The proposed overhaul would effectively bar international students from bringing family members to Australia, even though the number of student visas is expected to stay the same.

In the last financial year, 337,427 student visas were granted, and 45,991 of those were secondary applicants classified as dependents or family members.

The government also plans to cut the number of temporary visas, which have risen to three million, as part of its effort to lower overall migration numbers.

The policy announcement was postponed earlier because ministers could not agree on competing priorities, forcing Mr Burke to delay his National Press Club speech.

If the changes go ahead, many overseas students will have to choose between studying in Australia and keeping their families abroad, a decision that could affect enrolments and university revenue.