Accreditation

• Accreditation of courses
  • - Senior secondary
  • - VET
  • - Higher education

Home > Accreditation > Higher education

Accreditation of higher education courses in Victoria

Organisations seeking accreditation of their higher education courses must apply to the VRQA using the national application form for course accreditation and associated templates listed below.

Criteria for course accreditation

Before accrediting higher education courses, the VRQA must be satisfied that they meet the requirements for course accreditation under the National Protocols and Guidelines and that the applicant has the staff and learning resources to deliver the courses.

The applicant must provide detailed information on course outcomes and demonstrate that the courses are designed to satisfy the requirements of the proposed qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). The applicant must satisfy the VRQA that the proposed courses are comparable in standard to courses leading to a similar award in an Australian university.

Period of accreditation

Course accreditation is for a period of up to five years and is dependent on the period of registration of the institution approved to deliver the course(s). To maintain the accreditation of their courses, higher education institutions are required to apply for re-accreditation and applications should be submitted no later than eight months prior to the accreditation expiry date.

Fees

Fees for investigating applications for accreditation of new courses and registration of new higher education institutions. (PDF - 76Kb)

Forms

• Application Form for Accreditation of a Higher Education Course (Word - 312Kb)
• Attachment 1.2a template (Application for accreditation – course details) (Word - 65Kb)
• Attachment 2.3a template (Course rationale and structure) (Word - 72Kb)
• Attachment 2.3c template (Individual subject outlines) (Word - 123Kb)
• Attachment 2.8a template (Overall assessment methodology) (Word - 86Kb)
• Attachment 3.2a template (Qualifications and experience of current academic staff) (Word - 59Kb)
• Attachment 3.2b template (Abbreviated CVs for key academic staff) (Word - 46Kb)
• Attachment 3.3a template (Qualifications and experience of current support staff) (Word - 54Kb)
• Attachment 4 (Applicant’s Declaration – Accreditation) (Word - 36Kb)

 

Major changes to the accreditation criteria

Major changes to the structure, title or mode of delivery of a course, or its recognition by a relevant professional body, may alter the terms under which the course was accredited. If major changes are planned, or are likely to occur due to a change in circumstances, an application for approval of the change(s) must be submitted to the VRQA.

VRQA Guidelines on approval of major changes (PDF - 45Kb)

Course accreditation under mutual recognition

 

 

Back to Top