• Section 1 - Summary
• Section 2 - HESF/ASQA/ESOS Alignment
• Section 3 - Scope
• Section 4 - Definitions
• Section 5 - Policy/Regulation
• Section 6 - Procedures
• Part A - Summary of Roles and Responsibilities
• Part B - Regulatory Compliance
• Part C - Principles of CRICOS Registration (Internal)
• Part D - Adding a VET Course to the CRICOS Register
• Part E - Amending the Status of a CRICOS-Registered VET Course
• Part F - Auditing the CRICOS Register
• Part G - Withdrawing a VET Course from the CRICOS Register

Section 1 - Summary

(1) This Procedure specifies the key approval stages and responsibilities involved in the management of the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS Register) for Vocational Education and Training (VET) Award and Non-Award courses.

Section 2 - HESF/ASQA/ESOS Alignment

(2) ESOS Act - National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018: Standard 11 - Additional Registration Requirements.

(3) VET Quality Framework (as it relates to CRICOS registration):

1. Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (Cth)
2. Fit and Proper Person Requirements
3. Financial Viability Risk Assessment Requirements
4. Data Provision Requirements
5. Australian Qualifications Framework

Section 3 - Scope

(4) This Procedure applies to all VET Award and Non-Award courses (now referred to as VET course/s) that are:

1. Regulated and CRICOS registered by the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA).
2. Delivered in Melbourne (under CRICOS provider number 00124K) and Sydney (under CRICOS provider number 02475D).

(5) This Procedure does not apply to Higher Education (HE) Award and Non-Award courses that are regulated and CRICOS registered, by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Authority (TEQSA).

(6) This Procedure does not apply to those non-award courses (select supplementary courses) –refer https://www.education.gov.au/international-education/announcements/education-services-overseas-students-exempt-courses-instrument-2021; https://www.asqa.gov.au/news-events/news/cricos-registration-no-longer-required-some-esos-courses.

Section 4 - Definitions

(7) ASQA (Australian Skills Quality Authority)

(8) Award Course

(9) CAMS

(10) CRICOS

(11) CRICOS Code

(12) Distance learning (for ESOS purposes only) – Any learning that an overseas onshore student undertakes off-campus that does not require them to physically attend regular tuition at a VU campus.

(13) Overseas Onshore Student – A person (whether within or outside Australia) who holds a student visa as defined by the ESOS Act.

(14) Mode of Study – This includes: in person learning; supervised study on campus; asynchronous distance learning; facilitated synchronous online learning; and/or work place based learning.

(15) Non-Award Course

(16) Online Learning (for ESOS purposes only) – Is where the teacher and overseas onshore student primarily communicate through digital media; technology based tools; and/or IT networks. It does not require the overseas onshore student to attend scheduled classes, or maintain contact hours. For the purposes of the ESOS Framework, online learning does not include the provision of online lectures; tuition; or other resources that supplement scheduled classes or contact hours.

(17) PRISMS

(18) Provider Default – Is when Victoria University fails to, or ceases to provide, a course to an Overseas On-shore Student within the meaning of section 46A of the ESOS Act.

(19) Scheduled Course Contact Hours

(20) Study Period - A defined period of time in which teaching is delivered. Each study period has its own set of key dates, including start and end dates. Study periods for the monitoring of Overseas Onshore Students’ progress in VET courses at VU are set as the mid-point of each semester and the end of each semester.

(21) Work-Based Training (for ESOS purposes only) – This is training and/or assessment that will occur in the workplace other than in VU's own simulated workplace environment.

Section 5 - Policy/Regulation

(22) Courses Lifecycle Policy

Section 6 - Procedures

Part A - Summary of Roles and Responsibilities

Part B - Regulatory Compliance

(23) The National Code 2018 sets standards to ensure that education services meet the needs and expectations of overseas students who come to Australia and satisfy the objectives of the ESOS Act. Compliance with the standards is required at the point of CRICOS registration and throughout the CRICOS registration period.

(24) The approval period of CRICOS courses is aligned to the provider CRICOS registration date or the course accreditation end date, whichever is earlier.

(25) In relation to the management of the CRICOS Register, VU must comply with Standard 11 - Additional Registration Requirements specifically:

1. In applying to register a full time course at a CRICOS location VU must seek approval from ASQA for the following:
   1. Course duration including holiday breaks.
   2. Modes of study including: online, distance or work-based training.
   3. Number of overseas students enrolled within the limit or maximum number approved by ASQA at each registered location.
   4. Arrangements with other providers, including partners, when delivering the course to overseas students.
2. In seeking approval from ASQA, VU must also demonstrate the following:
   1. The expected duration of the course does not exceed the time required to complete the course on the basis of full time study (for VET courses, this is a minimum of 20 scheduled course contact hours per week unless specified by an accrediting authority).
   2. The expected duration of the course includes any holiday periods and/or any work-based training.
   3. Any work-based training to be undertaken as part of the course is necessary for the student to gain the qualification and there are appropriate arrangements for the supervision and assessment of students.
   4. The course is not to be delivered entirely by online or distance learning. Students can study up to one-third of their total VET course through online or distance learning.
   5. VU (and any partner) has adequate staff and education resources, including facilities, equipment, learning and library resources and premises as needed to deliver the course to overseas students.
   6. The maximum number of overseas students proposed by VU for the location reflects the appropriateness of staff, resources and facilities for delivery of the course.

(26) VU must submit to ASQA for approval information on any proposed changes to the registration of the course (as outlined in Clause 25a) at least 30 days prior to the time at which those changes are proposed to take effect.

(27) In relation to the management of the CRICOS Register, VU must comply with the Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015 (Cth).

Part C - Principles of CRICOS Registration (Internal)

(28) Victoria University TAFE can apply for CRICOS registration of a VET course either as part of the initial approval of the course or anytime while the course is active.

(29) A Training and Assessment Strategy (TAS) Business Case for Adding a Training Product (International) and Course Costing are completed to support addition to the CRICOS Register.

(30) Business Cases for Adding a Training Product (International) are approved by the Victoria University TAFE Executive Team.

(31) Fees are approved as per the Fee Setting Procedure, this includes tuition fees which are approved by the Vice-Chancellor, and material fees which are approved by the Chief TAFE Officer. 

(32) If the Business Case for Adding a Training Product (International) and Course Costing are not approved, the Business Case for Adding a Training Product (International) and Course Costing are to be reviewed and reconsidered for approval, otherwise the process stops at this point.

(33) If the Business Case for Adding a Training Product (International) and Course Costing are approved, an internal application is completed in the Course Approval Management System (CAMS) which includes the relevant CRICOS documentation for registration. 

(34) Governance prepares the external application which is endorsed by the Chief TAFE Officer and approved by the CRICOS Principal Executive Officer (PEO).

(35) If an Active VET course has had no international enrolments (or pending) for three years, VU will withdraw the course from the CRICOS Register to reduce the risk of Provider Default.

Part D - Adding a VET Course to the CRICOS Register

(36) A new VET course must be CRICOS registered where there are changes to the:

1. Course code.
2. Changes to the Field of Education code.

(37) A VET course listed on the CRICOS Register may be updated by ASQA where there:

1. Was a typographical error in the initial data entry.
2. Are changes to the course costs.
3. Are changes to the delivery location.
4. Are changes to the mode of study.
5. Are changes to the course duration.
6. Are changes to partnership arrangements.
7. Are changes to the expiry date of a course.

(38) All applications to add VET courses to the CRICOS Register must be processed via the ASQA ASQANET using CRICOS templates that have been developed by ASQA.

(39) The CRICOS code is added into CAMS as soon as VET Governance receives notification of approval from ASQA. At the same time, CRICOS stakeholders will be advised of CRICOS registration in order to update applicable VU systems.

Part E - Amending the Status of a CRICOS-Registered VET Course

(40) Routine course lifecycle changes that result in a change in VET course status are also reflected in the status of the CRICOS code (eg. Active to Teach Out).

(41) When a request to amend the CRICOS status is received, this change must be approved by the Chief TAFE Officer prior to approval by CRICOS PEO. Once approved the CRICOS code status is changed immediately to Teach-Out (and the course withdrawn from the CRICOS Register as soon as is practicable). 

(42) When the Chief TAFE Officer requests an amendment to the CRICOS status, the change must be approved by the CRICOS PEO. Once approved the CRICOS code status is changed immediately to Teach Out (and the course withdrawn from the CRICOS Register as soon as practicable).

(43) If VU Global requests an amendment to the CRICOS status, the Chief TAFE Officer is advised. Upon agreement, the course is withdrawn from the CRICOS Register as soon as is practicable. 

(44) A change in VET course status from Active to Suspended is not a routine course lifecycle action. The CRICOS code is changed immediately to Suspended and will be updated to reflect subsequent changes in VET course status.

Part F - Auditing the CRICOS Register

(45) On an annual basis VET Governance aligns the CRICOS data in CAMS (internal source) with the CRICOS Register (external source).

(46) This audit will be conducted for both Melbourne and Sydney Registers.

(47) As a result of this audit VU will (only if required):

1. Update information in CAMS to align with the CRICOS Register.
2. Inform ASQA that the registered conditions for a VET course need to be amended.
3. Withdraw VET course/s from the CRICOS Register.

(48) On an annual basis Governance reviews the end dates of all courses on PRISMS to ensure that they are aligned to the provider registration end date or the course accreditation end date whichever is earlier.

Part G - Withdrawing a VET Course from the CRICOS Register

(49) VET courses can only be withdrawn from the CRICOS Register if they have:

1. No overseas onshore student enrolments; and
2. No Active Confirmation of Enrolments (CoE); and
3. No Pending Confirmation of Enrolments (CoE); and
4. There have been no enrolments for three years. 

(50) Twice each academic year (after census date) Governance undertakes a review of all CRICOS-registered teach-out courses. This review will ascertain if the VET course can be withdrawn from the CRICOS Register, subject to the above conditions.

(51) The CRICOS code will be withdrawn from the VET course in CAMS as soon as VET Governance receives approval from the CRICOS PEO.