Approval to provide courses to overseas students - Higher Education
Applying for CRICOS approval
The designated authority for approving organisations to deliver courses to overseas students for all sectors of education and training in the State of Victoria is the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). This authority is given under the Education and Training Reform Act 2006.
New Guide to approval for CRICOS registration and application format are effective from 1 November 2007.
It is important to note that under the National Code 2007, the duration of courses registered on CRICOS must not exceed the time required for completing the course on the basis of the normal amount of full-time study, and only courses which can be undertaken on a full-time basis can be registered on CRICOS. The registered duration of a course must include approved holiday periods and any approved periods of work-based training which occur during the course. When the course duration is not specified by the accrediting authority for the course, the duration is based on a minimum of 20 scheduled course contact hours per week.
Non self-accrediting higher education institutions
Non self-accrediting higher education institutions seeking approval must submit an application to Quality Assurance - Higher Education within the VRQA and make sure that they are compliant with the Education and Training Reform Act 2006, the ESOS Act 2000 and the National Code 2007. Three copies of the application must be submitted in hard copy.
The relevant documents for non-self-accrediting higher education institutions are:
- Guide to approval of higher education institutions for inclusion on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). (PDF - 100Kb)
- Notification of intent to apply for approval to provide a higher education course of study to overseas students in Victoria. (Word - 307Kb)
- Format for applications for approval or re-approval to provide a higher education course of study to overseas students in Victoria. (PDF - 699Kb)
- Assessment Check Sheet (PDF - 94Kb)
- Application to cancel courses from CRICOS (Word - 141Kb)
Following the approval process, the VRQA will make a recommendation to the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) to register the provider and its courses on CRICOS. DEEWR will notify the provider of its registration on CRICOS.
Self-accrediting Victorian universities
Self-accrediting Victorian universities and the Melbourne College of Divinity seeking registration of higher education courses for delivery to overseas students in Victoria must submit an application to Quality Assurance - Higher Education within the VRQA by completing the CRICOS Course Specific Form. (Word - 222Kb)
Fees
Fees for investigating applications for approval to provide courses to overseas students will be applied. For more information please check the VRQA fees page. An invoice will be sent to the applicant upon receipt of the application.
Mixed AQF qualifications and registration of courses on CRICOS
In the past, a number of mixed Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications were registered as individual courses on CRICOS. Some examples of these courses were as follows:
“Graduate Certificate…/Master of…”
“Bachelor of…/Certificate IV in…”
In November 2007, the national ESOS Implementation Group agreed that mixed AQF qualifications should not be registered as courses on CRICOS as they are outside the current requirements of the AQF Implementation Handbook 2007 (http://www.aqf.edu.au/ ) which only allows for dual Higher Education courses such as dual/double Bachelor Degrees where the AQF award is the same. This position is supported by the AQF and National Protocols for Higher Education approval Processes:
- The list of AQF awards is a definitive list and does not include combination awards. The National Code Part C Paragraph 7.1 states: “A course will not be registered on CRICOS unless it meets the relevant Australian Qualifications Framework requirements….”
- The National Protocols for Higher Education Approval Processes state that “An institution involved in Australian higher education delivery must meet the following criteria: A7: where it offers Australian higher education qualifications, complies with the AQF higher education titles and descriptors.
Institutions should ensure that when making application to the VRQA for registration of a course on CRICOS, there is no mixing of AQF qualifications (the only exception where this may occur is in the case of dual/double Bachelor Degrees). The courses should be registered separately each with their own specific full-time duration and cost.
Note that the above requirements do not prevent CRICOS registered providers from being able to market the courses and their associated pathways, and to grant course credit where appropriate and in accordance with Standard 12 of the National Code 2007 and relevant national protocols and standards.
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