The Department of Education has released indicative New Overseas Student Commencement (NOSC) allocations for 2027, covering every Table A university and registered higher education provider in Australia. The figures set the National Planning Level for the sector and shape how offshore student visa applications get prioritised through the year ahead.

The 295,000-Place National Planning Level

The National Planning Level sets the maximum number of new overseas student commencements the government expects across the higher education sector in a given year. For 2027, the total sits at 295,000 places, split between 161,725 for public universities and 38,500 for other registered higher education providers. This continues the managed growth model first applied in 2025 and 2026, aimed at keeping international student numbers at a sustainable level while maintaining a resilient, high-quality education sector.

Allocation figures are indicative rather than fixed visa caps. The Department of Home Affairs uses them to help prioritise the processing of offshore student visa applications, so a provider with a larger allocation is generally associated with faster visa processing pathways for its offshore applicants, though outcomes still depend on individual visa requirements being met.

Table A Universities Carry Their 2026 Allocation Forward

All 37 Table A universities received the same higher education allocation in 2027 as they held in 2026, so no public university saw a reduction. Combined, Table A universities account for 161,725 of the 295,000 total places, with the largest individual allocations sitting with the University of Sydney, Monash University and the University of Melbourne. Students studying VET courses at public universities remain exempt from the National Planning Level, so dual sector public universities do not receive a separate VET allocation in 2027.

Allocation For Other Providers

The remaining 38,500 places are spread across more than 140 registered providers, ranging from large multi campus institutions such as Torrens University Australia and Kaplan Business School through to smaller specialist colleges sitting at the 50 place minimum. A defined set of principles governed how these figures were adjusted for 2027:

• No active provider received a lower 2027 allocation than its 2026 figure.

• Where applicable, allocations were revised upward based on 90 per cent of a provider's 2025 higher education commencement activity, with 2025 offshore commencements weighted at 1.0 and onshore commencements weighted at 0.5.

• The minimum allocation for any active higher education provider remains 50 places.

• Allocations were rounded to the nearest five or ten places where applicable.

Redistribution Between Related Registrations

The published figures reflect allocations before any redistribution takes place. Two categories of provider retain flexibility to redistribute allocation between related CRICOS registrations, by contacting the Department at internationalallocations@education.gov.au: providers holding multiple CRICOS registrations under the same organisation, and a publicly funded university together with its embedded pathways provider. This is most relevant to groups such as Melbourne Institute of Technology and Holmes Institute, which hold separate CRICOS registrations across different states, and to universities with an affiliated pathway college, such as Monash College or UNSW Global.

Allocation Size And Visa Processing Timeframes

A provider's 2027 allocation size is one factor among several that shape offshore visa processing timeframes. It is not a guaranteed cap on individual visa grants, and providers can view their exact allocation in PRISMS later in the year. For students and agents planning intake around a specific provider, the allocation figures give an early signal of where processing may move faster through the year.

See The Full 2027 Allocation Table

This post covers the National Planning Level and the rules behind the 2027 figures. The full breakdown, including every Table A university and registered provider named in the Department of Education factsheet, searchable by provider name and filterable by state or provider type, sits on our main allocations page.

Read the whole article there to look up a specific provider.

Read the full 2027 allocation data →

To work out what the 2027 allocations mean for a specific provider and course combination, book a free consultation with the Newsted Global team today.

To start a conversation, just say "Hi" (sms/Whatsapp): +61410478759

At Newsted, we acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live, and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.