A Unique Student Identifier (USI) is an initiative by the Australian Government Department of Industry, that was introduced on 1 January 2015. A USI is a reference number that will give students access to a USI account, to view their training records which are held in the National Vocational Education and Training (VET) Data Collection.
The USI is available online at no cost to the student. Once a student has registered their USI, it will stay with them for life and be recorded with any nationally recognised VET course that is completed from 1 January 2015.
A USI is your individual education number for life. It also gives you an online record of your VET training undertaken in Australia.
If you’re at university, TAFE or doing other nationally recognised training with a private RTO, you need a USI. Without one, you can’t get your qualification and statement of attainment or Commonwealth financial assistance.
The below video was produced by Training.Gov.Au and provides an overview of the Unique Student Identifier VET Transcript and how you obtain your USI.