CRICOS overview
Registered training organisations that wish to offer qualifications and courses to international students studying on a student visa, must apply to become registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
Regulation of the international education industry in Australia is the responsibility of both the State and Commonwealth governments. The regulatory framework serves first and foremost to protect the interests and welfare of overseas students and the reputation of Australia's education export industry.
The Training and International Quality Unit within the Queensland Department of Education and Training is responsible for:
- assessment of new provider registrations
- monitoring provider compliance
- re-registration of existing providers
- amendments to existing provider registrations, including changes in approved capacity and registrations of teaching locations
- registration and amendments to courses
- generating Acceptance Advice for Secondary Exchange Students (AASES) forms.
Training and International Quality is responsible for recommending the registration of new provider CRICOS registrations to the Commonwealth Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISRTE).
Delivery to international students
Registered training organisations (RTOs) registered on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS) provide nationally recognised training to overseas students who have Australian student visas. Only CRICOS registered providers can enrol overseas students or issue Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) qualifications and statements of attainment to these students.
To become registered to deliver to overseas students, an organisation must be:
- an existing registered training organisation (RTO)
- an existing approved higher education provider
- an organisation that has met the National ELICOS Standards
- an organisation that has met the Foundation Program Standards.
About CRICOS
The CRICOS website is a database managed by DIISRTE under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) legislative framework.
CRICOS provides details of those Australian education institutions approved to recruit, enrol and deliver education and training services to overseas students and details of the courses that they deliver. The database can be viewed and searched by course or provider name or number.
The courses that a CRICOS provider is approved to deliver must also be registered on the Provider Registration and International Students Management System (PRISMS), which is also managed by DIISRTE.
PRISMS
The Provider Registration and International Students Management System (PRISMS) is used to generate electronic Confirmations of Enrolment (CoEs) for student visa purposes and to provide reports to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) on student compliance with the conditions of their visas.
CRICOS providers are issued with access to PRISMS following the approval of their registration.
CRICOS providers use PRISMS to notify DIAC of each student's enrolment details so that a student visa can be issued. It is also a mechanism for informing DIAC in cases where a student may breach the terms of their visa.