Two regional universities, Charles Sturt University (CSU) and Federation University, have received increases upwards of 60 per cent in their 2026 New Overseas Student Commencements (NOSC) allocations compared to 2025. The figures follow the Department of Education’s release yesterday of indicative 2026 NOSC allocations for publicly funded universities.
In August, the Government announced the following:
- A 2026 National Planning Level of 295,000
- A higher education component of 196,750
- NOSCs for higher education providers other than Table A universities totalling 34,325
Following the August announcement, a possible allocation of 162,425 for publicly funded universities remained. Yesterday’s announcement allocated 160,850 NOSCs, an eleven per cent increase from 2025.
Analysis of the percentage change in indicative allocations from 2025 to 2026 shows:
- No universities have seen a decline in 2026 from 2025 (one of the published principles for the allocations)
- Five universities have had no increase
- Eleven universities have had an increase of between 1 and 10 per cent
- Eighteen universities have had an increase of between 11 and 20 per cent
- Only one other university beside Federation and CSU – The University of Newcastle – has had an increase above 20 per cent, at 28 per cent
| Provider Name | 2025 NOSC allocation | 2026 NOSC allocation | % change 25-26 |
| Adelaide University * | 6,750 | 7,350 | 9% |
| Australian Catholic University | 1,700 | 1,900 | 12% |
| Australian National University | 3,400 | 3,750 | 10% |
| Central Queensland University | 3,000 | 3,150 | 5% |
| Charles Darwin University | 2,200 | 2,650 | 20% |
| Charles Sturt University | 1,000 | 1,600 | 60% |
| Curtin University | 3,500 | 4,100 | 17% |
| Deakin University | 5,700 | 6,550 | 15% |
| Edith Cowan University | 3,600 | 3,700 | 3% |
| Federation University Australia | 1,100 | 1,800 | 64% |
| Flinders University | 3,000 | 3,000 | 0% |
| Griffith University | 3,600 | 3,950 | 10% |
| James Cook University | 2,200 | 2,200 | 0% |
| La Trobe University | 4,100 | 4,800 | 17% |
| Macquarie University | 4,500 | 5,250 | 17% |
| Monash University | 10,390 | 11,300 | 9% |
| Murdoch University | 3,500 | 3,900 | 11% |
| Queensland University of Technology | 4,500 | 4,750 | 6% |
| Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology | 6,600 | 7,700 | 17% |
| Southern Cross University | 1,300 | 1,500 | 15% |
| Swinburne University of Technology | 4,500 | 4,500 | 0% |
| The University of Melbourne | 9,300 | 10,500 | 13% |
| The University of New South Wales | 9,500 | 10,350 | 9% |
| The University of Newcastle | 1,600 | 2,050 | 28% |
| The University of Notre Dame Australia | 700 | 800 | 14% |
| The University of Queensland | 7,050 | 8,050 | 14% |
| The University of Sydney | 11,900 | 11,900 | 0% |
| The University of Western Australia | 3,000 | 3,550 | 18% |
| University of Canberra | 1,500 | 1,800 | 20% |
| University of New England | 700 | 700 | 0% |
| University of Southern Queensland | 1,000 | 1,050 | 5% |
| University of Tasmania | 2,200 | 2,250 | 2% |
| University of Technology Sydney | 4,800 | 5,350 | 11% |
| University of the Sunshine Coast | 1,200 | 1,350 | 13% |
| University of Wollongong | 3,600 | 3,700 | 3% |
| Victoria University | 3,600 | 4,050 | 13% |
| Western Sydney University | 3,400 | 4,000 | 18% |
| TOTAL | 145,190 | 160,850 | 11% |
* For the purposes of comparison, for Adelaide University, which doesn’t commence operations until 1 January 2026, 2025 NOSC is a combination of the University of South Australia and The University of Adelaide.
Publicly funded universities were invited to apply for an increase in allocations for 2026 by demonstrating delivery of key government priorities, including:
- increased engagement with Southeast Asia, consistent with Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040
- provision of student accommodation.
CSU and Federation were among the universities most affected by the formula used to calculate 2025 NOSC allocations, particularly when compared to their pre-pandemic levels.
In 2019, CSU had 2994 NOSCs but was allocated only 1000 in 2025, increasing to 1600 in 2026.
Federation had a 2019 NOSC of 4019 but received only 1100 in 2025, increasing to 1800 in 2026.
Although both universities have received significant year-on-year percentage increases, their allocations remain well below pre-pandemic levels.
According to the Factsheet – Indicative allocations for publicly funded university new overseas student commencements 2026, an independent panel evaluated the applications and made recommendations to Government. The membership of the independent panel has not been published.
Universities with multiple CRICOS registrations or with embedded pathway providers may determine how they distribute their allocation. The 2026 allocations will be viewable in PRISMS from November 2025.
The Factsheet – Indicative allocations for publicly funded university new overseas student commencements 2026 is available here.
The 2025 NOSC allocations are available here.
