CRICOS Course Search: How to Check an Australian Course Before You Apply

TL;DR: A CRICOS course search on the official Australian Government register tells you whether a provider and course are registered to take international students on a student visa. Do it before you accept an offer or pay fees. Match the CRICOS course code on your offer letter to the register, check the provider separately, and watch for courses the government has closed to new international students, as it did with the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) on 5 October.

Australia now has the power to cancel whole classes of courses. It used that power for the first time this year, and thousands of students who had not started lost their enrolment. A five-minute CRICOS course search is the simplest protection you have.

Not sure the course on your offer letter is the right step for you? Check your eligibility with Prosper.

What CRICOS is and why your visa depends on it

CRICOS is the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. The Department of Education describes it as the official list of Australian education providers that offer courses to people studying in Australia on student visas, and the courses they offer.

The link to your visa is direct. Under the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (the ESOS Act), providers can only enrol overseas students on student visas if they are registered on CRICOS. You then need a Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) from that provider before you apply. Study Australia states that not providing a CoE at the time of application makes the visa application invalid. Our guide to the Confirmation of Enrolment explains that step.

Before you commit money to a course, would you like a second opinion on whether it fits your goals and your visa plan?

Check your eligibility ›

Why checking matters more now

Three official changes make a CRICOS check more important than before:

• Course cancellation powers. An amendment to the education law, which received Royal Assent on 4 December 2025, lets the Minister cancel courses or classes of courses.
• The first closure. The government closed the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning), BSB80120, to new international students. From 5 October 2026 no new enrolments were allowed, and CoEs for students who had not started were cancelled. The minister's release said 452 providers were registered to deliver it, with 41,033 active CoEs. Read our Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) closure article.
• A pause on new registrations. New CRICOS applications to ASQA, the vocational regulator, are suspended from 19 May 2026 to 19 May 2027. Public providers such as TAFEs are exempt.

How to do a CRICOS course search, step by step

1. Open the official register. Go to the CRICOS course search on the Department of Education website. Use only this government site, not a copy on another website.
2. Search by course code first. Your offer letter should show a CRICOS course code. Enter it in the CRICOS Course Code field. If you do not have one, search by course name and state.
3. Match the details to your offer letter. The provider name and course must match your offer letter exactly. A course with a similar name at a different provider is not your course.
4. Check the provider separately. The register has a separate institution search. Confirm the provider you are paying is the one listed.
5. Check for closures. The search form has no filter for course status, so also read the Department of Education's notices on course cancellations before you pay.
6. Ask in writing if anything does not match. If the code is missing or the details differ, ask the provider to explain in writing before you accept the offer.

If your provider or course closes

The Tuition Protection Service (TPS) exists for this situation. It steps in when a provider cannot deliver a course you have paid for and does not meet its legal duty to place you in another course or refund you. It helps you find another course and refunds unspent tuition if you cannot find one.

For the Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) closure, the Department of Education's fact sheet gave providers 14 days to offer an alternative course or a refund. Students who had already started before 5 October can continue. Keep every receipt and your CoE, and choose your next course carefully, because your course progression affects later visa applications.

FAQ

What is a CRICOS course search?

It is the official Australian Government register search that shows whether a course is registered for international students on a student visa. You can search by course code, course name, state and field of study.

Do I need a CRICOS-registered course for an Australia student visa?

Yes. Providers can only enrol overseas students on student visas if they are registered on CRICOS, and you need a CoE from that provider to apply.

Where do I find the CRICOS course code?

It should be on your offer letter and in the provider's course information. If it is missing, ask the provider for it in writing before you accept.

Can a registered course be closed to new students?

Yes. Since December 2025 the Minister can cancel courses or classes of courses. The Graduate Diploma of Management (Learning) was closed to new international students from 5 October 2026.

What happens to my fees if a course closes?

The provider must offer a suitable alternative or a refund. If it fails to, the Tuition Protection Service helps you find another course or refunds unspent tuition.

PS: A CRICOS course search tells you a course is registered, not that it is right for you. If you want help choosing an Australian course that fits your background and holds up through the visa process, check your eligibility with Prosper.

Check your eligibility ›

Team Prosper