JULIA Gillard has conceded there are "legitimate concerns" about the quality of education and safety for fee-paying overseas students and unveiled a new agency to lift standards.

After months of controversy over the safety of Indian students, particularly in Melbourne after a series of attacks, and the collapse of education providers, Ms Gillard said the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency would assure quality for domestic and international students.

``We have all watched with concern at the controversy that has developed in relation to Indian students and the issues that have been highlighted in the public debate,'' she said.

``Legitimate concerns have emerged about quality, about safety, about language competency and about the support for students in the international education sector.

``Ultimately TEQSA will be at the heart of any effective response to these issues by bolstering our reputation by assuring quality for all students domestic and international students alike''.

The federal Education Minister also announced the new ``My University'' website comparing university performance, as reported in The Australian's HES today.

Building on the success of the myschool website, the new initiative will inform students and parents about the quality of university teaching.

``I announce that the government will implement a complimentary measure to the myschool website, a ``My University'' website which will help inform students about institutions, courses and pathways,'' Ms Gillard said today.

``It will showcase the quality of Australia's higher education providers''.

The Education Minister said that, in future, Australian universities would be required to publish more information on their courses, campus facilities, support services, learning outcomes and quality of teaching.

``It will be developed over time in partnership with the sector and it will commence no later than January 2012''.