Managing a sustainable international education sector

The Albanese Government is today announcing a National Planning Level of 295,000 international student places for 2026, providing stability and certainty for the international education sector.

The 2026 National Planning Level manages growth in international education in a sustainable way, with 25,000 additional places compared to 2025.

All active international education providers will receive at least their current allocation next year.

Over the past year, Government reforms have set international student numbers on a more sustainable path.

The 2026 Planning Level is an increase on the 2025 Level but is still 8 per cent below the immediate post-COVID peak.

For 2026, public universities will be able to apply to increase their individual higher education allocations for 2026 by demonstrating delivery on two government priorities:

• increased engagement with Southeast Asia, consistent with Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040; and
• provision of student accommodation to ensure both domestic and international students have access to safe and secure housing.

Ministerial Direction 111 has played a key role in ensuring fairer access to student visa processing, and will be replaced with an updated ministerial direction to reflect 2026 arrangements.

Strategically important cohorts, including Pacific and Timor-Leste students and Australian government scholarship holders, will continue to receive high priority student visa processing in 2026.

Additionally, from 2026, international students transitioning to publicly funded universities from secondary school studies in Australia and from affiliated pathways providers or TAFE institutes will be exempt from the National Planning Level.

From 2027, subject to the passage of legislation, the Australian Tertiary Education Commission will oversee managed growth arrangements for higher education.

This will be another important step in providing certainty and stability for the sector.

For the international VET sector from 2027, the Government will continue to use visa processing and integrity reforms to shape its size and composition.

These steps are all about ensuring Australia’s international education sector remains resilient, high-quality, and globally competitive.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“International education is an incredibly important export industry for Australia but we need to manage its growth so it’s sustainable.

“International education doesn’t just make us money, it makes us friends.

“This is about making sure international education grows in a way that supports students, universities and the national interest.

“The new planning level gives the sector certainty to continue delivering a high-quality educational experience to international students, while addressing national priorities.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke:

“The Albanese Government is supporting a strong international education sector, while maintaining the integrity of the migration system.

“We are making sure student visa processing supports genuine education outcomes and our strategic priorities - including increasing provision of student accommodation.

“This is about backing providers who do the right things and giving them the certainty they need to grow sustainably.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles:

“The settings that Government has put in place for 2026 will ensure that the international VET sector can grow sustainably to better meet skills needs, in Australia and the region.

“The diverse nationalities of international VET students present an opportunity to strengthen our international partnerships.

“From today, VET providers can plan recruitment with confidence for 2026, knowing they will continue to enjoy equitable access to student visa processing.”

Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister Julian Hill:

“International education is a great Australian success story. Australians can rightly be proud of this now over $50 billion export sector, which supports over 250,000 Australian jobs. It’s the biggest export we don’t dig or drill out of the ground.

“This Government remains committed to sensibly managing the size and shape of the on-shore student market and supporting sustainable growth, especially to welcome more students from Southeast Asia and where accompanied by new housing. We want students to see Australia as a premium destination where they can access high quality education and a great student experience.”