Aspire College, The Design Works College of Design, RTO Services Group and the Australian Indigenous College - all owned by Global Intellectual Holdings - were placed in voluntary administration on Tuesday.

A letter from the administrator to students said: "recent major changes imposed on the Vet Fee-Help sector by the federal government have resulted in very significant pressure on the college's ability to operate".

"The owners of the colleges have exhausted all available means to continue operating and, with great reluctance, have been forced to place the colleges into voluntary administration."

Aspire's Launceston campus on Invermay Road, Mowbray, offers Diploma of Business, Diploma of Management and Diploma of Community Services course.

It is unclear how many Tasmanian students will be affected by the collapse.

The campus was contacted by The Examiner on Thursday, but there was no response.

Fairfax Media reported that at least 500 administration and teaching staff across the country have also been affected.

Students have been advised that colleges are suspended until further notice.

Administrators said they are "in discussion with a major debtor of the companies to assist with the ongoing trading of the companies and/or potentially transitioning students to new colleges as and if required".