International education and managed growth arrangements for 2027 – VET provider allocations for new overseas student commencements

The allocations will continue to be used to inform the prioritisation of processing for offshore Student visa applications under the Australian Government’s National Planning Level (NPL). Further information on the NPL and managed growth arrangements can be found on the Department of Education website.

For 2027, managed growth arrangements for VET providers will ensure:

• No active provider receives a lower allocation than in 2026 • Large providers receive modest growth (around 3.5%) on 2026 allocations • Continued support for small providers, through the pool approach introduced in 2026 for fair and flexible prioritisation • TAFE providers retain continuous unlimited Priority 1 Student visa processing (and in 2027 do not have allocations).

The 80% prioritisation threshold for individual providers will remain in place. The prioritisation threshold refers to 80% of an individual provider’s NOSC allocation for a given calendar year. Providers will continue to receive Priority 1 processing for offshore Student visa applications until they reach their prioritisation threshold. Further information about student visa processing priorities can be found at Student visa processing priorities.

Large and small provider definition

For 2027, large providers are those providers with allocations of more than 100 NOSC in 2026. Small providers are those with 2026 allocations up to and including 100 NOSC, as well as any providers who are new to the sector in 2027.

Small provider pool

To ensure fair and flexible prioritisation for offshore Student visa processing, the arrangements for 2027 will include the pooling of allocations for all small VET providers. The small provider 2 pool will support small VET providers by increasing their access to high-priority visa processing, while improving their overall utilisation of places. More information about the operation of the small provider pool can be found on the VET Providers and the small provider pool factsheet.

Dual sector providers

Dual sector providers will have a single 2027 allocation comprised of their higher education and VET allocations. These providers have flexibility to use their combined allocation in either sector. Higher education allocations are available at Department of Education website. NOTE: Dual sector providers will only be included in the small provider pool if their combined higher education and VET allocations for 2027 are not more than 100 NOSC.

TAFE Providers

In 2027, a TAFE provider means a public VET provider that is a body established under Australian state or territory law to provide VET, or a dual sector university delivering TAFE courses. Under 2027 NPL arrangements, TAFE providers do not have a NOSC allocation and retain unlimited continuous Priority 1 Student visa processing.