Provider Closure & Tuition Protection
What the Tuition Protection Service (TPS) does when a registered education provider closes, and how affected students can request assistance or a refund.
General information only — not migration advice.
The content below describes published rules and processes as they appear on the Australian Government’s Tuition Protection Service page. It is general information only. For advice on your specific situation, consult a MARA-registered migration agent or an Australian immigration lawyer.
What is a provider default?
as at · Department of Education (TPS)The published rules describe a provider default as occurring when an education provider:
- closes and can no longer deliver courses to enrolled students, or
- fails to start a course that students are enrolled in, or
- stops offering a course part-way through delivery.
Legal framework: the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) sets out these obligations.
What the provider must do after a default
as at · Department of Education (TPS)The published rules state that after a provider default, the provider must:
Step 1
Notify the affected student of the default in writing.
Step 2 — within 14 days of the default
Either (a) place the student in an alternative course with another registered education provider, or (b) refund the student’s unspent tuition fees.
When TPS steps in
as at · Department of Education (TPS)If the provider does not meet its legal obligation within 14 days, the Tuition Protection Service may assist the student to:
- find alternative course options with another Australian education provider, or
- receive a refund of unspent tuition fees.
What are “unspent tuition fees”?
The published rules define unspent tuition fees as tuition fees paid that have not yet been used by the provider in delivering the education. Tuition fees exclude OSHC, books, equipment, accommodation, administration fees, and visa application charges.
How to request TPS assistance
Students request TPS assistance via TPS Online (tps.gov.au). The TPS creates an account for eligible students when a provider default is confirmed.
Student visa condition
It is a condition of the student visa to remain enrolled in a registered course. Not re-enrolling after a provider default may affect your visa. Check the Department of Home Affairs guidance on this specific situation directly, rather than relying on general information.
Department of Home Affairs — Education provider default and your visa (immi.homeaffairs.gov.au).
StudyVisaHub is building a Provider Watch feature that will surface early signals of provider instability using publicly available data — this page is a preview of that upcoming free resource.
Source: Tuition Protection Service — International Students, Australian Government, Department of Education. Retrieved .
Not migration advice. Check your specific case with a MARA-registered agent or an immigration lawyer. Rules and administrative practice may change — always verify with the source.
Related: Onshore Students Hub · Changing Courses (Standard 7)