Jason Clare boosts foreign students intake for ‘stability and certainty’
Labor will increase the nation’s international student intake to 295,000 next year, with unis that build their own accommodation and strengthen ties to South East Asia able to boost their allocation.
Labor will increase the nation’s international student intake to 295,000 next year, with universities that build their own accommodation and strengthen ties to southeast Asia able to boost their allocation.
In a move to provide “stability and certainty” to the sector, Education Minister Jason Clare announced on Monday the overseas student intake will be increased by 25,000 in a softening of the hard line approach on enrolments.
After Labor’s bid to pass legislation capping international students to reduce pressure on the housing supply was torpedoed by the Coalition last year, the government imposed a 270,000 limit through a “de facto” cap under a ministerial direction.
“This is about making sure international education grows in a way that supports students, universities and the national interest,” Mr Clare said.
“The new planning level gives the sector certainty to continue delivering a high-quality educational experience to international students, while addressing national priorities.”
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said allowing providers that build student accommodation and forge deeper ties with southeast Asia was targeted at “backing providers who do the right things and giving them the certainty they need to grow sustainably”.
“We are making sure student visa processing supports genuine education outcomes and our strategic priorities – including increasing provision of student accommodation,” he said.
Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy said the boost to the $52bn international education sector marked a “sensible approach”, vowing to work with the government on the design of the ministerial direction to replace the outgoing Direction 111.
“We welcome the opportunity for universities to grow their international student intake by aligning with key national priorities, including deeper engagement with southeast Asia and the provision of safe, secure student accommodation that benefits both domestic and international students,” he said.
International Education Association of Australia chief executive Phil Honeywood said the increase in the intake would provide “welcome relief”, remarking that the boost had been distributed unequally within the sector.
“Independent higher education providers will be clearly disappointed in only receiving a 3 per cent increase compared to public universities’ 9 per cent,” he said.
“The government has chosen not to punish providers who have overenrolled their 2025 allocation on this occasion. But we anticipate restrictive measures being built in to stop overenrolments in 2026.”
Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia chief executive Felix Pirie said the measures would not save the providers on their knees, raising concerns the intake did not allocate smaller providers a set cap and instead grouped them into a pool.
“For some, it’s not going to rescue their business,” he said. “And for others, it might be a case of ‘at least it’s not a cut’. But the main thing will be a really significant level of confusion and trying to understand how on earth do I navigate this pool arrangement, which will probably be a bit like a Hunger Games scenario.”
Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson supported the measures, highlighting the importance of the sector in funnelling skilled workers into in-demand industries.
Opposition education spokesman Jonathon Duniam called on the government to be transparent with providers on how it reached its allocation.
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