Stott's College

What Stott's College does

Stott's College, legally operated as Acknowledge Education Pty Ltd (ABN 15 005 596 565), is an Australian private tertiary education provider founded in 1883–1884 (operating for 140+ years) and headquartered in Melbourne. The institution delivers vocational education and training (VET), higher education degrees, English language intensive courses for overseas students (ELICOS), and Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) senior secondary programs across five Australian campuses in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide, with selected online study options. It is regulated under CRICOS (international student registration), RTO 4112 (vocational training), PRV 12146 (provider registration), and school registration 1997.

The core product set spans certificates and diplomas (e.g., Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design, CRICOS 105230B), undergraduate degrees (Bachelor of Community Services), postgraduate programs (Master of Social Work Qualifying, CRICOS 116234G; Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education, CRICOS 116494J), ELICOS pathway courses, and VCE. Revenue is generated primarily through recurring tuition fees across these four streams, supplemented by Australian government FEE-HELP (higher education) and VET Student Loans (vocational) for eligible domestic students; international student fees are quoted on enquiry. Distribution combines direct-to-consumer online applications, a global education-agent network managed through a dedicated Agent Hub, and physical campus enrollment. Marketing operates across the AE website, a Knowledge Hub content library, organic social (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn), and email.

Operationally, AE places more than 6,000 students per year with industry fieldwork partners — including the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre, Mental Health Foundation Australia, Edmund Rice Community Services, Wandiyali Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation, and GRAF Australia — and reports a 98% placement satisfaction rate from a January 2026 survey. Headcount sits in the 101–250 band across the multi-campus network; the institution is privately held with no disclosed parent company, funding rounds, or external shareholders. The strategic positioning is a long-tenured, multi-level Australian education brand rebuilt under the Acknowledge Education identity to compete for international and domestic students through pathway programs, industry-aligned curriculum, and national campus reach.

Name

Stott's College

Legal name

Acknowledge Education Pty Ltd

Website

http://www.stotts.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Stott's College, operating as Acknowledge Education Pty Ltd, is an Australian private tertiary education provider delivering VET, undergraduate, postgraduate, ELICOS, and VCE programs across five Australian campuses (Melbourne HQ, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide) to domestic and international students through direct enrollment and a global agent network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education & Vocational Training

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Junior Colleges (6112)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private/Independent Community & Junior Colleges (EDAHADAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Graduate Schools of Education (M.Ed., Ed.D., Ph.D.) (EDAHAFAB)

Keywords

• Vocational education training
• Higher education degrees
• English language courses
• Senior secondary programs
• International student education

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees - Higher Education: Revenue from undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs including Master of Social Work and Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education, with CRICOS codes for international student delivery.
2. Vocational Education and Training (VET): Revenue from certificate and diploma programs in areas like civil construction design, early childhood education, and community services, with VET Student Loans available for eligible domestic students.
3. English Language Programs (ELICOS): Revenue from English language courses for international students, with pathway options into vocational and higher education programs.
4. Senior Secondary (VCE): Revenue from Victorian Certificate of Education programs for secondary students.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Stott's College, operating as Acknowledge Education, is a private Australian education provider delivering vocational training, higher education degrees, English language courses (ELICOS), and Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) programs across five campuses. The institution offers structured pathways from certificates and diplomas through to undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in fields such as social work, early childhood education, civil construction design, and community services.

Product overview

Stott's College, operating as part of Acknowledge Education, offers a unified educational platform providing vocational training and higher education across Australia. The institution offers a structured study pathway from vocational certificates and diplomas through to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Key products include VET courses (certificates and diplomas in areas like Education, Engineering, Health & Community, Tourism & Hospitality), undergraduate degrees (Bachelor of Community Services), postgraduate programs (Master of Social Work Qualifying, Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education), English language courses (ELICOS), and Senior Secondary (VCE) programs. Students can study at multiple campuses (Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide) or online, with pathways that build qualifications progressively.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Master of Social Work (Qualifying) A qualifying master's degree that equips students to empower people, strengthen communities and transform lives in the social work profession. CRICOS Code: 116234G. Targeted at graduates pursuing professional social work careers.
• Graduate Diploma of Early Childhood Education A one-year full-time online graduate diploma designed to get students career-ready in early childhood education. Practical and fully accredited. CRICOS Code: 116494J. Targeted at graduates pursuing careers in early childhood education.
• Advanced Diploma of Civil Construction Design A vocational diploma covering everything needed to design and manage complex civil construction projects. CRICOS Code: 105230B. Targeted at students pursuing careers in civil engineering and construction design.
• Bachelor of Community Services An undergraduate degree program preparing students for community services sector roles, including pathway opportunities to the Master of Social Work. Targeted at students entering the community services workforce.
• VET (Vocational Education and Training) Courses Certificate and diploma level vocational courses across multiple study areas including Education & Early Childhood, Engineering Design & Construction, English Studies, Health & Community, Tourism & Hospitality, and Senior Secondary. VET Student Loans available for eligible Australian residents. International student fees available upon enquiry.
• ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) English language programs for international students with pathway options into vocational and higher education programs. Targeted at international students seeking English language proficiency for further study or career purposes.
• Senior Secondary (VCE) Victorian Certificate of Education programs for secondary students. Targeted at school-age students completing their secondary schooling qualification in Victoria, Australia.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% placement satisfaction rate (January 2026 survey)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Community Abundance (VIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosting organisation where AE students conducted integrated fieldwork in community services sector in Victoria.
• Bridge Darebin (VIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosting organisation for AE student fieldwork placements in the community services sector in Victoria.
• Christ Church Mission Inc (VIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organisation partner providing fieldwork placement opportunities for AE students in Victoria.
• Thomastown Neighbourhood House (VIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal community organisation providing fieldwork placement opportunities for AE students in Victoria.
• Bakhtar Community Organisation (VIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity organisation providing cultural and social support services, hosting AE student fieldwork placements.
• AusWise (VIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganisation providing AE student placement opportunities in the community services sector.
• PCYC (VIC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPolice Citizens Youth Clubs providing youth and community-focused fieldwork placements for AE students.
• Mental Health Foundation Australia (VIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMental health organisation providing fieldwork placements for AE community services and social work students.
• Edmund Rice Community Services (VIC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity services organisation providing AE student placements with focus on youth and community support.
• Wandiyali Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander CorporationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAboriginal community organisation providing employment and placement opportunities for AE graduates in regional NSW.
• Asylum Seeker Resource CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor nonprofit providing social services placements and employment for AE students and graduates supporting asylum seekers.
• GRAF AustraliaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEngineering firm in regional WA providing civil engineering drafting employment for AE Advanced Diploma graduates.
• Velie Healthcare ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHealthcare services company providing disability and mental health support, founded by AE graduate from Kenya.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Navitas: ASX-listed private education and pathway provider operating across Australia and internationally; directly comparable to AE in serving international students through CRICOS-registered courses with pathway programs from English through to higher education.
• Study Group: Global pathway and English language education provider with strong Australian presence; directly comparable to AE's ELICOS-to-degree pathway model and international student recruitment approach.
• Kaplan Australia: Private higher education provider offering diplomas, bachelor's, and postgraduate programs across Australian campuses; comparable to AE in scope of offerings, target student segments, and tuition-based revenue model.
• Torrens University Australia: Private Australian university within the Laureate network offering vocational, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs with strong international student focus; comparable to AE in scale, multi-campus footprint, and target market.
• Australian College of Applied Psychology (ACAP): Private higher education provider specialising in applied psychology, counselling, and social work degrees; directly comparable to AE's Master of Social Work and Bachelor of Community Services programs and target learner profile.
• Academies Australasia: Private Australian education group operating multiple colleges delivering vocational and higher education programs; comparable to AE in multi-campus private education model and international student orientation.

Broad incumbents

• TAFE Queensland: Government-funded vocational education provider and part of the national TAFE network; broader incumbent offering VET certificates and diplomas that directly overlap with AE's vocational programs but at subsidised pricing.
• Federation University Australia: Public dual-sector university offering both vocational (TAFE) and higher education programs across multiple campuses; broader incumbent serving similar student segments as AE with government funding advantages.
• Swinburne University of Technology: Public university with a dedicated pathway college (Swinburne College) serving international students; comparable to AE in pathway-from-English-to-degree model and Melbourne campus presence, but operates at larger scale with stronger brand.

Regional players

• Holmesglen Institute: Major Victorian TAFE provider based in Melbourne delivering vocational and higher education programs; comparable to AE's vocational offerings but primarily serves the domestic Victorian market without international pathway scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/stottscollege
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/acknowledgeeducation
• Instagraminstagram.com/acknowledgeeducation
• TikToktiktok.com/@acknowledgeeducation

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Stott's College