In a joint statement, IRU and RUN are calling for a “positive and principles-based approach to securing the future of Australia’s international education system”.
The networks say it is in “national interest” that all universities and communities across Australia can contribute to, and benefit from, a sustainable and high-quality international education system.
“Changes to student visa processing and policy in 2024 disproportionately impacted our students and universities, and undermined equity and diversification,” commented IRU executive director Paul Harris, who believes that a positive new approach is needed after a period of upheaval for the sector.
“These distortions also made life harder for the universities that will play the most critical roles in delivering on the government’s goals for our domestic tertiary education system, as set out in the Universities Accord. We strongly support the Albanese government’s focus on increased participation and equity,” continued Harris.
RUN chief executive officer Alec Webb explained that, together, IRU and RUN, are seeking a “genuinely collaborative approach to set policy and a proactive strategy that takes into account global changes and maximises the benefits of international education for all providers and for all communities across Australia”.
Their five point plan for international education consists of:
1. A more managed and equitable approach to international student numbers for sustainable growth
“Both IRU and RUN universities are characterised by more diverse student cohorts than the sector as a whole,” the joint statement explained.
“While international students comprise 26% of all students studying at Australian universities at the national level, international students make up just 22% of total IRU student numbers, and 16% of total RUN student numbers.”
They believe that any changes to government policy and the subsequent allocation of student places should support greater diversification of both student numbers and source countries, and address areas of persistent concentration.
IRU and RUN universities and students were “disproportionately impacted” by visa processing directive Ministerial Direction 107 (MD 107). While international student commencements increased across the sector as a whole in 2024, they were down 28% across the IRU, and more than 30% across RUN.
“MD 107 led to further concentration of international student numbers at large metropolitan universities, while shrinking the diversity of Australia’s international student markets. These distortions have made life harder for the institutions that will play the most critical roles in delivering on the government’s domestic participation and equity targets as outlined in the Australian Universities Accord,” the statement said.
In the future, IRU and RUN want to see international student places being set by the new Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) as part of comprehensive university mission-based compacts.
Importantly, the networks are advocating for immediate clarity on on international student allocations for 2026.
“We do not support any reallocation of places away from outer metropolitan and regional campuses until institutions have recovered fully from the damage done by MD 107, and all institutions are on a pathway to sustainable growth.”
2. Action on the cost of visa fees to support students and diversification.
Already home to the highest student visa fee in the world, in July 2025, the Australian government made studying there even more expensive, raising the application fee to AUD$2,000. The move follows an 125% fee increase implemented just one year earlier, from AUD$710 to AUD$1,600.
“There is evidence that the cost of a visa is impacting long-standing international partnerships, with partner universities saying that they will direct exchange students elsewhere due to cost,” according to IRU and RUN, which said this reduces opportunities for Australian students to study abroad and further undermines diversification.
IRU and RUN are therefore advocating for visa fees to be “immediately reduced” for students coming to Australia for 12 months or less, in line with the exemptions already implemented by government for students from Pacific Island Nations, in a bid to better support individual students and support system diversification.
3. Renewed focus on quality and integrity
IRU and RUN laid out their support for the re-introduction of integrity measures that were intended under the ESOS Amendment Bill in 2024. The IRU and RUN each made suggestions to improve the draft Bill in 2024 and now say these should be reconsidered.
Unethical practices and ‘course-hopping’ continue to be of concern, and both the IRU and RUN support the government intervening to strengthen integrity across the system
IRU and RUN
The joint statement read: “Unethical practices and ‘course-hopping’ continue to be of concern, and both the IRU and RUN support the government intervening to strengthen integrity across the system. Possible responses could include extending the six-month prohibition period to 12 months (with appropriate protection for students with genuine reasons to transfer) or introducing a requirement for a new visa when a student moves to a new provider.”
Elsewhere, the plan states that neither the IRU or RUN supports a minister having power to intervene in university enrolments of international students at the level of individual courses.
“Integrity measures should be finalised in close consultation with international education providers, given the potential for further unintended policy consequences,” it said.
4. Improved data and transparency
As part of the five point plan, The IRU and RUN are seeking “increased transparency and the accessibility of real-time data regarding international student numbers and visa processing”.
“Improved data would support better decision-making about international student numbers and diversification, giving the community more confidence in the system as a whole,” the statement read.
The networks are also say that prospective international students would benefit from “greater transparency” from the Department of Home Affairs about visa processing decisions and timelines.
5. A positive long-term strategy for international education
Finally, the IRU and RUN are calling for a “collaborative approach to a proactive, long-term strategy for international education”.
“2024 was a year of upheaval in our international education system, and the Draft International Education and Skills Strategic Framework released by government has not yet been finalised. There is an opportunity in this term of government to set a more positive vision for the future,” the statement read.
The networks are advocating for a long-term strategy that includes an “equitable and sustainable distribution of international student numbers onshore, supported by differentiated student visa and post-study migration settings where required”.
Such a strategy should also include a comprehensive plan for outbound mobility by Australian students, including post-graduate and PhD students, with the IRU and RUN also calling for replacement programs to address the termination of the Endeavour Scholarships and Destination Australia, and further consultation on changes to the New Colombo Plan, “to ensure that Australian students from less privileged backgrounds are not being excluded”.
Elsewhere, they believe an effective strategy should also clarify the respective roles of universities and government in pursuing new opportunities in transnational education (TNE), recognising the significant long-term investment involved in successful offshore campuses.
“It should lock in the exemption for TNE students from international students allocations, while reviewing the existing definitions of twinning and TNE arrangements to better reflect student choice and experience. The strategy should also include the role of universities in strengthening partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region through education and research, in line with Australia’s foreign policy priorities.”
IRU and RUN’s five point plan for international educartion follows the appointment of Julian Hill, minister for international education, with the consortia keen to work constructively with Hill and the Albanese government on the strategy that both groups say will support a fairer international education system, one that delivers sustainable growth.
The PIE is bringing its Asia Pacific conference to the Gold Coast, Australia, on 29-30 July 2025. Click here to see the full agenda and for information on tickets.
