Australia

Australian Government Department of Education
The Department of Education contributes to Australia's economic prosperity and social wellbeing by creating opportunities and driving better outcomes through access to quality education and learning.

Link(s): English
Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)
TEQSA is Australia’s independent national quality assurance and regulatory agency for higher education, established under Australian law. Their purpose is to protect student interests and the reputation of Australia's higher education sector through a proportionate, risk-reflective approach to quality assurance that supports diversity, innovation and excellence.

Link(s): English
Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)
ASQA is the national regulator for Australia’s vocational education and training sector (VET). Their purpose is to ensure quality education and training so that students, employers, governments and the community can have confidence in the integrity of qualifications issued by vocational education and training providers.

Link(s): English

Australia Country Education Profile (PDF)
The Australia Country Education Profile is an authoritative resource on Australia’s education and training system, and includes key information for higher education, vocational education and training, and school education. It also provides information about Australian education providers and qualifications.

Link(s): English
The Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)
The AQF is the national policy guide for regulated qualifications in the Australian education and training system. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including the required learning outcomes, of the different types of qualifications issued across the senior secondary education, vocational education and training (VET) and higher education systems in Australia.

Link(s): English

Higher education in Australia
The Australian higher education sector includes universities (including their overseas branch campuses), Australian branches of overseas universities, and other higher education providers. Higher education providers offer qualifications ranging from undergraduate awards to postgraduate awards.

Link(s): English
Study Australia
Study Australia is the Australian Government's official resource for individuals seeking to study with Australia. The website contains authoritative information on Australian education, training and research, Australian universities and other education providers, courses available and practical guidance for prospective international students.

Link(s): English
StudyAssist
StudyAssist provides information for students about government assistance for financing tertiary study.

Link(s): English

National Register Higher Education Providers
The National Register of Higher Education Providers is the authoritative primary source of information on the status of registered higher education providers in Australia. The National Register can be used to search by provider or courses. The National Register is maintained by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). 

Link(s): English

Framework

Australian Qualification Framework (AQF)
The Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) is the national policy for regulated qualifications in Australian education and training. It incorporates qualifications from the higher education sector, the vocational education and training sector, and the schools’ sector into a single comprehensive national qualifications framework. The AQF defines the essential characteristics, including learning outcomes, for all qualification types across the sectors. The AQF also has integrated policies such as for qualification issuance, to ensure correct certification for graduates, and for pathways, to support student progression into and between AQF qualifications and promote lifelong learning. All AQF qualifications are quality assured through government accreditation, and education providers that issue AQF qualifications have been authorised to so do under law.

Link(s): English

Self-Certification

Self Certification
Reviews of the AQF are undertaken periodically to ensure it remains fit for purpose. The AQF has also been referenced to the European Qualifications Framework.

Link(s): English

Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TESQA)
TEQSA is Australia’s independent national quality assurance and regulatory agency for higher education, established under Australian law. TEQSA's purpose is to protect student interests and the reputation of Australia's higher education sector through a proportionate, risk-reflective approach to quality assurance that supports diversity, innovation, and excellence. All organisations that offer higher education qualifications in or from Australia, must be registered by TEQSA.

Link(s): English

Australia’s qualifications recognition system
Australia has a decentralised recognition system where many organisations are involved in assessing overseas qualifications to make decisions for study or employment purposes. For admission to study, the Australian education provider is responsible for assessing an overseas qualification (along with other requirements). For jobs that are regulated, there are occupational requirements that must be met, including the suitability of an overseas qualification, which are assessed by, for example, registration, licensing or industry bodies. For all occupations, the employer decides who they will employ.

The Australian Government Department of Education​ has a policy advising and information provision role in the recognition of overseas qualifications. The department provides a suite of information products and services to support organisations to make quality decisions in the assessment of overseas qualifications. This includes support to Australian state and territory governments that provide assessment advice on the comparability of an individual’s overseas qualification for general employment purposes within their respective jurisdictions. In limited circumstances, the department assesses overseas qualifications to support individuals seeking general employment. It also responds to enquiries for individuals seeking information on how to obtain recognition of their overseas qualification(s) in Australia.

Link(s): English

Responsible organisation

Australian Government Department of Education
English
GPO Box 9880
Canberra, ACT 2601
Australia
E-mail: AHEGS@education.gov.au
Link(s): English

Additional information:
The Australian Higher Education Graduation Statement (AHEGS) is Australia’s equivalent to the European diploma supplement. The AHEGS provides key information about a graduate’s course of study, their academic achievements, and the Australian higher education system in one easy to understand document. This helps overseas organisations to better understand the qualification in the Australian context, and facilitates graduates to use their qualification to pursue employment and further education abroad. All Australian universities have implemented the AHEGS and will issue them to both domestic and international graduates.

Information on DS (legislation, template, chart, etc)

Process of Implementation of the Diploma Supplement

Link(s): English
Education Structure

Link(s): English

Higher education admission requirements
Australian higher education institutions set their own admission requirements which are usually based on a student’s Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR). The ATAR is calculated by a state or territory Tertiary Admission Centre (TAC) and is based on a student’s results in their Senior Secondary Certificate of Education. For overseas students, admission decisions are based on comparability against the Australian Senior Secondary Certificate of Education.

Australia education system promotes increased participation and access to higher education. There are alternative pathways to gaining admission to higher education, including the completion of certain vocational education and training qualifications, and tertiary preparatory courses.

Link(s): English, English

Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR)
DEWR has a national policy leadership role for vocational education and training (VET), skills and employment. DEWR works with state and territory governments and industry to support a high-quality VET sector that delivers quality skills and training to promote Australia’s growth in economic productivity and social wellbeing.

The VET sector provides high-quality nationally recognised training. The sector is supported by strong partnerships between the Australian Government and state and territory governments, registered training organisations and industry bodies. The Australian and state and territory governments provide funding, develop policies, regulate and quality assure the sector. Industry bodies and employers help shape training policies and priorities, to develop qualifications that can deliver skills to the workforce. 

The Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) is the national regulator for VET established under Australian law. ASQA regulates the quality of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). 

RTOs deliver nationally recognised training in VET. RTOs award Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications and Statements of Attainment.

Training.gov.au is Australia’s official national register for RTOs. It also contains the accredited courses and qualifications RTO’s are approved to deliver.

Link(s): English, English, English, English

Mechanisms exist to recognise overseas studies and qualifications for refugees in Australia. Refugees and humanitarian visa holders can contact an Australian State or Territory Government Overseas Qualification Unit (OQU) for advice and assistance in assessing their overseas qualification(s).

The Australian Government Department of Education works with the OQUs to facilitate the recognition of overseas qualifications in Australia.

Link(s): English

Verification of academic qualifications
Qualifications awarded can be verified by Australian education providers. Many higher education providers also use My eQuals which is a digital platform that allows students and graduates to share qualification documents with third parties through a secure online portal.

Link(s): English