Australia to Raise International Student Enrolment Cap to 295,000 in 2026
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Australia has announced an increase in its international student enrolment cap to 295,000 for 2026, allowing an additional 25,000 students to enter the country’s education system under revised guidelines.
The change, revealed by Education Minister Jason Clare, marks a shift from the current cap of 270,000 set under Ministerial Direction 111, though it still falls 8% short of post-Covid peak levels. The government said the update is part of broader efforts to ensure the sector grows in a sustainable and strategically aligned manner.
From next year, international students transitioning from Australian secondary schools to public universities, or from affiliated TAFE institutions and pathway providers, will no longer be counted within the national planning level.
Under the system, different education providers are subject to enrolment limits. Currently, public universities are capped at 145,000 new enrolments, vocational education and training (VET) providers at 95,000, and private universities at 30,000. These limits will remain, but institutions may apply for increases.
To qualify for additional enrolments, public universities must demonstrate increased engagement with Southeast Asia and prove adequate student housing is available to accommodate both local and international students. This aligns with the government’s Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040, aimed at deepening regional ties.
Minister Clare stressed that while international education is a major export, “this is about making sure international education grows in a way that supports students, universities and the national interest”.
Students from strategically important regions, such as the Pacific and Timor-Leste, or those on government scholarships, will continue to benefit from priority visa processing.
The enrolment changes will be supported by a new Ministerial Direction, replacing Direction 111. Subject to Senate approval, the Australian Tertiary Education Commission will oversee growth and ensure stability in the sector.
Meanwhile, VET institutions will remain subject to visa integrity and processing reforms beyond 2027.
Australia’s government reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable growth of the international student sector, highlighting the country’s status as a premium destination for global learners.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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