Tertiary or higher education in Australia is made up of universities and other higher education institutions (called higher education providers).

A higher education provider is a body that is established or recognized by or under the law of the Commonwealth, or a State or Territory. The provider has to be approved by the Australian Government before it can receive grants or its students can receive assistance from the Australian Government under the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (HESA). Providers are subject to quality and accountability requirements.

A higher education provider is either a:

• university
• self-accrediting provider, or
• Non self-accrediting provider.

In 2007, the Australian higher education system consisted of:

• 39 universities of which 37 are public institutions and 2 are private;
• 1 Australian branch of an overseas university;
• 4 other self-accrediting higher education institutions; and
• Non-self-accrediting higher education providers accredited by State and Territory authorities, numbering more than 150 as listed on State and Territory registers. These include several that are registered in more than one State and Territory.

The non-self-accrediting higher education providers form a very diverse group of specialised, mainly private, providers that range in size and include theological colleges and other providers that offer courses in areas such as business, information technology, natural therapies, hospitality, health, law and accounting.