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Commonwealth act
This Act establishes TEQSA as Australia’s national regulator for higher education, requiring organisations that offer recognised degrees or diplomas to be registered and meet the Higher Education Standards. It gives TEQSA powers to approve courses, enforce quality and financial safeguards, ban contract‑cheating services, and regulate offshore delivery (new authorisation and reporting from 1 Jan 2026).
It matters to students, providers (including foreign campuses) and anyone offering cheating services: registration, course validity, student protections and national consistency are now statutory requirements.
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Zoe can write the in-depth analysis on top of the summary above: how it works, who it affects and what each part actually does.
Direct links to the current provisions in Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
An Act to regulate higher education, and for other purposes
This Act may be cited as the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011.
(1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="3" style="width:344.85pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Commencement information</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:74.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Column 1</span></p></td><td style="width:180.7pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Column 2</span></p></td><td style="width:68.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Column 3</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:74.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Provision(s)</span></p></td><td style="width:180.7pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Commencement</span></p></td><td style="width:68.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-after:avoid"><span style="font-weight:bold">Date/Details</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:74.35pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1.</span><span> </span><span>Sections</span><span> </span><span>1 and 2 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table</span></p></td><td style="width:180.7pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The day this Act receives the Royal Assent.</span></p></td><td style="width:68.4pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>29</span><span> </span><span>June 2011</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:74.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><a id="CU_521934"></a><span>2.</span><span> </span><span>Sections</span><span> </span><span>3 to 8</span></p></td><td style="width:180.7pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The later of:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) 1</span><span> </span><span>July 2011; and</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) the day after the end of the period of 1 month beginning on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.</span></p></td><td style="width:68.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>29</span><span> </span><span>July 2011</span></p><p class="Tabletext"><span>(paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(b) applies)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:74.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>3.</span><span> </span><span>Section</span><span> </span><span>9</span></p></td><td style="width:180.7pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The later of:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) 1</span><span> </span><span>January 2012; and</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) the day after the end of the period of 7 months beginning on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.</span></p></td><td style="width:68.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>29</span><span> </span><span>January 2012</span></p><p class="Tabletext"><span>(paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(b) applies)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:74.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>4.</span><span> </span><span>Part</span><span> </span><span>1, Division</span><span> </span><span>5</span></p></td><td style="width:180.7pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>The later of:</span></p><p class="Tablea" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>(a) 1</span><span> </span><span>July 2011; and</span></p><p class="Tablea" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>(b) the day after the end of the period of 1 month beginning on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.</span></p></td><td style="width:68.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>29</span><span> </span><span>July 2011</span></p><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>(paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(b) applies)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:74.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>5.</span><span> </span><span>Parts</span><span> </span><span>2 to 4</span></p></td><td style="width:180.7pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The later of:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) 1</span><span> </span><span>January 2012; and</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) the day after the end of the period of 7 months beginning on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.</span></p></td><td style="width:68.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>29</span><span> </span><span>January 2012</span></p><p class="Tabletext"><span>(paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(b) applies)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:74.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>6.</span><span> </span><span>Part</span><span> </span><span>5, Division</span><span> </span><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:180.7pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The later of:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) 1</span><span> </span><span>July 2011; and</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) the day after the end of the period of 1 month beginning on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.</span></p></td><td style="width:68.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>29</span><span> </span><span>July 2011</span></p><p class="Tabletext"><span>(paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(b) applies)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:74.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>7.</span><span> </span><span>Part</span><span> </span><span>5, Division</span><span> </span><span>2, and Parts</span><span> </span><span>6 and 7</span></p></td><td style="width:180.7pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The later of:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) 1</span><span> </span><span>January 2012; and</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) the day after the end of the period of 7 months beginning on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.</span></p></td><td style="width:68.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>29</span><span> </span><span>January 2012</span></p><p class="Tabletext"><span>(paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(b) applies)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:74.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>8.</span><span> </span><span>Parts</span><span> </span><span>8 to 10</span></p></td><td style="width:180.7pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The later of:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) 1</span><span> </span><span>July 2011; and</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) the day after the end of the period of 1 month beginning on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.</span></p></td><td style="width:68.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>29</span><span> </span><span>July 2011</span></p><p class="Tabletext"><span>(paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(b) applies)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:74.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><a id="CU_1223379"></a><span>9.</span><span> </span><span>Part</span><span> </span><span>11</span></p></td><td style="width:180.7pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The later of:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) 1</span><span> </span><span>January 2012; and</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) the day after the end of the period of 7 months beginning on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.</span></p></td><td style="width:68.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>29</span><span> </span><span>January 2012</span></p><p class="Tabletext"><span>(paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(b) applies)</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:74.35pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>10.</span><span> </span><span>Part</span><span> </span><span>12</span></p></td><td style="width:180.7pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>The later of:</span></p><p class="Tablea" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>(a) 1</span><span> </span><span>July 2011; and</span></p><p class="Tablea" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>(b) the day after the end of the period of 1 month beginning on the day this Act receives the Royal Assent.</span></p></td><td style="width:68.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.35pt; padding-left:5.35pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>29</span><span> </span><span>July 2011</span></p><p class="Tabletext" style="page-break-inside:avoid; page-break-after:avoid"><span>(paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(b) applies)</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table>
Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally enacted. It will not be amended to deal with any later amendments of this Act.
(2) Any information in column 3 of the table is not part of this Act. Information may be inserted in this column, or information in it may be edited, in any published version of this Act.
The objects of this Act are: (a) to provide for national consistency in the regulation of higher education; and (b) to regulate higher education using: (i) a standards‑based quality framework; and (ii) principles relating to regulatory necessity, risk and proportionality; and (c) to protect and enhance: (i) Australia’s reputation for quality higher education and training services; and (ii) Australia’s international competitiveness in the higher education sector; and (iii) excellence, diversity and innovation in higher education in Australia; and (d) to encourage and promote a higher education system that is appropriate to meet Australia’s social and economic needs for a highly educated and skilled population; and (e) to protect students undertaking, or proposing to undertake, higher education in Australia by requiring the provision of quality higher education; and (f) to ensure students undertaking, or proposing to undertake, higher education, have access to information relating to higher education in Australia; and (g) to protect and enhance the academic integrity of courses provided by higher education providers by prohibiting academic cheating services.
The following is a simplified outline of this Act:
• An entity must be registered before it can offer or confer any of the following awards (regulated higher education awards):
(a) Australian higher education awards;
(b) overseas higher education awards, if those awards relate to courses of study provided at Australian premises.
• Registered higher education providers must be authorised to offer or confer Australian higher education awards for Australian courses of study provided at offshore premises.
• Registered higher education providers must have their courses of study accredited before those courses can be provided in connection with regulated higher education awards. Some providers (including those providers registered in the “Australian
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.