New CRICOS Courses in Australia (April 2026 Data)

Posted by CRICOS Guides Editorial Team April 3, 2026 (updated April 3, 2026)

New CRICOS courses in Australia 2026

What changed in April 2026 

  • 383 new CRICOS courses added
  • Total database growth: +261 courses
  • Majority: Bachelor and Master’s degrees
  • Main drivers: Australian universities

This data is based on a direct comparison of CRICOS datasets from March and April 2026.

Dataset Summary

Metric Value
Total courses (March 2026) 26,174
Total courses (April 2026) 26,435
Net change +261
New courses detected 383

Interpretation:

  • Not all new courses increase total count
  • ~120 courses were removed or replaced

What Types of Courses Were Added

Higher Education (dominant category)

The majority of new courses belong to:

  • Bachelor Degree
  • Master’s Degree (Coursework)

This indicates a strong expansion in university-level education.

VET Sector (stable)

No significant increase detected in:

  • Certificates
  • Diplomas

Conclusion:

  • Growth is not driven by vocational education in this update

Providers Adding New Courses

Most new courses come from:

  • Large universities
  • Established higher education providers

Examples from dataset:

  • Macquarie University
  • Australian Catholic University

Pattern:

  • Expansion is concentrated in institutions with existing CRICOS portfolios

Why Total Growth Is Lower Than New Additions

Observed:

  • 383 new courses
  • but only +261 net increase

Explanation:

  • ~120 courses were:removed replaced with new CRICOS codes marked as expired

This confirms:

  • CRICOS is a dynamic registry, not cumulative

Key Trends (April 2026)

1. Shift toward degree-level programs

Universities are expanding:

  • postgraduate coursework
  • specialized bachelor programs

2. Active course lifecycle management

Courses are:

  • regularly updated
  • replaced rather than simply added

3. Alignment with mid-year intake

Timing suggests:

  • preparation for July intake
  • rollout of updated academic offerings

What This Means for Students

  • More available programs at university level
  • Updated courses aligned with market demand
  • Need to verify course status before applying

How to Identify New CRICOS Courses

Method used in this analysis:

  1. Compare datasets by month
  2. Combine:Provider Code Course Code
  3. Detect new unique combinations

This approach reflects how CRICOS defines course identity.

Conclusion

  • April 2026 added 383 new CRICOS courses
  • Net growth is lower due to course replacement and removal
  • Expansion is driven by universities, not VET providers
  • Focus is on Bachelor and Master’s programs