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Australia to revise student visa rules amid forecast university losses
Australia’s Labor government is reviewing tighter student visa rules after concerns that they are deterring genuine applicants.
The rules were strengthened in 2024 to check whether applicants genuinely intended to study in Australia.
Visa refusals rose, with more than 24.2% of applicants rejected last financial year, including more than half of applicants from Nepal.
New international student starts at public universities are projected to fall about 18% this year, cutting university revenues by about $2 billion over three years.
The government says high refusal rates are discouraging students Australia wants to attract, alongside pressures such as competition from other countries and living costs.
Officials are developing new financial requirements for students from South Asia and a replacement for the current assessment rules.
Universities and education agents will be consulted in November as the government seeks clearer requirements without ending its effort to control student migration.
Australia will revise student visa requirements amid concern that tougher rules are deterring genuine applicants and hurting universities.
The government says it wants to make the system easier to navigate without weakening its crackdown on student migration.
New international student commencements at public universities are projected to fall about 18 per cent this year.
The expected decline could reduce university revenues by about $2 billion over three years.
Officials will consult universities and education agents on revised financial requirements and visa assessment changes.
- Who
- The Australian federal government, including Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill.
- What
- The government plans to revise student visa requirements and assessment processes. It says the changes will not weaken its crackdown on student migration.
- When
- The changes are under consideration; universities and education agents are to be consulted in November.
- Where
- Australia.
- Why
- High visa refusal rates are believed to be discouraging genuine applicants and contributing to projected losses for universities.
Australian federal government
Universities and the education sector
Purpose of visa rules
Australian federal government
The government says tougher rules are needed to protect the integrity of the student visa system.
Universities and the education sector
The sector warns that high refusal rates and tighter rules are putting Australia’s standing as a study destination at risk.
Effect of the crackdown
Australian federal government
The government says the rules are only partly responsible for projected university revenue losses.
Universities and the education sector
The sector is concerned that the rules are deterring prospective students and hurting universities.
Ministerial Direction 106 was introduced to help assess whether student visa applicants genuinely intended to study in Australia.
More than 24.2 per cent of student visa applicants were rejected, including more than 51 per cent of applicants from Nepal and more than 40 per cent from India.
New international student commencements at public universities are projected to fall about 18 per cent.
Universities and education agents are to be consulted on new financial standards and a replacement for Ministerial Direction 106.
- Projected fall
- About 18 per cent in new public-university international student commencements this year
- Projected revenue loss
- About $2 billion over three years
- Overall rejection rate
- More than 24.2 per cent of student visa applicants last financial year
- Nepal rejection rate
- More than 51 per cent of student visa applications last financial year
- India rejection rate
- More than 40 per cent of student visa applications last financial year
2 sources
What people are saying
They are terrified of a visa refusal that hurts their chances of studying elsewhere
Even if this means raising the financial standards and a smaller pool of prospective students, I want grant rates to improve and greater certainty for everyone