The Australian government has officially revoked MD107, replacing it with MD111 on December 19, 2024.
Why Was MD107 Revoked?
MD107 lacked enrolment thresholds, and the ESOS Amendment Bill was expected to address this. However, the bill did not pass, leaving gaps in managing over-enrolment. To address this, MD107 was replaced by MD111, which was implemented promptly without the need for parliamentary approval. The swift implementation of MD111 was necessary to address immediate concerns. To ensure the policy’s effectiveness and alignment with the broader goals of the Australian education system.
The New Prioritization System Under MD111
Unlike MD107, MD111 introduces a prioritization process for offshore student visa applications. This change focuses on ensuring that visa processing aligns with the enrolment capacity of education providers. The directive works with the National Planning Levels (NPL), which monitors the number of international students each institution can manage. This measure aims to address over-enrolment and promote equitable distribution.
Two Processing Priorities Under MD111
Priority 1 (High):
- Accelerated Processing: Student visa applications linked to education providers who have not yet enrolled 80% of their allocated new overseas students for 2025 will be processed with high priority.
- Capacity for Growth: These institutions can accommodate additional students without compromising educational quality.
- Applicable Sectors: This priority applies to higher education and vocational education and training (VET) sectors.
- Eligible Applicants: Priority is given to students from regions such as the Pacific and Timor-Leste, scholarship recipients, and higher-degree research candidates.
Priority 2 (Standard): - Standard Processing: If student visa applications exceed 80% of an education provider’s enrollment cap, their applications will be processed at the standard time.
- Maintaining Standards: This approach aims to prevent overcrowding and uphold institutional standards.
- Subsequent Applicants: Slower processing applies to subsequent applicants from these providers.
Transparency and Fairness in Visa Processing
Priority 1 ensures that enrolments stay below the 80% cap to facilitate faster visa processing. The Provider Registration and International Student Management System (PRISMS) measures this accurately and fairly. PRISMS ensures that there is no bias or unfair processing for students under both Priority 1 and Priority 2, upholding transparency throughout the process.
Balancing Enrolment and Education Quality
MD111 aims to balance international student enrolments while maintaining high education standards. The enrollment cap ensures institutions are not overloaded. This allows them to maintain quality programs and services. With fewer students, there’s more support for each one, preventing overcrowded classrooms and ensuring a better learning experience.
However, slower visa processing for full-capacity institutions may discourage students from choosing Australia. Without clear timelines for processing, students might look to other countries. While MD111 tackles over-enrolment, its uncertainties could reduce Australia’s appeal as a top study destination.
