Introduction

Obligations

Under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000, education providers in Australia that enroll international students have the following obligations:

• Registration: Education providers must be registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) to offer courses to international students.

• Provision of information: Education providers must provide accurate and up-to-date information to international students on their course, fees, and other important details such as visa requirements, accommodation, and health insurance.

• Enrolment procedures: Education providers must have clear and fair enrolment procedures for international students, including assessment of students' English language proficiency and academic qualifications.

• Student support: Education providers must provide adequate support services to international students, including orientation programs, academic and personal counseling, and access to medical and welfare services.

• Tuition protection: Education providers must provide tuition protection arrangements for international students in the event of provider default or course cancellation.

• Monitoring attendance: Education providers must monitor the attendance of international students and report any unsatisfactory attendance to the Department of Home Affairs.

• Compliance reporting: Education providers must comply with reporting requirements, including the submission of accurate data on student enrolments and completion rates to the Department of Education and Training.

• Marketing and recruitment: Education providers must comply with marketing and recruitment requirements, including providing accurate and honest information to prospective international students and using ethical recruitment practices.

Education Providers

The ESOS framework applies to all education providers in Australia that offer courses to international students on a student visa. This includes:

• Higher Education Providers: Universities, colleges and other institutions that offer bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral or higher degree programs.

• Vocational Education and Training (VET) Providers: Institutions that offer certificate, diploma, advanced diploma or vocational graduate certificate programs.

• English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) Providers: Institutions that offer English language courses to international students.

• Schools: Primary and secondary schools that offer education to international students.

Compliance

Overall, the ESOS Act aims to ensure that international students receive a high-quality education and are protected while studying in Australia. Education providers that enroll international students must comply with these obligations to maintain their registration on the CRICOS and avoid penalties or sanctions.