Through a critique of Ball''s (1990) policy analysis framework this work explored the influences that led to the deregulation of international student recruitment(''the policy'')and the development of pathway programs in the Australian tertiary sector. Ball''s framework is extended to include Marginson and Rhoades''(2002) glonacal heuristic to analyse the global, national and local contexts that contributed to the creation and implementation of ''the policy''. The development of pathway programs was chosen as one aspect of implementation allowing a study that progressed from macro to microanalysis of ''the policy'' cycle. The study examined the key ''players'' who contributed to''the policy''s'' creation, the ideologies that influenced these individuals and the contexts within which decisions were made. In 2004 education was a $5.6 billion export industry for Australia. There were 151,798 international students in the tertiary sector, with 10 universities depending on this industry for 15% to 40% of their total income. Pathways and universities'' close association with private providers contributed significantly to the commercial and internationalisation goals of these universities.