August 2026

The Strong Beginnings (Excellence) Fund awards $1.5 million to six projects, and Clare announces new mandatory core content requirements for teaching degrees. Domestic undergraduate teaching applications rose 6.5% in 2026.

The Albanese government is reportedly preparing a significant immigration overhaul targeting international students, with proposed measures including onshore visa application bans and stricter course-change rules. Net overseas migration is forecast to fall to 225,000 by 2027/28.

The Commonwealth Teaching Scholarships Program awards its third round, with 1,000 scholarships valued at $40,000 or $20,000. Universities Australia chair Carolyn Evans warns of the financial consequences of further reducing international student numbers and calls for legislative protection for university autonomy.

The government allocates $50 million to ten universities through the Structural Adjustment Fund, while Universities Australia raises concerns about the Universities Accord legislation. International education sees a new partnership between ECA and Wuhan University for an Australian IT diploma in China.

The federal and Western Australian governments announce a $38 million partnership to co-locate early childhood education with primary schools, while international branch campuses in India face cautious demand and high fees. Domestic commencements rise 4.3% YoY.

F-1 visa grants fell 34% year-on-year in 2025, with Indian student F-1 issuance down 76% since 2023 due to US immigration policies. Australia's NPL and India visa refusal rates remain the binding constraints on absorbing redirected demand.

The Universities Accord Bill passes the House of Representatives, establishing 16,000 additional Commonwealth Supported Places annually for three years. IDP Education reports a significant decline in revenue and student placement numbers due to restrictive policy settings.

Australia has lost its top spot as international education agents' preferred study destination to New Zealand, with cost cited as the leading factor in student choice. The country's competitive appeal is sustained by post-study work rights, but visa uncertainty and lower acceptance rates are deterring qualified applicants.

Clare announces 36,000 additional Commonwealth Supported Places and a needs-based funding model. The government also opens consultation on amendments to the ANU Act, responding to TEQSA advice.

The Minister for Education, Clare, rejects Senator Hanson's characterisation of international education as a 'farce', citing sector growth settings and regulated enrolments. Thirty US senators urge the Secretary of State to expedite student visa processing due to projected enrolment declines.

The government commits $106.9 million to early childhood education and care services, while the international education sector faces challenges in Australia and abroad. Canada's language sector records a 13% student enrolment decline.

The ARC marks its 25th anniversary, reaffirming legislative changes to prevent ministerial interference in research grant decisions and highlighting the long-horizon rationale for the $1 billion National Competitive Grants Program. Meanwhile, Oxford International's Student Global Mobility Index finds that 81% of Indian respondents plan to return home after studying overseas.

The government introduces legislation to lock in a 15% pay rise for early childhood educators, with $3.6 billion in additional funding and new safety standards tied to Child Care Subsidy payments from July 2027. This move has led to a significant increase in job vacancies and a reduction in visa refusal rates.

RMIT University secures Vietnamese government approval for a new Hanoi campus and Foreign Branch Campus licence for its existing Saigon South facility. US international enrolments are projected to fall by 9.5% this fall, with significant economic losses and job risks.

Norton finds no identifiable new Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding to finance the government's higher education expansion targets, estimating at least 37,500 additional fully-funded places are needed. Panellists at The PIE Live Asia Pacific 2026 caution Australian providers evaluating transnational expansion in India.

The federal government launches the *Let's Stop Bullying* campaign, targeting school bullying with $10 million in advertising and policy requirements for schools. Meanwhile, sector data shows steady growth in domestic commencements and a 455% increase in cyberbullying reports to the eSafety Commissioner.

The appointment of Professor Mark Rose AM as the inaugural First Nations Commissioner of ATEC marks a significant milestone in Indigenous education. Compliance actions in the early childhood sector have reached record highs, with 1,538 enforcement actions taken in the latest quarter.

The release of 2026 NAPLAN results shows numeracy improvements in Years 5, 7, and 9, but a dip in Year 3 prompting early-years curriculum reform. Australian universities are urged to reframe Pakistan as a long-term strategic market rather than a visa-risk category.

The Albanese Government announces funding for new medical university places and a major campus expansion in Far North Queensland, while sector leaders highlight challenges facing K-12 international education. The government's broader package aims to increase general practice rotations and primary care training.

The Universities Accord Bill faces criticism for its implementation and equity expansion claims, while the sector grapples with the impact of visa fee hikes on international student reputation. The Government announces a $46.4 million investment in a Yolŋu-owned Garma Institute.

The US proposes a $100,000 fee on post-graduation work for international students, while Australia's sector data shows steady growth in domestic commencements and a 42% India visa refusal rate.