Page 5 - StudyTravel Magazine October 2025 Issue

NEWS AUSTRALIA

by Matthew Knott, News Editor
Read full news stories online...
www.studytravel.network

Australian government flags international Australia: 2026 National
education integrity reforms Planning Levels announced
LANGUAGE SECONDARY TERTIARY ASSOCIATED TERTIARY
T he Australian government has signalled its intention to he government

of Australia has
introduce integrity reforms in the sector in the coming year.
In a legislative priority document, the Department of
Education said that one of its immediate priorities was reform of Tannounced a
National Planning
the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000. Level (NPL) of 295,000 new international student
The Department said amendments will “strengthen integrity places for 2026, an additional 25,000 compared
in the international education sector, combat the exploitation of with the current year.
overseas students, and address behaviours which seek to exploit The NPL was first introduced last year when
the migration system”. It said that it would engage with the sector the government was attempting to pass the
to shape future policy and settings. Education Services for Overseas Students
Last year the government tried to pass the Education Services Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024.
for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024, It sets the overall number of New Overseas
which contained several reforms of the international education Student Commencements (NOSCs) and informs
sector as well as measures to allow the Minister to introduce individual provider allocations for higher
caps on international student enrolments. The Bill was ultimately education and vocational institutions.
defeated in the Senate and dropped before elections in May this Although formal caps are not in place,
year. Full story at: https://bit.ly/4mDVNAc student visa processing is prioritised according
to providers’ limits under Ministerial Direction
111. After a provider reaches 80 per cent of
Australia updates approved English its NOSC allocation, all visa applications are
language tests for visas considered as standard priority. The government

LANGUAGE ASSOCIATED said that all providers will receive at least their
current allocation for next year.
he government of Australia has added For 2026 public universities will be able
more language tests to the approved to apply to further increase their individual
Tlist for visa applications. allocations by demonstrating delivery on two
From August 7, 2025, Home Affairs said government priorities: increased engagement
that LANGUAGECERT Academic, Michigan with Southeast Asia; and increased provision of
English Test (MET) and CELPIP General were approved tests for student accommodation.
demonstration of English requirements on visa applications, The government confirmed that from 2026,
including for student visas. international students transitioning to publicly
These tests are in addition to the pre-existing approved funded universities from secondary schools,
English language exams, which still remain valid: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, affiliated pathway providers or TAFE institutes
Cambridge Advanced, Pearson PTE Academic, and the Occupational will be exempt from the National Planning Level.
English Test (OET). https://bit.ly/4lPQblg Full story at: https://bit.ly/41pbcvF

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