Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011

3. New offshore teaching rules (from 2026)

From 1 January 2026, Australian universities delivering their courses overseas (e.g., at a campus in another country) need separate authorisation from TEQSA. They must also report annually on those offshore programs.

4. Quality standards apply to everyone

All registered providers must meet the Higher Education Standards Framework — a set of quality benchmarks set by the Minister on advice from an expert panel. These cover things like teaching quality, student support, governance, and financial viability.

5. Protecting students if a provider collapses

If a private provider collapses or suddenly can't deliver a course that a student has already paid for upfront, there are legal protections. The provider must help students find a replacement course or get a refund. A government-backed Tuition Protection Fund acts as a safety net for domestic students. (This mainly applies to private providers — public universities are largely exempt.)

6. Cracking down on contract cheating

The law explicitly bans 'academic cheating services' — businesses that write essays, complete assignments, or sit exams on behalf of students. TEQSA has powers to investigate and act against such services.

7. TEQSA's enforcement powers

TEQSA can:

• Inspect and audit providers
• Impose conditions on registrations (e.g., cap student numbers, require financial reporting)
• Cancel or suspend registrations
• Take proportionate enforcement action based on risk

TEQSA must follow principles of necessity, risk-based regulation, and proportionality — meaning it shouldn't over-regulate providers with good track records.

8. Federal law overrides state laws

This federal law overrides most state and territory laws that try to regulate higher education providers. This ensures a single, consistent national standard.

Why does it matter to you?

• Prospective students: Before enrolling, check the provider is on TEQSA's National Register. If they're not registered, any 'degree' they offer is worthless.
• Current students: If your private provider suddenly closes, you have legal rights to a refund or a place in a replacement course.
• Educators and institutions: Operating a higher education provider in Australia without TEQSA registration is a criminal offence.
• Contract cheating businesses: Providing services that help students cheat on assessments is now explicitly illegal.