In the fast-paced world of higher education and employment, verifying academic qualifications quickly and securely has become essential for students, graduates, employers, and universities alike. Enter My eQuals, Australia's leading digital credentials platform that's transforming how tertiary qualifications are issued, shared, and authenticated. Launched as a collaborative effort among Australian and New Zealand education providers, My eQuals offers a tamper-proof, accessible alternative to traditional paper transcripts and degrees, making credential verification seamless and efficient.
This platform isn't just a tech upgrade; it's a game-changer for the Australian higher education sector. With all public universities participating, along with a significant portion of TAFEs and other providers, My eQuals ensures that official records like testamurs, academic transcripts, and Australian Higher Education Graduation Statements (AHEGS) are available digitally at any time, from anywhere in the world. As digital transformation accelerates in education, understanding My eQuals is key for anyone navigating university life, job applications, or hiring processes Down Under.
🌐 The Origins and Evolution of My eQuals
My eQuals was conceived in 2015 in response to the Groningen Declaration, a global commitment to digital student data portability. Recognizing the need for a unified system, Australian and New Zealand higher education leaders came together to create a shared platform. By 2017-2018, the first credentials were issued, and today it's managed by Higher Education Services (HES), a not-for-profit arm of Universities Australia, and powered by Parchment's advanced technology.
From its early days serving a handful of institutions, My eQuals has grown exponentially. What started as a solution for universities has expanded to include vocational providers, statutory bodies like VETASSESS and the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL), and even partnerships with admissions centers such as the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC). This evolution reflects a broader shift toward digital infrastructure in Australian tertiary education, reducing reliance on outdated paper-based processes.
The platform's governance model—owned and directed by participating providers—ensures it remains tailored to local needs while meeting international standards for authenticity and security. Banking-level encryption and cryptographic verification make every document legally valid and tamper-evident, positioning My eQuals as a cornerstone of Australia's digital education ecosystem.
How My eQuals Works: A Step-by-Step Guide
Getting started with My eQuals is straightforward, designed with user-friendliness in mind for students, graduates, and verifiers. Here's the process broken down:
- Issuance by Providers: When you complete a qualification, your university or TAFE automatically issues digital versions of your testamur, transcript, and AHEGS through My eQuals. No waiting for mail—credentials are ready instantly upon conferral.
- Registration and Access: You'll receive an email from your institution with a link to create your My eQuals learner account. Linking it to a personal email ensures lifelong access, even after graduation.
- Viewing Documents: Log in to your secure portal to view high-fidelity, certified digital documents. Each includes a unique verification code and QR code for instant checks.
- Sharing Credentials: Generate shareable links or PDFs with controlled access—set expiration dates, revoke shares, and track views. Perfect for job applications or further study.
- Verification for Third Parties: Employers or verifiers click the link or scan the QR to confirm authenticity in seconds, no paperwork required.
This end-to-end workflow eliminates fraud risks and administrative burdens, with documents compliant to Australian standards and recognized in over 135 countries. For example, RMIT University reported significant time and resource savings after switching, issuing documents almost instantly post-graduation. Learn more on the official My eQuals site.
Participating Institutions: A Nationwide Network
My eQuals boasts unparalleled adoption in Australian higher education. Every public university—from the University of Sydney to the University of Western Australia—participates, covering the vast majority of domestic students. Additionally, nearly 90% of TAFEs nationwide, plus growing numbers of private higher education providers and registered training organizations (RTOs), are on board.
In New Zealand, all universities and expanding Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) like Ara Institute of Canterbury contribute to the pan-Pacific network. This totals over 130 providers, creating a single source of truth for millions of credentials. Statutory integrations, such as VTAC's delivery of 45,000 ATAR statements to Victorian students, further embed My eQuals into the education pipeline.
For Australian university students, this means seamless transitions from secondary to tertiary and beyond, with credentials portable across borders and sectors.
Empowering Students and Graduates with My eQuals
For Australian students and recent graduates, My eQuals levels the playing field in a competitive job market. Traditional transcripts often take weeks to arrive, delaying applications. With My eQuals, you control your narrative: share precise credentials instantly via secure links tailored for specific roles—perhaps highlighting research skills for academic jobs or practical modules for industry positions.
Environmental benefits are notable too—no paper, printing, or postage reduces the carbon footprint of credential management. Graduates report faster onboarding; one RMIT alum shared their transcript with a prospective employer in minutes, securing an interview the same day. Globally mobile Aussies benefit from international acceptance, aiding study abroad or overseas work visas.
Privacy features allow revoking access if needed, and sharing history provides insights into who viewed your records, enhancing security in an era of qualification fraud.
Photo by Eriksson Luo on Unsplash
Streamlining Hiring for Employers and Verifiers
Employers face mounting pressure to verify qualifications amid rising fake degree scams. My eQuals addresses this head-on with its Receive service: a one-click verification tool that confirms authenticity, issue date, and details without contacting the institution. Recruitment firms and agencies save hours per hire, reducing administrative costs by up to 90% in some cases.
In Australia, where skilled migration relies heavily on credential checks, My eQuals integrates with bodies like VETASSESS, speeding up visa processes. A partnership with RapidID launched a tertiary qualification verification service in late 2025, further boosting efficiency. For universities hiring adjuncts or researchers, instant verification ensures compliance and trust. Explore employer tools here.
The Impact on Australian Higher Education
My eQuals is reshaping administrative practices across Australian universities. Institutions like Deakin, Curtin, and UTS have ditched paper issuance, cutting costs on printing and storage while improving service delivery. RMIT's case study highlights resource savings and faster graduate support, aligning with the Universities Accord's digital focus.
It supports equity by enabling remote and regional students—common in Australia—to access records without post office visits. Amid tech debt challenges in tertiary ed, My eQuals offers a scalable solution, integrating with student systems for automated issuance. Professional recognition from bodies like Chartered Accountants ANZ underscores its role in accreditation.
Impressive Growth: Key Statistics and Adoption Milestones
My eQuals' trajectory is remarkable. By December 2025, it hit 1.5 million users; end-of-year figures show 3.6 million learner accounts, 10 million credentials issued, and 8.5 million records shared across 135 countries. Over 131 providers now participate, with expansions into skills authorities and secondary data like ATARs.
Adoption surged post-pandemic, as digital sharing became essential. In 2026, expect further growth with events like My eQuals Connect in Brisbane, focusing on lifelong learning and capability visibility. These numbers highlight My eQuals as infrastructure, not just a tool, powering Australia's knowledge economy. Read about the 1.5M milestone.
Recent Developments and Expansions
2025-2026 marks pivotal growth for My eQuals. Key highlights include Ara Institute joining (NZ ITP expansion), VTAC's 45,000 digital ATARs, and integrations with professional verifiers. The platform now issues badges and micro-credentials, supporting skills-based hiring trends.
My eQuals Connect 2026 in Brisbane will explore making capabilities visible beyond degrees, uniting leaders for digital credential futures. Partnerships combat fake credentials, a $22 billion global crisis, positioning Australia as a leader in trusted verification.
Challenges and How My eQuals Addresses Them
While transformative, digital shifts face hurdles. Tech debt in Australian unis slows integrations, and international credential evaluation remains complex amid fraud. Some grads forget to link personal emails, risking access loss post-graduation.
My eQuals mitigates these via user-friendly onboarding, provider support, and robust security. Challenges like varying adoption rates are tackled through education and events. Overall, benefits outweigh issues, with ongoing refinements ensuring resilience.
The Future of My eQuals in Australian Education
Looking ahead, My eQuals is evolving into essential infrastructure. Plans include deeper micro-credential support, AI-enhanced verification, and global interoperability. With Universities Accord emphasizing digital portability, expect tighter government ties and expanded use in migration and hiring.
My eQuals Connect 2026 will spotlight lifelong learning, bridging degrees to skills profiles. For Australian higher ed, it promises reduced fraud, faster mobility, and equitable access—vital for a competitive workforce. Register for Connect 2026.
Whether you're a current student prepping for jobs or an employer seeking verified talent, My eQuals simplifies the process. Check if your uni participates and set up your account today to future-proof your credentials.
