Over the second half of 2026, the ATEC met with Table A and Table B providers to negotiate the first compacts since the establishment of the ATEC. These ‘foundation’ compacts cover a 1-year period, they will commence on 1 January and operate throughout the 2027 calendar year. The next compacts, to be negotiated during 2027, will span 4 years, covering the period 2028–31.
As part of negotiation process, Commissioners also determined each provider's domestic student profiles. In 2027, the Total Allocation Pool will support 624,590 Commonwealth supported places in higher education courses, excluding demand driven and medical places, reflecting the Government's commitment to growing opportunity and meeting Australia's future skills needs.
The 2027 compacts can be found below, along with the domestic student profile for Table A providers. Non-Table A domestic student profiles will be published after the Minister for Education has updated the Commonwealth Grant Scheme Guidelines to provide the legal basis for allocating places to Non-Table A providers following the passage of the Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Act 2026.
2027 compacts resource collection
2027 domestic student profiles
2027 mission based compacts and allocations – Outcomes Report
The 2027 compacts and allocations process provided a valuable opportunity for the ATEC to deepen its understanding of providers’ missions, priorities and contributions to Australia’s higher education system.
This Outcomes Report provides an overview of the inaugural 2027 compacts and allocations process.
The first section explains mission based compacts and the Managed Growth Funding System, including how these mechanisms were designed and how they support the ATEC’s stewardship of a high-performing and sustainable higher education system.
The second section highlights key insights from providers’ compacts, demonstrating how providers are advancing national, state, territory and regional priorities.
The final section identifies a number of emerging strategic priorities that were a focus for Commissioners during negotiations, and that the ATEC will continue to monitor and support. These areas present opportunities for the ATEC and providers to work collaboratively, share best practice, learn from successful initiatives and drive continuous improvement across the sector.