OFFICIAL GOVERNMENT GUIDE · UPDATED 22 APRIL 2026
Australia 2026 NPL & NOSC Allocations — 295,000 Places, MD115 & What It Means for International Students
The official Australian Government 2026 plan: a National Planning Level of 295,000 New Overseas Student Commencements, three priority tiers under Ministerial Direction 115, and important new exemptions for students moving from Australian schools, TAFE and pathway providers into public universities.
In 2026 the Australian Government continues to manage international education growth through a system built around two terms every applicant should now know: the National Planning Level (NPL) and New Overseas Student Commencements (NOSCs). The 2026 NPL is set at 295,000 places, an increase of 25,000 over 2025, and is delivered through provider-by-provider indicative allocations supported by Ministerial Direction 115 (MD115), in force since 14 November 2025.
This guide is built entirely from official Australian Government sources — Study Australia, the Department of Education and the Department of Home Affairs. No third-party speculation, no agent commentary.
1. What is the National Planning Level (NPL)?
The National Planning Level is the Australian Government's annual target for new international student commencements across higher education and vocational education and training providers. It was introduced as part of the post-COVID international education reforms and is announced by joint media release of the Ministers for Education, Home Affairs, Immigration & Citizenship, and Skills & Training.
For 2026, the NPL was announced on 4 August 2025 and set at 295,000 places — a 25,000 increase over the 2025 figure of 270,000, but still approximately 8% below the post-COVID peak. Source: Study Australia — Increased student intake for Australia in 2026.
2. What is a New Overseas Student Commencement (NOSC)?
A NOSC is a single new international student commencement at one Australian education provider. The Department of Education issues each provider an indicative allocation — the number of NOSCs that provider can accept in priority processing for the calendar year. These allocations sum to the National Planning Level.
Critically, NOSCs are tracked by provider, not nationally. So when people say "the cap is full," what's actually happening is that some specific providers have reached their allocation thresholds while others remain well below theirs — and the priority of your visa depends on which provider you are enrolling with.
3. Ministerial Direction 115 — the Rule That Powers It
Ministerial Direction 115 (MD115) is the legal instrument that tells the Department of Home Affairs how to prioritise offshore Student visa (subclass 500) applications. It was signed under section 499 of the Migration Act 1958 and came into effect on 14 November 2025, replacing the previous MD111.
You can read MD115 in full on the Department of Home Affairs website: Ministerial Direction 115 (PDF).
"A Ministerial Direction is not a visa cap, and it does not set the criteria to approve or refuse a student visa application." — Department of Home Affairs — Student visa processing priorities
Key differences from the previous MD111
- MD111 had two priority tiers (Priority 1 and Priority 2). MD115 introduces a third tier (Priority 3) for providers exceeding 115% of their allocation.
- MD115 allocations are based on the calendar year in which the application is lodged. Applications lodged between 15 November and 31 December each year are prioritised against the following year's allocation.
- Under MD115, no active international education provider receives a 2026 allocation lower than their 2025 allocation.
4. The Three Priority Tiers Under MD115
Per the Department of Home Affairs, applications for higher education and VET providers are placed in one of three tiers based on the provider's progress against its NOSC allocation at the time the application is lodged.
Fast Lane
Provider is below 80% of its 2026 NOSC allocation
Target: 1 to 4 weeks to commence processing
Standard Lane
Provider has reached 80% of its allocation (the prioritisation threshold)
Target: 5 to 8 weeks to commence processing
Slow Lane
Provider has exceeded 115% of its allocation (the upper threshold)
Target: 9 to 12 weeks to commence processing
5. Indicative Processing Times
The Department of Home Affairs publishes indicative processing windows, noting that "these periods are based on 2025 lodgements and processing resources and can change, particularly when lodgements increase, and in peak periods." Always check the live global visa processing time guide before planning your application timeline.
| Priority Level | Threshold | Target Processing Window |
|---|---|---|
| Priority 1 | Below 80% NOSC | 1–4 weeks |
| Priority 2 | 80%–115% of NOSC | 5–8 weeks |
| Priority 3 | Over 115% of NOSC | 9–12 weeks |
6. Cohorts That Are Always Priority 1 (Regardless of NOSC Status)
Per MD115, the following student categories receive Priority 1 processing automatically — they are not affected by their provider's NOSC threshold:
- School students
- Non-award sector students, including short-term exchange students
- Standalone ELICOS students
- Students enrolled with a TAFE provider (and specifically identified TAFE courses for Charles Darwin University)
- Students enrolled in a recognised Pilot training course (Diploma of Aviation — Commercial Pilot Licence Aeroplane / Helicopter / Instrument Rating / Flight Instructor)
- Students enrolled in Postgraduate research (PhD) courses
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) sponsored students
- Department of Defence sponsored students
- Foreign and Australian government scholarship students
- Students from the Pacific and Timor-Leste (passport holders / residents of Cook Islands, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Timor-Leste, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu)
- Transnational education students
- Subsequent entrants where the application includes a minor (a child under 18)
Source: Department of Home Affairs — Student visa processing priorities.
7. Students Exempt From the NPL Count (New for 2026)
From 2026, certain student transitions do not count toward a public university's NOSC allocation. This is one of the most consequential changes in the 2026 plan.
Per the joint Ministerial announcement and confirmed by Study Australia, students moving into a publicly funded (Table A) university from any of these onshore pathways are exempt from the NPL count:
- Australian secondary schools (after completing Year 12 in Australia)
- Recognised pathway providers (university-affiliated foundation and diploma colleges)
- TAFE institutes
This exemption was designed to protect natural educational progression for students already in Australia and to reward providers who run pathway-to-university programs.
8. 2026 Indicative Allocations — Major Table A Universities
"Table A" universities are the publicly funded Australian universities listed in Table A of the Higher Education Support Act 2003. They receive direct Commonwealth support and, collectively, the largest share of the NPL. Below is an extract from the official Department of Education 2026 indicative allocations factsheet (PDF).
| University | CRICOS Code | 2026 NOSC Allocation |
|---|---|---|
| The University of Sydney | 00026A | 11,900 |
| Monash University | 00008C | 11,300 |
| The University of Melbourne | 00116K | 10,500 |
| The University of New South Wales (UNSW) | 00098G | 10,350 |
| The University of Queensland | 00025B | 8,850 |
| Deakin University | 00113B | 6,550 |
| Curtin University | 00301J | 4,100 |
| Western Sydney University | 00917K | 4,000 |
| Griffith University | 00233E | 3,950 |
| Murdoch University | 00125J | 3,900 |
"All currently active education providers will retain at least their 2025 allocation, with some able to apply for additional places. Public universities, in particular, may seek growth in 2026 if they can demonstrate progress on key government priorities, such as expanding engagement with Southeast Asia and increasing student accommodation options." — Education Minister Jason Clare, 4 August 2025
Per the official announcement, public universities can apply for an increase of up to 9% above their base allocation by demonstrating progress on the two government priorities; private providers can apply for up to 3%.
9. How to Check Your Provider's Live Status
The Department of Education publishes a weekly-updated dashboard showing each higher education provider's current visa prioritisation status. This is the single most important tool for any student or counsellor planning a 2026 visa lodgement.
- Higher Education / Dual Sector students — check the official dashboard at Department of Education — Visa Prioritisation Status.
- VET students — ask your provider directly whether they have reached their prioritisation threshold (80%) or upper threshold (115%).
Education providers themselves can view their allocations and lodgement counts in PRISMS (Provider Registration and International Student Management System).
10. What This Means for International Students Applying for 2026
- Lodge early. The earlier in the calendar year you lodge, the more likely your provider is still under 80% NOSC and you secure Priority 1 processing.
- Watch the dashboard. Before you lodge, check the Visa Prioritisation Status dashboard and time your application accordingly.
- Consider regional and mid-tier universities. Top-tier metropolitan providers fill their thresholds faster. Many high-quality regional universities and Group of Eight alternatives remain well below threshold throughout the year, giving you faster processing.
- If you completed Year 12 in Australia, are at a TAFE, or are at a recognised pathway provider, your move into a public university is exempt from NPL counting — no NOSC pressure on your application.
- For packaged courses, the priority is set by the main CoE (usually the final course in the package), measured against that provider's allocation in the year you lodge the visa.
- Genuine Student requirement remains paramount. Per the Assistant Minister for International Education in November 2025, "student-visa lodgements are down 26 per cent and commencements down 16 per cent" — meaning there is room within the NPL, but the integrity bar is high. A complete, well-evidenced GS statement is essential.
11. What's Coming in 2027 — ATEC
Subject to the passage of legislation currently before Parliament, the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) will from 2027 take over oversight of managed growth for higher education. ATEC is intended to add another layer of stability, transparency and long-term planning to the international education sector. Year-by-year NPL announcements will continue in the meantime.
12. FAQs — 10 Questions Answered
DIRECT, GOVERNMENT-SOURCED ANSWERS
1. What is the National Planning Level (NPL) for international students in Australia in 2026?
The 2026 National Planning Level is 295,000 New Overseas Student Commencements. This is 25,000 places higher than the 2025 NPL of 270,000 and was announced by joint Ministerial media release on 4 August 2025. Source: Study Australia.
2. Is the NPL a cap on the number of student visas?
No. Per Study Australia, the NPL is "not a cap or a limit on student numbers. It is a prioritisation system for Student visa applications." Any genuine student meeting the visa requirements can still apply. The NPL only affects how quickly your offshore application is processed, based on your provider's status.
3. What is Ministerial Direction 115 (MD115)?
MD115 is the legal instrument issued under section 499 of the Migration Act 1958 that tells the Department of Home Affairs how to prioritise offshore subclass 500 Student visa applications. It came into effect on 14 November 2025, replacing the previous MD111. The full text is published at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au.
4. What are the three priority tiers under MD115?
Priority 1 applies to applications with providers below 80% of their NOSC allocation, with target processing of 1–4 weeks. Priority 2 applies once a provider hits the 80% prioritisation threshold (target 5–8 weeks). Priority 3 applies once a provider exceeds 115% of its allocation, the upper threshold (target 9–12 weeks).
5. Which student categories always receive Priority 1 processing?
Per MD115, school students, non-award students, standalone ELICOS students, TAFE students, recognised Pilot training students, PhD candidates, DFAT and Defence sponsored students, foreign and Australian government scholarship holders, students from the Pacific and Timor-Leste, transnational education students, and subsequent entrants whose application includes a minor child are all always Priority 1.
6. Are any students exempt from the NPL count in 2026?
Yes. From 2026, students transitioning into publicly funded (Table A) universities from Australian secondary schools, recognised pathway providers, or TAFE institutes are exempt from the NPL count. This change protects educational progression for students already in Australia.
7. Does the NPL apply to onshore student visa applications?
No. Both Study Australia and the Department of Home Affairs confirm that the NPL system applies only to offshore Student visa applications — those lodged from outside Australia. Onshore applications (lodged from within Australia) are processed in lodgement order, not by NOSC priority.
8. How can I check my chosen university's current NOSC status?
The Department of Education publishes a weekly-updated dashboard showing each higher education provider's current visa prioritisation status at Visa Prioritisation Status. VET students should ask their provider directly.
9. What are the 2026 indicative allocations for top Australian universities?
Per the official Department of Education factsheet, top allocations include the University of Sydney (11,900), Monash University (11,300), the University of Melbourne (10,500), UNSW (10,350), the University of Queensland (8,850), Deakin University (6,550), Curtin (4,100), Western Sydney (4,000), Griffith (3,950) and Murdoch (3,900). Full list in the official PDF.
10. What happens after 2026 — is there a long-term framework?
Subject to legislation, from 2027 the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) will take over oversight of managed growth for higher education. Year-by-year NPL announcements continue in the interim. The intent is to give universities and students greater long-term planning certainty.
Official Government Sources Referenced
- Study Australia — Increased student intake for 2026: studyaustralia.gov.au
- Study Australia — Student visa processing update: studyaustralia.gov.au
- Study Australia — MD115 explained: studyaustralia.gov.au Agent Hub
- Department of Home Affairs — Student visa processing priorities: immi.homeaffairs.gov.au
- Department of Home Affairs — Ministerial Direction 115 (PDF): MD115 official text
- Department of Home Affairs — Subclass 500 Student visa: Student visa subclass 500
- Department of Education — Managed system for international education 2026: education.gov.au
- Department of Education — Visa Prioritisation Status (live dashboard): Visa Prioritisation Status
- Department of Education — 2026 Indicative Allocations factsheet (PDF): 2026 NOSC factsheet
- Department of Education — PRISMS information: education.gov.au/prisms
