Australia may follow Canada cap on student numbers
Recent reports suggest that the Australian government is considering capping the number of international students as part of its plan to reduce overall migration.
Australia's international education sector is facing major disruption including sudden increases in student visa rejections, withdrawals of offers from universities, and a halt in recruitment by some providers.
The Sydney Morning Herald has reported a staggering 20% decline in student visa approval rates, marking the most significant shift in two decades.
The report states that:
“The cut to the education programme is the biggest single factor in driving the total migrant intake down to 375,000 this financial year and putting it on course for 250,000 the following year.”
Analysis conducted by The Koala News reveals alarming statistics regarding visa approvals.
In January 2024, applicants across higher education, ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students), and vocational education and training providers experienced record-low grant rates.
Notably, vocational education and training applicants were hit hardest, facing a 17.8% reduction in approvals compared to the previous year.
Recent changes in Australian immigration policy are considered the cause.
Australia's new migration strategy demands higher savings levels, increased English language proficiency, and compliance with a stringent "Genuine Student Test."
Refusal letters consistently cite concerns about the comparative economic opportunities in Australia and the applicants' home countries, casting doubts on their genuine intentions to study in Australia.
Of significant concern is the disproportionate impact of visa refusals on students from India, Nepal, and Pakistan—Australia's second, third, and ninth-largest sending markets, respectively. Grant rates for these countries have plummeted, raising questions about the fairness and efficacy of the visa assessment process.
Student visa offers are being rescinded.
The spike in visa rejections has prompted some higher education institutions to rescind offers to students deemed at risk of visa refusal.
This reactionary measure stems from concerns about potential increases in the provider's immigration risk rating, which could adversely affect visa processing times and approvals.
Amidst these challenges, there are growing fears within the international education sector that Australia may resort to implementing a cap on international student numbers—a move akin to measures adopted by Canada.
Dr. Abul Rizvi, former Deputy Secretary of Australia's Department of Immigration, warns against the sustainability of high visa refusal claiming that it “wastes the resources of applicants, education providers and visa processing operations.”
Phil Honeywood, Chief Executive of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), has acknowledged the bleak outlook for education providers in the upcoming semester.
IEAA say that they intend to lobby government ministers to address the situation.
This predicament echoes recent developments in the Netherlands.
Universities in the Netherlands have announced measures to reduce the number of international students and strengthen the Dutch language skills of students and staff.
These measures include halting the development of new government-funded English-language Bachelor's programs and converting existing English-language courses into Dutch to make major degree programs more accessible to local students.
Additionally, Dutch universities will no longer actively recruit international students unless there are labour market shortages in specific fields at the national or regional level.
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