Senate backs international student cap bill but wants to remove power over Australian course enrolment limits

Some critics of the government’s bill claim it will have an uneven impact on universities. Photograph: Lico2020/Getty Images/iStockphoto

A Senate committee scrutinising Labor’s international student cap has recommended the bill be passed with significant amendments, including removing the ability to set course-level enrolment limits.

The bill would provide new ministerial powers for the commonwealth to manage higher education applications, including the ability to suspend and cancel specified courses, to facilitate a 30% reduction in international students from 2025.