Daily Brief — Australian Education

DHS issuance data shows F-1 visa grants fell 34% year-on-year in 2025, with Indian student F-1 issuance down 76% since 2023 and more than 180,000 fewer visas issued compared to 2023, as Trump-era travel bans, interview backlogs, and the finalised end of Duration of Status (effective 15 September 2026) compound across intake cycles. John Clark, ETS Director of Strategic Initiatives: "We've seen a 4x reduction in new Indian students over just two years, posing a seismic disruption to American universities and economic productivity. This, at heart, is a consequence of American policy choices." Australia's 295,000 NPL and 42% India visa refusal rate remain the binding constraints on how much of any redirected Indian demand can be absorbed — but the post-study work rights settings Australia has maintained under the managed growth framework represent a structural differentiator as US disruption on this scale continues into the 2026 cycle. (The PIE, 21 August)

Standing figures: 2026 NPL 295,000 (+25,000 on 2025); visa refusal rates 69% Nepal, 42% India (early 2026); domestic commencements 413,133 (+4.3% YoY); $50m over-enrolment fund; $50m Structural Adjustment Fund.

17–18 November 2026 — TEQSA 2026 Conference, fully virtual.

19 May 2027 — ASQA 12-month VET/ELICOS registration pause expires.