Last updated: 30 July 2026. Data source: DHA Study Visa Statistics, ingested into SVH's production dataset via get_sector_grant_rates.
Data scope: ELICOS, VET and Higher Education, offshore and onshore reported separately below. Month-on-month comparison: May 2026 against April 2026, the two most recently released months.
The sector you're applying under affects your approval chances as much as your nationality does. May 2026's data shows a sharp offshore VET decline and a smaller but still notable drop in offshore Higher Education, while onshore rates across all three sectors held well above their offshore equivalents.
Offshore grant rates by sector
| Sector | May 2026 rate | April 2026 rate | Change | Lodgements (May) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELICOS | 71.9% | 70.9% | +1.0 pt | 1,487 |
| VET | 25.7% | 34.4% | −8.7 pt | 1,696 |
| Higher Education | 70.8% | 79.8% | −9.0 pt | 13,318 |
(Offshore only.) Source: DHA Study Visa Statistics, via SVH production dataset.
Onshore grant rates by sector
| Sector | May 2026 rate | April 2026 rate | Change | Lodgements (May) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELICOS | 88.2% | 85.4% | +2.7 pt | 734 |
| VET | 60.1% | 61.4% | −1.3 pt | 5,871 |
| Higher Education | 89.4% | 92.6% | −3.2 pt | 6,764 |
(Onshore only.) Source: DHA Study Visa Statistics, via SVH production dataset.
What's driving the numbers
Offshore VET is the standout mover. A drop from 34.4% to 25.7% in a single month, on rising lodgement volume, is a material shift for anyone applying to a VET provider from outside Australia. This is consistent with the sector-wide scrutiny VET has faced through 2026 under the current integrity settings; students and agents working in this sector should treat offshore VET applications as the highest-friction pathway on the board right now.
Offshore Higher Education also softened, though from a much higher base. A nine-point drop still leaves the sector above 70%, well ahead of VET, but the direction matters as much as the level: this is the second consecutive month of decline for offshore HE.
Onshore consistently outperforms offshore, across every sector. This gap holds every month SVH has tracked it and reflects a structural difference in applicant profile and scrutiny between the two lodgement locations, not a temporary anomaly. Never apply an offshore figure to an onshore applicant or vice versa.
What this means if you're applying
- VET applicants applying from offshore face the toughest current environment of the three sectors. Build a stronger, more complete evidence package and expect longer scrutiny.
- A single month's move is a data point, not a trend, on its own. SVH tracks each sector month to month; watch the next release before treating a one-month drop as a structural shift.
- If you have a choice of lodgement location and it's genuinely available to you, know that onshore applications have cleared at a materially higher rate across every sector this year. This is not advice to change your circumstances to file onshore; it is context for understanding why the two locations report different numbers.
Individual circumstances vary. This article is general information, not migration or legal advice. For guidance on a specific application, consult a MARA registered migration agent.
Data sources: DHA Study Visa Statistics