provisions, which is itself a reportable compliance concern to TEQSA and the Department of Education.
Unverifiable Accreditation Claims
Some unregistered entities claim accreditation through bodies other than TEQSA, such as international accreditors or industry associations. Under the TEQSA Act, only TEQSA-registered providers can offer AQF higher education awards in Australia. Claims of ‘international accreditation’ do not substitute for TEQSA registration. If a provider asserts that its courses are ‘accredited by [overseas body]’ without TEQSA registration, the courses are not recognised higher education awards in Australia and will not support a Student visa application or qualify for AQF recognition.
Consequences of Enrolling with an Unregistered Provider
Enrolling with a provider that is not TEQSA-registered, or that loses registration during enrolment, carries specific legal, financial, and immigration consequences.
Visa Cancellation and Immigration Status
International students enrolled with a non-CRICOS provider do not meet the enrolment requirements of Student visa (subclass 500) condition 8202. The Department of Home Affairs may cancel the visa under section 116 of the Migration Act 1958 if the student ceases to be enrolled in a registered course. As at 12 June 2025, a visa cancellation on these grounds results in the student becoming an unlawful non-citizen unless a bridging visa or alternative visa is granted within 28 days.
Loss of Tuition Fee Protection
Students enrolled with a TEQSA-registered provider that ceases operations are covered by the Tuition Protection Service (TPS) established under the ESOS Act. The TPS places students in an alternative course at no additional cost or refunds unspent tuition fees. Students enrolled with an unregistered provider have no access to the TPS. Recovery of fees from an unregistered entity requires private legal action, and liquidated entities may have no assets to satisfy claims.
Non-Recognised Qualifications
A qualification issued by a non-TEQSA-registered entity is not an AQF qualification and may not be recognised by Australian employers, professional registration bodies, or overseas qualification recognition authorities. The AQF is the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australia, and only TEQSA-registered providers can issue AQF awards. A student who completes a course with an unregistered provider may find the credential has no standing for employment, further study, or skilled migration points assessment.
What to Do If Your Provider Loses Registration
TEQSA publishes cancellation and sanction decisions on its website. Students affected by a registration cancellation should act on the date the decision is published.
Contact the Provider and Request a Teach-Out or Refund
Under the ESOS Act, a provider that ceases to be registered must either arrange a teach-out with another registered provider or refund unspent tuition fees within 14 days (section 46D of the ESOS Act). The student should request written confirmation of the teach-out arrangement, including the receiving provider’s TEQSA Provider ID and CRICOS code, and the course mapping confirming credit transfer. If the provider is unresponsive or in liquidation, the student should contact the TPS directly at tps.gov.au.
Notify the Department of Home Affairs
A change in enrolment status may affect visa conditions. Students should update their enrolment details through ImmiAccount and, if necessary, obtain a new CoE from the teach-out provider. The Department of Home Affairs does not automatically cancel a Student visa when a provider loses registration if the student secures alternative enrolment within a reasonable period. Delaying re-enrolment beyond the timeframe specified in condition 8202 may trigger a visa compliance notice.
Report the Provider to TEQSA
If a provider continues to enrol students after registration cancellation, or if it misrepresents its registration status, students and members of the public can submit a complaint to TEQSA through the online complaints portal at teqsa.gov.au/complaints. TEQSA investigates allegations of unregistered provision of higher education and may refer matters for prosecution under the TEQSA Act, which carries civil penalties of up to AUD 133,200 for a body corporate as at 1 July 2024.
Practical Steps Before Enrolment
Verification of TEQSA registration status is a pre-enrolment due diligence step that takes under ten minutes using official government databases. Prospective students should complete the following actions before signing an enrolment agreement or making any tuition payment.
First, access the TEQSA National Register at teqsa.gov.au/national-register and confirm the provider’s status is ‘Registered’ or ‘Registered (renewal required)’, noting the expiry date and any conditions. Second, international students must cross-check the provider on the CRICOS register at cricos.education.gov.au and verify the CRICOS status is ‘Active’. Third, request the provider’s TEQSA Provider ID (PRV number) and CRICOS Provider Code in writing and match them against the official registers; a provider that cannot supply these identifiers should be treated as unregistered until proven otherwise. Fourth, retain copies of the TEQSA and CRICOS register screenshots, the Letter of Offer, and all payment receipts as evidence of due diligence and for potential TPS claims. Fifth, if the provider’s registration expires during the intended course period, contact TEQSA to confirm renewal has been lodged and monitor the register for status updates throughout the enrolment period.