Alongside its visa fee increase, the Australian government has confirmed the size of its 2026 international student intake.
A higher cap for 2026
Australia set its 2026 National Planning Level (NPL) at 295,000 new international student commencements — roughly 9% higher (about 25,000 more places) than in 2025. The planning level allocates commencement numbers across universities and other education providers.
The government has said it will prioritise students from Southeast Asia in how places are distributed, reflecting a push to broaden Australia's international student base.
What it means for you
A higher cap means more places overall, but the number available at any single university is still limited — popular institutions can fill their allocation, so apply early for your intended intake. The change sits alongside higher, non-refundable visa fees (the subclass 500 fee rose to AU$2,500 from 1 July 2026), so plan both your application timing and your budget carefully.
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2027 confirmed: the cap stays at 295,000
On 3 July 2026 the Australian government announced the 2027 international education settings and kept the 2027 National Planning Level at 295,000 commencements — unchanged from 2026. Ministers said holding the level steady would give the sector "stability and certainty".
- Commencements in 2026 are running about 8% below the same period in 2025, and 13% below 2019 levels, so the cap is not currently the binding constraint.
- No active provider will receive a lower allocation in 2027 than it had in 2026.
- TAFE students remain exempt from the planning level, as do students from Pacific nations and Timor-Leste and Australian government scholarship holders, who also keep priority visa processing.
- Subject to legislation, the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) will take over allocating international student places for higher education providers from 2027, while the federal government continues to set the overall planning level.
Ministerial Direction on visa prioritisation stays in place, so the practical limit on any individual application remains the provider's allocation and the applicant's own evidence — not the national total.
Sources: Australian Government (Study Australia); Department of Education; Ministers’ media release, "Managing a sustainable international education sector" (3 July 2026); The PIE News.