Part 4, Division 2 · Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011

Contents

Division 2 · Applying for accreditation

46Applying for accreditation#

(1)A regulated entity who is, or has applied to become, a registered higher education provider may apply to TEQSA for a course of study to be accredited.

(2)An application must be:

(a)in the approved form; and

(b)accompanied by any information, documents and assistance that TEQSA requests; and

(c)accompanied by the fee determined under section 158 for a preliminary assessment under this Part.

47Preliminary assessment of application#

(1)TEQSA must, within 30 days after an application is made:

(a)advise the applicant whether its application is accompanied by sufficient information, documents and assistance; and

(b)if it is not, request that the applicant provide further information, documents or assistance.

(2)If the applicant withdraws its application, the preliminary assessment application fee is not refundable.

48Substantive assessment of application#

(1)The applicant may continue with its application by:

(a)providing any further information, documents and assistance that TEQSA requests; and

(b)paying the fee determined under section 158 for a substantive assessment under this Part.

(2)If an applicant withdraws its application, the substantive assessment application fee is not refundable.

49Accreditation of course of study#

Grant of application for accreditation

(1)Following an application for a course of study to be accredited, TEQSA may accredit the course of study in relation to the applicant if TEQSA is satisfied that:

(a)the applicant is a registered higher education provider; and

(b)the course of study meets the Threshold Standards.

Decision on application

(2)TEQSA must make a decision on the application:

(a)within 9 months of receiving it; or

(b)if a longer period is determined by TEQSA under subsection (3)—within that period.

For the purposes of paragraph (a), TEQSA is taken to receive the application when it receives payment of the substantive assessment application fee.

Longer period for decision on application

(3)If TEQSA is satisfied that, for reasons beyond its control, a decision on the application cannot be made within the period mentioned in paragraph (2)(a), TEQSA may determine a longer period, not exceeding a further 9 months, within which it must make a decision on the application.

(4)If TEQSA determines a longer period, it must do so not later than 6 weeks before the end of the period mentioned in paragraph (2)(a).

(5)If TEQSA determines a longer period, TEQSA must, within 7 days of making the determination:

(a)notify the applicant, in writing, of the determination; and

(b)give, in writing, the reasons for the determination.

Period of accreditation

(6)If TEQSA accredits a course of study in relation to a registered higher education provider, TEQSA must also determine the period for which the course of study is accredited. The period must not exceed 7 years, but need not be for the same period for which the provider is registered.

Note 1: The period will end automatically if the provider ceases to be registered as a registered higher education provider (see paragraph 51(2)(a)).

Note 2: Accreditation can be renewed (see section 56).

Note 3: TEQSA may also impose conditions on the accreditation (see subsection 53(1)).

Note 4: The period of accreditation may be extended (see section 57A).

Decision not made

(7)TEQSA is taken to have rejected the application if a decision is not made within the period applicable under subsection (2).

50TEQSA to notify provider of decision about accreditation#

TEQSA must, within 30 days of its decision to grant or reject an application for a course of study to be accredited, notify the applicant, in writing, of:

(a)the decision; and

(b)if TEQSA grants the application—the period for which the course of study is accredited; and

(c)if TEQSA rejects the application—the reasons for the decision.

Note: TEQSA must also notify of any conditions imposed under subsection 53(1) on the accreditation (see section 54).

51Commencement and duration of accreditation#

(1)Accreditation of a course of study:

(a)commences on the first day of the period specified in the notice given under section 50; and

(b)ends at the end of the period specified in the most recent notice given under section 50 or 57 in relation to the accreditation.

(2)Paragraph (1)(b) has effect subject to the following:

(a)the accreditation ends immediately if the provider ceases to be registered as a registered higher education provider;

(b)subsection 56(3) (about renewing accreditation);

(ba)section 57A (about extending accreditation);

(c)Division 1 of Part 7 (about cancelling accreditation and other administrative sanctions).

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