Universal Student Number: A Unique Student Identifier

what is universal student number

A Universal Student Identifier (USI) is a unique, lifelong, 10-digit individual education number provided to students in Australia. It acts as a single government identifier for a student's entire tertiary education journey. Students can apply for a USI for free and keep the same USI for life. The USI provides students with an online record of their VET training undertaken in Australia. From 1 January 2023, all higher education students in Australia must have a USI to graduate and receive their award.

Characteristics Values
Name Unique Student Identifier (USI)
Description An individual lifelong education number
Application Fast, free, and can be done in 5 minutes
Requirements First/Given and Family/Last Names, Date of Birth, Gender, Town/City of Birth, and either Email Address, Mobile Number, or Postal Address
Number of Digits 10

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The Unique Student Identifier (USI) is an individual lifelong education number

To apply for a USI, one must provide their first name, family name, date of birth, gender, town/city of birth, and either their email address, mobile number, or postal address. The USI will appear on the screen after clicking 'Submit'. Alternatively, one can enter their mobile number and date of birth, and an SMS will be sent to them with their USI details.

The USI is a student's key to accessing their training records and results from anywhere and at any time. It is also a way for students to give permission to training organisations to view and update their records, and for students to transfer their USI transcript to new training organisations.

From 1 January 2023, all higher education students in Australia, including those who commenced their studies before 2021, must have a USI to graduate and receive their award. This creates a single government identifier for a student's entire tertiary education journey, simplifying information management and strengthening the integrity and richness of data available to improve education policy, programs, and pathways.

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It is free and fast to apply for a USI

Applying for a Unique Student Identifier (USI) is a quick and simple process that can be completed in just a few minutes. The USI is a 10-character unique education number that is assigned to students for life. It is required for all higher education students in Australia, including those who started their studies before 2021, in order to graduate and receive their awards.

To apply for a USI, individuals can go to the USI website and fill out an online application form. The form requires basic personal information, such as name, date of birth, gender, and contact details. Applicants will also need to provide a valid form of verifiable Australian identification, such as a passport or driver's license. The entire process can be completed in less than 5 minutes, and there is no cost involved.

Once the application is submitted, the USI Registry System will check and confirm the applicant's identity using the Document Verification Service (DVS). Applicants will then be asked to create a password and security questions to secure their USI account. After this step, the USI will be displayed on the screen and sent to the applicant's chosen contact method for their records.

It is important for students to keep their USI secure and easily accessible as they will need it throughout their education and training journey in Australia. The USI provides students with a convenient way to access their online record of vocational education and training (VET) undertaken in the country. This online record keeps track of all nationally recognised VET training completed since 2015, making it a valuable tool for students to monitor their progress and plan their future education and career paths.

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Students can use their USI to access their records

The Unique Student Identifier (USI) is a 10-digit individual lifelong education number. It is fast, free, and easy to apply for a USI, and once a student has one, they keep the same USI for life. Students can use their USI to access their records and qualifications.

Students can link their USI to their myGov account, which allows them to manage their USI details without logging into their USI account. They can access their USI account through myGov to view and share their USI VET transcript and manage their details. To link their USI to their myGov account, students need to sign in to myGov, select 'View and link services', and then select 'Link' on the Unique Student Identifier tile.

Students can also access their USI account through the USI website. To do this, they need to enter their personal details, including their first and last names, date of birth, gender, town/city of birth, and either their email address, mobile number, or postal address. Once they have submitted this information, they will need to select their document type and fill in the relevant details. After this, their USI will appear on the screen.

Additionally, students can find their USI by entering their mobile number and date of birth. They will then receive an SMS containing their USI details. If they do not receive an SMS, they can contact the USI Registry System and fill out their family name, date of birth, gender, and at least one of the following: first name, middle name, or town/city of birth. After answering two security questions, their USI will appear on the screen.

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USI account holders can grant permission for authorised representatives

The Unique Student Identifier (USI) is an individual education number for life in Australia. Applying for a USI is free and can be done in as little as five minutes on the USI website.

The privacy of individuals in the USI initiative is protected under the Student Identifiers Act 2014 (Cth) and the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). Under the Student Identifiers Registrar’s terms and conditions, providers applying for a USI on behalf of an individual must give the individual a privacy notice explaining how their personal information will be used.

Providers need permission to search for a USI, unless permission has already been granted to view the USI account. When permission is granted, the account holder will receive an email or SMS confirmation. VET Admission Bodies and Tertiary Admission Centres require permission to verify a USI, but other education or training providers and VET-related bodies do not.

To find your USI, you must enter your first and last names, date of birth, gender, town/city of birth, and either your email address, mobile number, or postal address. After clicking 'Submit', you must select your 'Document Type', click 'Next', and fill in your document details. Your USI will then appear on the screen.

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The USI simplifies information management and strengthens data integrity

The Unique Student Identifier (USI) is a 10-digit individual lifelong education number for students in Australia. Applying for a USI is a fast, free, and simple process that can be completed in as little as five minutes on the USI website. Students can keep the same USI for life, and it serves as a single government identifier for their entire tertiary education journey.

The USI simplifies information management by providing students with a single, consistent identifier throughout their education. This eliminates the need for multiple student numbers or identifiers, making it easier for students and education providers to manage and access information. For example, students can link their USI to their myGov account, allowing them to access and manage their USI details without having to log in to their USI account directly.

Additionally, the USI strengthens data integrity by creating a comprehensive and standardised dataset across the education sector. With a USI, student information can be more easily verified, and bulk verification tools further streamline this process for education providers. This enhances the integrity and richness of student data, enabling better education policy formulation, program development, and pathway design.

The USI also empowers students to manage their own data and control access to their information. Students can grant permission for authorised representatives to access their USI account, and they can also find and verify their USI details through various methods, including mobile phone, email, and postal address.

Overall, the USI is a powerful tool that simplifies information management and strengthens data integrity in the education sector. By providing a single, consistent, and lifelong identifier, the USI enhances the accessibility and verifiability of student data, ultimately improving the student experience and enabling better decision-making in education policy and practice.

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Frequently asked questions

The USI is an individual lifelong education number used in Australia. It is a student's individual education number for life, which also provides them with an online record of VET training undertaken in Australia since 1 January 2020.

Applying for a USI is free and can be done in as little as five minutes on the USI website. You will need to provide your first and last names, date of birth, gender, town/city of birth, and either your email address, mobile number, or postal address.

The purpose of the USI is to simplify information management and strengthen the integrity and richness of data available to help improve education policy, programs, and pathways. From 1 January 2023, all higher education students in Australia must have a USI to graduate and receive their award.

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