The Albanese Government of Australia has announced new measures to regulate international student enrollments for the year 2025. Aiming to ensure sustainable growth and sector integrity, the government will introduce a National Planning Level (NPL) that caps new international student enrollments at 270,000 for 2025.
The NPL will be allocated between the higher education and vocational education and training (VET) sectors. Notably, the cap will not apply to school students, higher degree research students, those undertaking standalone English language courses (ELICOS), non-award students, Australian Government-sponsored scholars, participants in Australian transnational or twinning education arrangements, key partner foreign government scholarship holders, and students from the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
The Albanese Government plans to foster the development of new student housing by universities starting in 2026 to accommodate both domestic and international students. This initiative is designed to support universities that have faced significant disruptions due to the pandemic and uneven student return patterns.
Under the new policy, publicly funded universities are expected to accommodate approximately 145,000 new international students in 2025, maintaining levels similar to those in 2023. Individual enrollment limits will be detailed in an International Student Profile (ISP) provided to each publicly funded institution. ISPs will be based on recent data regarding international student commencements and the distribution of international students within institutions.
For other higher education providers and non-university institutions, new international student commencements are projected to be around 30,000 in 2025. Additionally, approximately 95,000 new international VET student commencements are anticipated. Institutions with a high proportion of international students will receive reduced allocations to promote a more diverse student body.
These reforms, pending legislative approval, will replace Ministerial Direction 107 starting January 1, 2025. The Albanese Government emphasizes that these changes aim to enhance the integrity of the international education sector and ensure its social license. By limiting enrollments and promoting balanced growth, the government seeks to return the sector to pre-pandemic levels and improve the overall international student experience.
A statement on the ministers.education.gov.au website underscored the government’s commitment to strengthening the sector’s integrity and sustainability.
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