International education in Victoria

Victoria is a safe and welcoming study destination. Students come from across the world for courses offered by our schools, vocational education and training and higher education providers.

The appeal of the Victorian education system is due in part to national and state laws that promote quality education services and provide protection for international students.

The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) is used to guarantee that individual courses and institutions meet the high standards expected by international students.

Our responsibility at the VRQA is to help make sure international students studying in a Victorian school or with a senior secondary provider receive quality education services.

We do this by approving schools and other providers for registration on CRICOS. VRQA-approval requires schools and other providers to meet the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students and additional VRQA Guidelines that protect international students.

Secondary student exchange programs are also regulated in Victoria. We approve a range of schools and not-for-profit organisations that offer outbound student exchange programs to Victorian school students, and inbound exchange programs to international school students.

The laws and code regulating international education in Victoria are:

  • Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (Commonwealth)
  • Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Victorian)
  • National Code of Practice for Providers of Education And Training to Overseas Students 2018.

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