**New Onshore Agent Commission Rules

**As of 31 March 2026, the Australian Government will ban education agents from receiving commissions when assisting international students already in Australia to transfer between institutions, a measure aimed at reducing “course-hopping” and strengthening student-visa integrity.

**Universities Under Pressure as Students Leave Early

**Recent reporting highlights a sharp rise in foreign students dropping out of Australian universities, in some cases to move into work via visa system loopholes. This trend has drawn attention from federal lawmakers and education watchdogs who say it undermines the quality and credibility of international education.

**Migration Strategy and Broader Reform

**Policy analysts say Australia is entering 2026 focused on migration management, balancing migration caps with skilled visa priorities and student intake reforms after significant political and social debate on housing and population growth.

**Impact on Indian Students and Risk Categories

**Students from India — one of Australia’s largest overseas student populations — are facing heightened visa screening and documentation requirements following recent changes to risk classification under the visa framework.

**Call for Stability from Education Sector

**Industry groups continue urging policy consistency to sustain Australia’s competitiveness globally and reassure students amid frequent shifts in policy and compliance standards.

**Outlook

**With tighter processing, a focus on integrity, and growing public debate around immigration’s impact on housing and infrastructure, the sector is poised for ongoing adjustment in the months ahead.