Last updated: 22 May 2026. Primary sources: DHA Visa Prioritisation Status · Study Australia — MD115 · DHA MD115 legislative instrument.
Under Ministerial Direction 115 (MD115), which has governed all offshore student visa processing since 14 November 2025, how fast your application moves is not only about your own documentation. It depends substantially on which university you have enrolled with — and where that university currently sits against its government-issued enrolment allocation.
Scope: offshore applications only. MD115 applies exclusively to Student visa applications lodged from outside Australia. If you are already in Australia and applying onshore, MD115 does not govern your application. All processing times in this article are offshore only.
The three priority tiers under MD115
Every education provider operating under MD115 is assigned one of three priority tiers, based on how their New Overseas Student Commencements (NOSCs) compare to their 2026 allocation.
| Priority tier | When it applies | Typical offshore processing time |
|---|---|---|
| Priority 1 | Provider is within or below their NOSC allocation | Fastest — typically 28 days to 6 months (median ~33 days for straightforward HE applications) |
| Priority 2 | Provider is approaching or exceeding their allocation | Slower — typically 2 to 4 months |
| Priority 3 | Provider has significantly exceeded their allocation | Slowest — can extend to 6+ months |
Source: Study Australia — MD115 · DHA processing priorities.
For Higher Education, the median processing time at a Priority 1 provider is approximately 33 days for a straightforward application — significantly faster than VET (7–12 months) or ELICOS (44 days to 14 months) in the same priority tier.
Why most universities are currently at Priority 1
The 2026 National Planning Level (NPL) was set at 295,000 New Overseas Student Commencements — 25,000 higher than the 2025 allocation. Under MD115, no active provider received a 2026 allocation lower than their 2025 figure. Universities that continued to grow their international intake received proportionally higher allocations.
Higher Education commencements rose 3% month-on-month in January 2026 (combined offshore + onshore), the only sector showing growth. Source: Department of Education Monthly Summary. Despite this growth, most universities currently remain within their NOSC allocations and hold Priority 1 status.
This can change. A university that is at Priority 1 in May 2026 may shift to Priority 2 if offshore enrolments surge mid-year. The prioritisation status page is updated regularly — check it close to your planned application date, not months in advance.
How to check your university's current priority status
- Go to DHA Visa Prioritisation Status
- Search by provider name or provider CRICOS code
- Note the current priority tier: P1, P2, or P3
- If your provider is not listed, contact them directly — all CRICOS-registered HE providers must be allocated a tier
The status page is the only authoritative source for current priority. Individual universities do not always publish their own tier status, and agents' representations of processing times may not reflect the current tier.
What happens if your university moves tiers during processing
If you have already lodged your application and your university moves from Priority 1 to Priority 2 after lodgement, your application moves into the new queue. The change applies to unprocessed applications — DHA does not exempt applications that were lodged when the provider was at a higher priority.
This is not common for major universities with large allocations, but it is a documented risk for providers closer to their allocation ceiling.
Source: Edvise Hub — MD115 priority and refusal rates.
The packaged course rule: check the final provider
If you are applying for a packaged course — for example, ELICOS English (6 months) followed by a bachelor's degree (3 years) — the processing priority for your entire application is set by the main Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE), which is the final or highest qualification in the package.
In practice:
- Package: ELICOS (Priority 1 provider) + Bachelor of Engineering (Priority 2 university) → your application processes at Priority 2 speed
- Package: ELICOS (Priority 2 provider) + Bachelor of Commerce (Priority 1 university) → your application processes at Priority 1 speed
The packaged course rule means checking the priority status of just your ELICOS or VET provider is not enough — you must check the university at the end of the package. That provider governs your wait time.
Source: Study Australia — MD115.
For more detail on how MD115 applies across all three sectors, see our MD115 processing guide.
Priority 1 does not guarantee approval
Priority 1 governs how fast your application is processed — not whether it is approved. An application at a Priority 1 university can still be refused if the Genuine Student requirements are not met, if financial evidence is insufficient, or if the application is incomplete.
The offshore Higher Education refusal rate in March 2026 was 41% (offshore only) — SBS News / DHA, 3 May 2026. Provider priority affects your queue position. Your evidence quality affects your outcome.
For a full breakdown of what DHA assesses under the Genuine Student test, see our GS test guide.
Pre-application checklist
Before you submit your Subclass 500 application to a Higher Education provider:
- Provider's current priority status confirmed at DHA Visa Prioritisation Status
- If packaged course: priority status of the final course provider specifically confirmed
- Provider is CRICOS-registered — verified at CRICOS Register
- Financial evidence covers full course duration (not just first year)
- Bank statements cover 3–6 months (Level 3 countries) with no unexplained large deposits
- GS statement reviewed — study choice aligns with academic and employment background
- AUD $2,000 non-refundable fee budgeted — separate from tuition and living costs
This article provides general information only. It is not migration advice. For advice specific to your circumstances, consult a MARA-registered migration agent.
Data sources: Study Australia — MD115 · DHA MD115 legislative instrument · DHA Visa Prioritisation Status · DHA processing priorities · Department of Education Monthly Summary · SBS News, 3 May 2026 · Edvise Hub — MD115