Training colleges say a cut in international student numbers will damage hinder their ability to operate.
This follows new planned laws which will further scrutinise dodgy providers.
Industry groups, federal departments and colleges all appeared this week at a Senate inquiry into education services for overseas students.
From 2025, the number of overseas students able to come to Australia will be limited to 270-thousand, as part of a bid by the federal government to reduce migration to pre-pandemic levels.
However, colleges across several sectors told the inquiry how the caps could reduce their ability to operate.
The international education sector supports about 250-thousand jobs nationally, with overseas students having university fees three times higher than domestic students.