The National Planning Level will remain at 295,000 New Overseas Student Commencements (NOSC), maintaining the same planning level as 2026 and providing stability and continuity for the sector.
What does the National Planning Level do?
Australia’s National Planning Level (NPL) is not a cap or a limit on student numbers. It is a prioritisation system for Student visa applications. This means that any genuine student who meets the Student visa requirements can still apply.
Student visa applications are processed as high priority until education and training providers in Australia reach their NPL allocation. After this, further visa applications are still accepted for that provider, but are processed more slowly.
The NPL is designed to ensure that our international student program continues to deliver a high-quality learning experience and creates the best possible outcomes for students.
What agents need to know
- The Australian Government has confirmed that:
- No active international education provider will receive a lower allocation in 2027 than it did in 2026. Provider-level allocations for 2027 will be finalised later in July 2026.
- Student visa applications lodged outside Australia will continue to be managed through the existing visa prioritisation arrangements. Applications for a provider are processed as Priority 1 until the provider reaches 80% of its allocation. After that, applications continue to be accepted but may be processed more slowly.
- Genuine students who meet Australia's student visa requirements can continue to apply to study in Australia.
- As was the case for 2026, international students moving to a public university from a recognised pathway provider or TAFE institute are not counted against the university’s allocation. Students progressing from secondary school in Australia to tertiary study, or transferring because their provider closes, will also not count against the receiving provider's allocation.
- TAFE students will be exempt from the National Planning Level in 2027.
- Certain student cohorts will continue to have visa applications processed as a high priority, regardless of their chosen provider’s allocation. These student cohorts include:
- Australian Government-sponsored scholars and visa holders, and other DFAT and Defence scholarship holders.
- Certain transnational education students.
- Foreign government scholarship holders.
- Students from specified countries in the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
- Standalone ELICOS students.
- Non-Award students, including Study Abroad and Exchange students.
- Higher degree by research students.
- Students applying to Australian schools.
- Students applying to Australian TAFE institutes or VET courses delivered at public dual sector universities.
- Aviation students.