Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026

Summary

Amends the: Higher Education Support Act 2003 to change the basis of higher education funding to a managed growth funding system based on a total number of equivalent full-time student load places; and provide for needs-based funding grants to higher education providers in relation to specific types of Commonwealth supported students, including students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, First Nations students and students studying at regional campuses; Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Act 2026 to: make consequential amendments; provide a framework for the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) to exercise its existing function to allocate international student places; and require the ATEC to assess a higher education provider against the terms of their mission based compact; and Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000, Ombudsman Act 1976 and Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 to make minor amendments in relation to information management.