International students studying in Australia on a student visa are protected under the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000. The Act sets out the legal framework for the delivery of quality education by setting standards. The framework also provides tuition and financial assurance through the Tuition Protection Service.

The education providers and the courses they offer to international students must be registered with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). You can check this using the government’s CRICOS course and institution search.