How to Check if an Australian College Is Genuine
Updated: Aug 28
Last Updated: 07 Aug 2026
Before enrolling or paying any fees, verify that the Australian college, course and campus listed in your offer are genuine.
For international students, the quickest way to check is:
Student visa course: Search CRICOS
University or higher education provider: Search the TEQSA National Register
TAFE, vocational or VET provider: Search training.gov.au
Do not check only the college name. The provider, exact course, campus location and registration status should all match the documents you received.
Australian College Verification Checklist
Before paying an application fee, deposit or tuition fee, confirm that:
The provider appears on the appropriate official register
Its registration status is active
The exact course is registered
The campus location matches your offer letter
The CRICOS or RTO number matches the provider’s documents
The qualification and course duration match the official record
Payment is being made to the official provider or an authorised party
Nobody is promising guaranteed permanent residency or a guaranteed visa
If any detail does not match, pause your application and ask the college or education agent to explain the difference in writing.
Which Register Should You Check?
What are you checking? | Official register |
A course for an Australian student visa | |
A university, bachelor’s degree or other higher education provider | |
A certificate, diploma, trade course, TAFE or VET provider | |
The Australian business behind the provider |
Some providers may need to appear on more than one register.
For example, an international student enrolling in a vocational course should normally check both the course’s CRICOS registration and the provider’s RTO registration.
1. Check the College and Course on CRICOS
The Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students, or CRICOS, is the Australian Government register of providers and courses available to people studying in Australia on a student visa.
If you intend to study on a student visa, this should normally be your first check.
How to check CRICOS registration
Open the official CRICOS website.
Search for the institution using its name or CRICOS provider code.
Find the exact course shown in your offer letter.
Check the course code, study location and duration.
Confirm that the provider and course registration are current.
What needs to match?
Compare the CRICOS record with your offer letter and other enrolment documents.
The following details should match:
Provider’s legal or registered name
Trading name, where applicable
CRICOS provider code
Course name
CRICOS course code
Campus or delivery location
Course duration
A college being listed on CRICOS does not automatically mean every course or campus it advertises is registered.
Always check the specific course and location, not only the provider name.
2. Check Universities and Higher Education Providers on TEQSA
If the institution offers bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees or other higher education qualifications, check the TEQSA National Register.
TEQSA stands for the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. It regulates registered higher education providers in Australia.
How to check a provider on TEQSA
Open the TEQSA National Register.
Search for the provider’s name.
Confirm that the provider is registered.
Review its provider category and registration period.
Check whether any relevant conditions or regulatory decisions are listed.
Be cautious if an institution claims to be an Australian university or higher education provider but cannot be found on the TEQSA National Register.
3. Check VET, TAFE and Training Providers on training.gov.au
Vocational education and training providers are commonly known as Registered Training Organisations, or RTOs.
These providers may offer:
Certificates
Diplomas
Advanced diplomas
Trade qualifications
Vocational and workplace training
A legitimate RTO should have an RTO number and appear on Australia’s national training register.
How to check an RTO
Open the organisation search on training.gov.au.
Search using the provider’s name or RTO number.
Confirm that its registration is current.
Check its scope of registration.
Confirm that the provider is authorised to deliver the qualification you were offered.
Finding the provider’s name is not enough. The qualification should also appear within its authorised scope of registration.
4. Check the CRICOS and RTO Numbers on Official Documents
A provider authorised to enrol international students should clearly display its CRICOS provider code on relevant materials.
You may find it on:
The provider’s website
Website footer
Course brochure
Application form
Offer letter
Enrolment agreement
Confirmation of Enrolment documentation
A vocational provider should also make its RTO number reasonably easy to identify.
Compare these numbers with the official government registers. Do not rely only on a logo, badge or registration number displayed on the provider’s own website.
5. Confirm the Australian Business Details
You can also check the organisation behind the college using the Australian Government’s ABN Lookup.
Compare its business details with the information on the college website, invoice and offer letter.
Check:
Legal entity name
Trading name
ABN status
Main business location
Name shown on invoices
Bank account or payment recipient
A different legal name is not automatically evidence of a scam because businesses may operate under registered trading names.
However, the provider should be able to clearly explain the relationship between its legal entity, trading name and education registration.
Red Flags of a Fake or Risky College in Australia
Be cautious if you notice any of these warning signs:
No CRICOS code
No RTO number
No Australian business address
No ABN
Promises of “guaranteed PR”
Promises of “fast-track qualifications”
Course or campus details that do not match official registration records
A genuine college should be transparent about its registration, provider codes, course details, and campus location.
Is a CRICOS Code Enough to Prove a College Is Genuine?
A CRICOS code is essential for international students, but you should still check the full details.
Make sure:
The institution name matches
The course name matches
The campus location matches
The CRICOS code is active
The provider type matches the register you are checking
For example, a VET provider should also be checked through ASQA or training.gov.au, while a higher education provider should be checked through TEQSA.
What If the Provider Is Registered but the Course Is Not Listed?
A registered provider is not automatically authorised to deliver every course to international students.
If the exact course cannot be found, ask the provider for:
The complete registered course name
The CRICOS course code
The approved delivery location
The relevant national qualification code, where applicable
Verify these details through the official register before proceeding with the enrolment.
What If the Delivery Location Does Not Match?
CRICOS records include approved course locations. If the location in your offer does not match the official record, ask the provider to clarify the discrepancy in writing and verify the location through CRICOS.
A mismatch may be an administrative error, but it should be resolved before the enrolment proceeds.
Does a Genuine College Guarantee a Student Visa?
No. Registration of the provider and course does not guarantee that a student visa will be granted.
Student visa applicants must separately meet the applicable visa requirements.
Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, these may include:
Holding a valid Confirmation of Enrolment
Meeting the Genuine Student requirement
Demonstrating financial capacity when required
Holding appropriate Overseas Student Health Cover
Meeting health and character requirements
Meeting any applicable English-language requirements
Always check the current requirements published by the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
Before You Pay: Final Five-Minute Check
Before paying the provider or signing an enrolment agreement, ask yourself:
Can I find the exact provider on an official register?
Can I find the exact course?
Does the campus match?
Are the registrations active?
Do the codes match my offer letter?
Does the payment recipient make sense?
Have all important promises been given in writing?
Is anyone making an unrealistic visa or PR guarantee?
If you cannot confidently answer all eight questions, investigate further before proceeding.
Need Help Checking a College or Course?
Choosing the wrong provider or course can affect your study plans, finances and student visa strategy.
RACC can help you:
Check whether a provider and course appear on the relevant registers
Compare suitable study options
Review course and campus information
Understand entry requirements
Consider how a course fits your study and migration plans
Send us the college name, course, campus location and offer letter details so we can identify what may need further verification.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check if an Australian college is genuine?
Check the provider and course on CRICOS if you are an international student. For higher education providers, check TEQSA. For TAFE or VET colleges, check ASQA or training.gov.au and confirm the RTO number.
What is CRICOS?
CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. Institutions and courses must be registered on CRICOS to enrol international students on an Australian student visa.
What is a CRICOS code?
A CRICOS code is a provider or course registration code linked to international education in Australia. Genuine providers that enrol student visa holders should show their CRICOS Provider Code on official materials.
What is an RTO number?
An RTO number identifies a Registered Training Organisation. If you are checking a vocational or VET college, confirm the provider’s RTO number through ASQA or training.gov.au.
Should I check TEQSA or training.gov.au?
Use TEQSA for universities and higher education providers. Use ASQA or training.gov.au for TAFE and vocational education providers.
Can a college enrol international students without CRICOS?
No. A provider and course must be registered on CRICOS to legally enrol international students who hold an Australian student visa.
What are the warning signs of a fake college in Australia?
Warning signs include no CRICOS code, no RTO number, no Australian business address, no ABN, guaranteed PR promises, and unrealistic fast-track qualification claims.
Does enrolling in a genuine college guarantee my student visa?
No. You still need to meet visa requirements, including the Genuine Student requirement.
Why Work with RACC
RACC can help you find genuine Australian colleges, compare courses based on your goals, check entry requirements, and explore study and visa options.
RACC’s registered migration agents (MARA 1572961) support students with migration and education pathways in Australia.
20+ years experience | MARA 1572961 | Education and migration support | Multilingual support
Book a FREE course consultation with the RACC team today.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration or legal advice. Visa requirements change, and every applicant's circumstances differ. Speak with a MARA-registered migration agent before making any visa decision. MARN: 1572961.
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