A spokesperson for the university told The PIE News that to ensure the institution does not exceed its cap it is “introducing offer rounds and a waitlist for 2025 international admissions with merit-based offers to be released progressively for programs where there is still availability.”

The spokesperson continued: “UNSW Sydney has seen unprecedented demand over the last couple of years due to the strength of our offerings and our exceptional and growing reputation, including rising to 19th in the 2024 and 2025 QS World University Rankings.

“The very strong increase in demand to study at our university, combined with the Australian government’s proposed legislation on international students and indicative new overseas student commencements (NOSC) limit as part of their proposed enrolment limits through the ESOS Bill 2024, means UNSW could risk exceeding the proposed cap without taking pre-emptive measures.

UNSW continues to welcome international students as a valued and important part of the vibrant student community
^{UNSW spokesperson}

“UNSW continues to welcome international students as a valued and important part of the vibrant student community.”

The university has been handed a NOSC limit of 9500, a 14% decrease from its 2023 international commencements post-pandemic, and a significant reduction from its estimated 2024 figure of 17,359.

UNSW is not the first institution to take such action, despite the bill not yet being passed. In September, Australian Catholic University halted international recruitment for 2025 after reaching its enrolment limit.

The ESOS Amendment Bill, which includes the controversial cap policy on international student enrolments, is still awaiting debate in the Senate. Due to the limited parliamentary sitting periods, the earliest this discussion could take place is November 18. However, the bill is widely expected to pass and come into effect on January 1, 2025.

At the 2024 AIEC conference in Melbourne, delegates heard from IEAA’s CEO Phil Honeywood about his efforts lobbying for a 15% buffer on institutional caps for the initial adjustment year of 2025 – a move that could provide essential flexibility.