Rob is in Basque country in the southwest of France, Dirk is back in western Sydney, and there is a lot to unpack in this episode of Global Horizons.

It has been a massive fortnight for Australian international education, with major updates on student visa fees, national planning levels, ATEC, student housing and sector awards.

First up, Rob and Dirk discuss the latest increase to student visa fees, with the main student visa rising from $2,000 to $2,500. They unpack why the sector reacted so strongly, the lack of consultation, and why this matters for students, providers and Australia’s competitiveness as a study destination.

They also look at the newly announced 2027 National Planning Level, which remains at 295,000 new overseas student commencements, and what that might mean for institutions trying to plan ahead.

The conversation then moves to the Universities Accord Bill and the proposed role of ATEC in allocating international student places. Rob and Dirk explore concerns about how much power may sit with the minister, how allocations could be changed, and what this means for the future shape of the sector.

In this episode, we cover:

• The latest student visa fee increases
• The sector’s united response to the changes
• The 2027 National Planning Level remaining at 295,000
• ATEC’s proposed role in international student allocations
• Victoria’s proposed rental reforms and student accommodation
• The 2026 Keystone Awards

The episode finishes on a more positive note, with the announcement of the 2026 Keystone Awards winners, a shout-out to Rishin Shekhar’s new role at ANU, and congratulations to Dirk and The Koala News for reaching 10,000 LinkedIn followers.

Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website.

This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au