PROSPECTIVE students will soon be able to know more about universities than ever before.

Last Wednesday, federal Education Minister Julia Gillard unveiled plans to set up a My University website similar to the controversial My School site which was launched in January.

It is not yet known what information will feature on the site but it could include course pathways, campus facilities, support services and the quality of teaching and learning outcomes.

Speaking at the Universities Australia annual conference Ms Gillard said the site would be developed ``in partnership'' with universities and would be online by January 2012.

``Informed student choice is particularly important in the new student-centred system because student choice will impact so much on institutional behaviour,'' she said.

``We want students to make their decisions about where they want to study on the basis of robust information about the quality of education provided at each institution, rather than on hearsay, inference from entry requirements, or prestige.''

A University of Western Sydney spokesman said it was too early for the vice-chancellor to comment on the new site but student union president Jacob Carswell-Doherty said it could affect ``less prestigious'' universities.

``I think students have a pretty good idea of what universities offer,'' he told the Advertiser.

``It's going to benefit the sandstone universities rather than UWS and definitely create competition between universities.''

Mr Carswell-Doherty believed the site was established for profitability rather than ``education's sake''.

``Something like this gives more weight to the argument that universities like UWS shouldn't receive money for research,'' he said.

``I just think it's so the bureaucrats in government can justify giving more money to Sydney University.''

But, in her speech, Ms Gillard said the site would ``showcase the quality of Australia's higher education providers''.

``Universities will be able to learn from the success of their colleagues,'' she said.

``The learning outcomes, and the quality of teaching of our universities, will become better known in the general community.''