The Government has announced an additional 25,000 international student placements next year.
The National Planning Level, the framework for managing Australia’s annual international education intake, has been set at 295,000 places for 2026.
The increase is a backflip from the Government’s original plan to cap this year’s international student numbers at 270,000.
Education Minister Jason Clare said the move ensures the sector's sustainability.
Student caps
Last year, the Federal Government proposed legislation to cap international student enrolments at 270,000 in a bid to reduce migration.
The bill, which was anticipated to come into effect in January, was blocked by the Coalition and the Greens.
Under the plan, universities would have been able to accept a higher number of overseas students if they agreed to build more student accommodation.
Student numbers
The 2025 international student enrolment limit was set at 275,000.
Next year’s increase will still leave numbers below the peak recorded in the aftermath of COVID lockdowns.
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Most universities will keep their current allocation of international enrolments.
From next year, public universities wanting to expand their quotas must meet two requirements: prioritising applicants from South East Asia, and demonstrating they can provide housing for both domestic and international students.
Backflip
The Government said the increase “supports students, universities and the national interest.”
Education Minister Jason Clare said: “International education doesn’t just make [Australia] money, it makes us friends.”
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said maintaining the “integrity of the migration system” remains a priority, by “backing providers who do the right things”.
Coalition
The Coalition has expressed concern and called for the Government to “explain how this new target is sustainable”.
Shadow Education Minister Jonno Duniam said the “one-size-fits-all approach” reform fails to meet the needs of regional universities.
Duniam said the Government “needs to give all tertiary providers clarity on how it arrived at these numbers, while ensuring that there are no losers.”
