HOW ARE AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITIES ACCREDITED AND WHY IS ACCREDITATION IMPORTANT?
Choosing the right university or college can be complex. You want the best possible education, but how can you be sure that you’re choosing a legitimate, high quality university? Accreditation is one key factor to consider as you evaluate which university is right for you.
Read on to learn more about what accreditation in Australia means, why it matters that your university or college is accredited, and how to confirm that they actually are.
If you're considering applying to a university, you've likely seen the word "accreditation" over and over again during your search. Accreditation is used as a buzzword on every university's site, but what does it really mean (and why should you care)?
Universities in Australia are all regulated by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) to ensure that students can trust their chosen institution to provide them top-notch education.
TEQSA regulates institutions in the higher education sector including public and private universities, university colleges, institutes of higher education and Australian branches of overseas universities. A TEQSA accreditation applies to all programs an institution offers, both on campus and online.
In Australia, higher education encompasses undergraduate certifications (bachelor degrees, associate degrees and advanced diplomas) and postgraduate certifications (graduate certificates and diplomas, masters and doctoral degrees).
Institutions are re-registered by TEQSA every seven years to ensure their academic standards and student experience maintain the agency’s rigorous standards.
Before seriously considering studying at a higher learning institution, be sure to check the TEQSA National Register to ensure your institution of choice meets Australia’s standards for academic quality. Checking that a university where you are interested in enrolling is registered with TEQSA is an important first step to establishing that they are a legitimate, reputable institution.
Victoria University is registered with TEQSA and will undergo re-registration in 2027.
Why is accreditation important?
When a university is accredited, it means that it has undergone an in-depth review of its academic standards by an independent entity. A university accredited by TEQSA can help you as a student, whether online or in person, in a variety of ways:
Quality and oversight: A TEQSA accreditation means that an Australian university meets the government’s high standards for academic excellence and student experience. Every seven years higher education institutions must get reevaluated by TEQSA, meaning its programs must continually improve.
Opportunities for transfer: Should you choose to study at a different Australian institution, transferring from one TEQSA accredited institution to another makes the process that much more simple.
Employment: As you begin to interview for positions in your field, employers will look into your credentials. When they see you attended an Australian university accredited by TEQSA, it will be clear to them that you received a career-focused, high-quality education.
What sets VU apart?
In addition to accreditation with the Australian government through TEQSA, we have earned top rankings that ensure prospective students that our programs can help them achieve their goals:
Ranked in the world’s top 3% of universities (Times Higher Education – THE – World University Rankings)
Number 1 university in Australia for employability (2020 Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching - QILT - Employer Satisfaction Survey)
Ranked in the top 45 of universities globally under 50 years old (THE Young University Rankings 2019)
In addition, we are one of only six dual sector universities in Australia. Dual sector universities are considered prestigious in that they offer both vocational training and higher education degrees. This means that we are able to offer high academic standards in addition to the career-readiness and practical skills that make graduates appealing to employers. Dual sector universities are known to have very practical and industry-relevant curriculum that enable our programs to be more collaborative and open to industry needs.
With VU you get the best of both worlds - you can rest assured that our academics line up to TEQSA’s standards and that we are one of six dual sector universities paving the way for the future of career-ready education globally. In fact, a key to our strategic plan is to become a global leader in research and dual sector learning by 2028.
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