Skip to content
Curtin University
Office of Strategy and Planning

Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)

TEQSA's role and functions

TEQSA regulates and assures the quality of Australia's higher education sector. The Australian higher education system comprises both public and private universities, Australian branches of overseas universities, and other higher education providers with and without self-accrediting authority. Curtin is registered as a public university with self-accrediting authority. Curtin is currently registered until 30 July 2025.

TEQSA registers and evaluates the performance of higher education providers against the Higher Education Standards Framework - specifically the Threshold Standards, which all providers must meet in order to enter and remain within Australia's higher education system.

Further information is available from the 'Renewal of Registration' page (staff access only).

TEQSA's objectives

  • Ensure national consistency in the regulation of higher education using a standards-based quality framework and applying three regulatory principles - regulatory necessity, reflecting risk and proportionate regulation
  • Protect and enhance Australia's reputation for quality higher education and excellence, innovation and diversity
  • Protect students understanding higher education
  • Ensure that students have access to information relating to higher education
  • Encourage and promote a higher education system that is appropriate to meet Australia's social and economic needs

TEQSA's functions under the TEQSA Act include to:

  • Register regulated entities as registered higher education providers
  • Renew the registration of those providers

And for providers without self-accrediting authority:
  • Accredit courses of study
  • Renew the accreditation of courses

Functions under the ESOS Act

TEQSA is responsible under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act for the registration of higher education courses, foundation programs and ELICOS programs to overseas students. It also regulates the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).

For more information, please visit the Curtin ESOS website.

Liaising with TEQSA

For information regarding TEQSA please contact Melissa Thong, Director, Strategy, Performance and Market Analysis melissa.thong@curtin.edu.au.