1) What is Ministerial Direction 115 (MD115) and why it matters?

Ministerial Direction 115 (MD115) is a formal instruction to Australian visa decision-makers on the order in which offshore Student visa applications should be considered. In simple terms:

• MD115 does not change the Student visa criteria (Subclass 500) itself.
• MD115 changes processing priority based on the education provider’s progress against planned student places.
• MD115 is designed to support the Government’s National Planning Level (NPL) for international student commencements.

For students and counsellors, this matters because the same application can face different processing speeds depending on the education provider’s status (Priority 1 / 2 / 3).

2) What changed in 2026 (and what did NOT change)

What changed

For 2026, Australia continues a planning framework called National Planning Level (NPL). The announced NPL for 2026 is 295,000 international student places (new commencements). This is described as an increase compared to 2025.

What did NOT change

The Student visa application requirements remain the same. That means students still need to meet core requirements such as: Genuine Student (GS), financial capacity, English requirements (as applicable), genuine documents, health/character, and all required evidence at lodgement.

3) Who is affected? Offshore vs Onshore explained

MD115 applies to offshore Student visa applications — meaning applications lodged while the student is outside Australia. This includes:

• Students applying from India
• Indian citizens applying from UAE / GCC
• Students applying from any country outside Australia

If you applied offshore before the MD115 start date, your application may continue under the previous direction (MD111). If you applied on/after the new date, processing priority is under MD115.

4) Key abbreviations explained (NPL, PRISMS, NOSC, CoE)

NPL (National Planning Level)

NPL is the Government’s planned level for new international student commencements in a year. For 2026, the NPL is stated as 295,000 places.

PRISMS

PRISMS is the system used for managing international student enrolments, CoEs and reporting. Provider progress against allocations is measured using PRISMS-based indicators.

NOSC (New Overseas Student Commencements)

NOSC refers to new commencements and is used to track how many new international students a provider has commenced (or is expected to commence). MD115 uses NOSC progress to determine prioritisation bands.

CoE (Confirmation of Enrolment)

CoE is the document confirming the student’s enrolment, required for lodging the Student visa. The provider’s CoEs contribute to progress tracking in PRISMS.

5) How prioritisation works under MD115 (Priority 1 / 2 / 3)

Under MD115, offshore Student visa applications are generally prioritised based on the education provider’s progress against an indicative allocation of NOSCs.

Priority 1 (fastest lane)

• Applications linked to providers that have not yet reached the prioritisation threshold, OR
• Applications in certain categories that are treated as Priority 1 irrespective of allocation progress (for example, some exempt categories).

Priority 2 (medium lane)

Applications linked to providers that have reached around the 80% threshold, but are still below the upper threshold.

Priority 3 (slowest lane)

Applications linked to providers at or above the upper threshold (115%). This does not mean refusal — it means slower processing and potentially more time required before finalisation.

6) The 80% and 115% thresholds explained (with simple math)

Indicative Allocation

Each education provider has an indicative allocation for NOSCs. This is used as a planning reference to support NPL. The “Progress Against Indicative Allocations” report shows provider progress.

Prioritisation Threshold (80%)

When a provider reaches approximately 80% of its indicative allocation, applications may shift from Priority 1 to Priority 2 (depending on category and direction rules).

Upper Threshold (115%)

When a provider reaches approximately 115% of its indicative allocation, applications may fall into Priority 3.

Practical meaning for students: If two students have the same profile but apply through different providers, the one linked to a provider under the 80% threshold is more likely to be processed sooner (Priority 1).

7) How to read the “International Education Providers – Progress Against Indicative Allocations” report

This report summarises sector progress against allocations and shows high-level totals such as: 2026 total allocation and progress as at a given date.

Key concepts in the report

• Allocation totals for 2026 (overall and by sector like Higher Education and VET)
• Current and future NOSCs for a year
• NOSCs with student visas attached (used to measure threshold progress)
• Provider-level visibility (some areas may be restricted at times)
• Updates (the report can be updated regularly, often weekly)

8) Real examples of prioritisation (easy scenarios)

Example A: University provider below 80% (Priority 1)

A student applies offshore to a public university whose progress is around 60% of its indicative allocation. The application is more likely to be considered in Priority 1 (subject to visa completeness and integrity checks).

Example B: Provider at 85% (Priority 2)

Another student applies offshore to a provider that has reached 85% of allocation. Their application may move to Priority 2, meaning the queue may be slower compared to Priority 1 providers.

Example C: Provider at 120% (Priority 3)

If a provider is at 120% (over the 115% upper threshold), the application may be treated as Priority 3. Students should plan significantly earlier and keep backup timelines for intake changes.

9) What visa officers check (practical checklist for decision-ready lodgement)

MD115 affects prioritisation order, but officers still assess the same Student visa criteria. For offshore applicants, delays often happen because applications are incomplete, inconsistent, or hard to verify.

Core areas that are checked

• Genuine Student (GS): clear study purpose, logical course progression, realistic outcomes
• Financial capacity: funds availability, source of funds, consistency of documents
• Course suitability: academic background, level progression, credible reasons for course/provider choice
• English evidence: test results / medium of instruction / provider requirements (as applicable)
• Document integrity: authenticity, verifiability, mismatch avoidance
• Health & character: medical checks if required, police clearance if required
• OSHC: correct cover dates and policy details

10) What this means for Indian & GCC-based students (UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi)

1) Offshore is offshore

If the student lodges outside Australia, they are considered an offshore applicant for MD115 prioritisation — whether they are applying from India or from UAE/GCC.

2) Provider choice matters more in 2026

Students should choose providers with strong compliance and stable allocation status. Large universities often have higher allocations and may remain under thresholds longer than smaller providers (this can vary throughout the year).

3) Complete applications reduce delays

Processing times increase when information is missing or inconsistent. In 2026, students should lodge early and ensure the file is “decision-ready” on day one.

11) MD111 vs MD115: what’s the difference?

MD111 supported 2025 settings. MD115 replaces it for 2026 prioritisation cycles. The key difference is the updated prioritisation settings linked to the 2026 planning framework and allocation progress.

12) Best practices to reduce delays and refusal risk in 2026

1. Lodge early: especially if your provider is trending toward Priority 2 or 3.
2. Submit a complete application: missing documents = longer processing.
3. Make your GS story consistent: course choice, career plan, academic history must align.
4. Keep financial evidence clean: avoid unexplained deposits; show clear source of funds.
5. Use verified documents: avoid poorly drafted or unverifiable employment/financial documents.
6. Use a strong provider strategy: universities/TAFEs are often safer for predictable processing.

13) Need help? Guide to Heights can support your 2026 intake end-to-end

Guide to Heights supports students and parents with a complete admissions + visa + documentation strategy for Australia (and other destinations). If your intake is Feb/July 2026 (or later), we can help you select the right course/provider, prepare a complete GS file, structure your financial evidence, and lodge a strong application aligned to current processing expectations.

Looking for PR-related skilled occupation references? See: Skilled Occupation List (SOL / Skill List / PR List)

FAQ

Does MD115 change the visa requirements?

No. It changes the prioritisation order for offshore processing. You still must meet all Student visa criteria.

If my provider is Priority 3, will my visa be refused?

No. Priority affects queue speed. A complete and genuine application can still be granted.

Does applying from UAE/GCC as an Indian citizen change MD115 priority?

For MD115, the key factor is whether the application is lodged offshore and the provider’s allocation status. Applying from UAE/GCC is still offshore.

What is the best strategy for 2026?

Apply early, choose a stable provider (often a university/TAFE), and make the application decision-ready with clean funds and a strong GS statement.