Australia Boosts Higher Education Quota by 9% for 2026
The Australian Government has unveiled a 9% increase in National Planning Levels (NPL) for 2026, signalling a shift towards managed growth and policy continuity in the higher education sector. The changes aim to restore integrity and address uneven impacts on different institutions.
The policy shake-up, introduced in late 2023, has reshaped international student recruitment. Private institutions, English language providers, and VET programs have felt the brunt, while public universities have been relatively spared. Since then, visa grants for ELICOS and VET have plummeted by 62% and 55% respectively, compared to their 2023 peaks.
Publicly funded universities can now apply for additional New Arrival Student Capacity (NOSC) places by investing in student accommodation or deepening ties with Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, Ministerial Direction 111 is transforming how universities engage with international applicants, with timing becoming a critical factor in student conversion.
Over the past two years, the sector has witnessed a significant 31% decrease in student visas, though the decline has stabilised in the last twelve months, now sitting around 3% above June 2024 levels.
The Australian Government's 9% increase in NPL for 2026 reflects a commitment to managed growth and policy continuity in the higher education sector. While the impacts of policy changes have been uneven, public universities have opportunities to expand through strategic investments and engagement with Southeast Asia. The stabilisation of student visa declines suggests a potential recovery, but the long-term effects on the sector's social licence remain to be seen.
