Australia suspends new overseas student course registrations over integrity concerns

Australia has imposed a temporary freeze on new international education registrations in parts of its vocational education sector, citing concerns over the rise of low-quality and non-genuine providers.

The suspension, which took effect on May 19, 2026, will remain in force until May 19, 2027, under provisions of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000.

In an official statement, authorities said the measure is intended to strengthen oversight and protect the integrity of Australia’s international education system.

“The Suspension responds to emerging integrity concerns… particularly relating to poor quality and non-genuine new market entrants,” the official notice stated.

Under the decision, institutions seeking to enroll international students or add new courses will not be able to submit fresh applications to the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) during the 12-month period.

The restriction affects applications for registration on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS), Australia’s official list of approved institutions and courses permitted to teach overseas students on student visas.

Existing vocational education and training (VET) providers will also be prevented from applying to add most new courses during the suspension period.

Australian authorities said the move follows increasing concerns over rapid growth within the VET sector.

According to the government, more than 900 VET providers are currently registered on CRICOS, while the number of providers offering vocational courses to international students has increased by more than 35% since 2021.

The temporary freeze has been enabled through amendments introduced under the Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Act 2025, which expanded ministerial powers to suspend new applications where integrity risks are identified.

Officials said the pause would allow ASQA to process pending applications with stricter scrutiny and conduct more detailed integrity checks before approving further expansion in the sector.

The suspension also applies to applications involving ELICOS programs, or English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students, which are commonly taken by international students before entering higher education or employment pathways in Australia.

However, the government has exempted certain publicly funded institutions from the restrictions.

Government schools, Technical and Further Education institutes (TAFEs), and publicly controlled vocational education providers will still be allowed to submit applications.

Existing institutions may also continue updating course locations or replacing courses already registered under CRICOS.

Authorities clarified that applications submitted before May 19, 2026, will continue to be processed through regular procedures.

The Australian government said the temporary measure is aimed at safeguarding the reputation and quality of the country’s international education sector rather than limiting opportunities for genuine students or institutions.