The Australian Government is committed to international education’s integrity and quality to ensure that it can grow sustainably over time.
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The Australian Government released the Draft International Education and Skills Strategic Framework (draft Framework) on 11 May 2024.
Under the draft Framework, the Australian Government committed to implementing a managed system to support sustainable growth in the international education sector.
International education brings significant social and economic benefits to our communities and is a valuable national asset. However, our international education system must have the right settings to provide the highest quality experience for all students and maintain Australia’s world-class reputation for delivering education.
A managed system will provide confidence to students and families considering an Australian qualification, and to our education partners worldwide.
These changes have been developed following the Australian Government’s release of the Draft International Education and Skills Strategic Framework on 11 May 2024. Consultations on the draft Framework were undertaken in May and June 2024.
National Planning Level
From 1 January 2025, the Australian Government is setting the total number of new overseas student commencements at higher education and vocational education and training institutions in Australia each year under the National Planning Level. This number will be reviewed and agreed upon by Government annually.
An international student will count as a new overseas student commencement when they are onshore and start their first non-exempt course at their first provider, and each time the student changes into a non-exempt course at a different provider.
The introduction of the National Planning Level will provide predictability and certainty for international education providers and safeguard the quality of Australia’s international education offerings.
From 2025, the National Planning Level will be set at 270,000 new overseas student commencements.
The National Planning Level will apply to the higher education and vocational education and training sectors.
The Australian Government has proposed certain cohorts be exempted from the National Planning Level.
Factsheets on National Planning Level exemptions
Provider Limits
Provider Limits will be managed through Confirmations of Enrolment issued through the Provider Registration and International Student Management System (PRISMS), enabling providers to actively monitor and manage their limit. The Department of Education is making changes to PRISMS so that it is ready to support providers to monitor and manage their limits and avoid non-compliance.
Following Government decisions on the National Planning Level and Sector Planning Level each year, notices and instruments setting out Provider Limits will be implemented, to take effect for the following year.
Read the Implementing Provider Limits in PRISMS factsheet
For public universities
The number of new overseas student commencements for public universities will be allocated through International Student Profiles.
For the 2025 calendar year, International Student Profiles have been developed by the Department of Education taking into consideration pre-pandemic levels, recent growth, and the circumstances of universities, including the concentration of international enrolments in their onshore student cohorts.
From 2026, the Government will encourage universities to create new supplies of student housing to benefit both domestic and international students as part of their future growth. Further details about new policy settings in this area will be provided over coming months.
Read the Housing and Student Accommodation factsheet
For private universities and non-university higher education providers (NUHEPS)
The number of new overseas student commencements for private universities and NUHEPs will be allocated using limits for each individual provider.
For the 2025 calendar year, Provider Limits have been developed by the Department of Education taking into consideration recent levels of new overseas student commencements.
For VET providers
Management of international student distribution in the VET sector will focus on specialist international providers – those with a strong focus on international students.
This approach will continue to enhance the integrity of the sector and drive future growth towards a more diverse and resilient sector that can better address Australia’s skills needs in Australia and the region.