TEQSA course accreditation is the process by which a registered higher education provider without self-accrediting authority obtains the regulator's approval to deliver a specific course of study leading to an Australian Qualifications Framework award. Every such course must be accredited before it is offered, accreditation lasts up to seven years, and the application is assessed against the course-related sections of the Threshold Standards, principally Domains 1, 3 and 5.
This guide was first written for 2025 and has been updated for the fee schedule and application guides current in 2026. It covers when accreditation is needed, what TEQSA assesses, what goes in the application, the fees, the timeframes, renewal, teach-out and the self-accrediting alternative, drawing on fifteen years of TEQSA registration and accreditation work with private providers.
When is TEQSA course accreditation needed?
Registration and accreditation are separate decisions under the TEQSA Act 2011. Registration under Part 3 authorises the entity to operate as a higher education provider. Accreditation under Part 4 authorises a particular course. A provider registered in the Institute of Higher Education category, or in the University College category without self-accrediting authority for the relevant field, needs TEQSA to accredit each course it offers.
Universities accredit their own courses because self-accrediting authority is attached to the Australian University category. A small number of non-university providers hold self-accrediting authority for defined fields and levels and accredit courses within that scope themselves. Everyone else applies to TEQSA course by course, and that is the population this guide is written for.
There are three moments when an application arises. A prospective provider must apply for accreditation of at least one course at the same time as it applies for initial registration, because a provider with no accredited course cannot deliver anything. A registered provider applies when it wants to add a new course. And every accredited course must have its accreditation renewed before it expires, or be taught out.
What standards are assessed?
TEQSA assesses a course against the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021. For accreditation the focus is on the standards that attach to a course rather than to the institution. In Domain 1 that means admission (1.1), credit and recognition of prior learning (1.2), orientation and progression (1.3), learning outcomes and assessment (1.4) and qualifications and certification (1.5). In Domain 3 it means course design (3.1), staffing (3.2) and learning resources and educational support (3.3). In Domain 5 it means course approval (5.1), academic integrity (5.2), monitoring and review (5.3) and, where a partner is involved, delivery with other parties (5.4).
The institutional standards are not ignored. Assessors read the course application in light of what they already know about the provider's governance, its compliance history and its annual data. A course from a provider with a clean record and a functioning academic board is read differently from the same course submitted by a provider under conditions. But the questions asked of the course itself are the Domain 1, 3 and 5 questions.
The standard I would single out is 5.1.3. It provides that a course is accredited only when it meets the Threshold Standards, when the decision is informed by academic scrutiny competent to assess design, delivery and assessment independently of the staff directly involved, and when the resources to deliver it will be available when needed. That sentence is the reason the application has to show an academic board decision, an external review and a resourcing commitment, not just a curriculum.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a provider advertise a course before TEQSA accredits it?
No. A course leading to a higher education award may only be offered once it is accredited and listed on the National Register. Providers may prepare marketing material during assessment, but promoting or enrolling students in an unaccredited course is a breach of the provider's obligations.
How much does TEQSA course accreditation cost for an existing provider?
In 2026 the fees are $5,200 for preliminary assessment and $19,100 for substantive assessment per course, with reduced fees of $1,300 and $4,800 for nested related courses. Fees exclude GST, are not refundable, and may be discounted for providers with fewer than 5,000 EFTSL.
Does a course need to be re-accredited if we change it?
Minor changes within the academic board's authority do not require TEQSA approval. Changes that alter what was accredited, such as duration, mode, structure or learning outcomes, may be material changes requiring notification within fourteen days and, if substantial enough, a new application.
How long does course accreditation last?
TEQSA may accredit a course for a period of up to seven years. Renewal is assessed on the course's actual operation, including student outcomes, external referencing and the record of review and improvement since the original accreditation.
Dr Brendan Moloney is CEO of Darlo Higher Education, Australia's largest specialist TEQSA consultancy. He holds a PhD from the University of Melbourne, is a Cambridge University Press author on governance in higher education, and has advised private providers on registration and course accreditation for more than fifteen years.