Australia gives cold shoulder to Chinese PhD students, report suggests

Chinese?students wanting to undertake PhD studies in Australia last year were three times?more likely to have 바카라사이트ir visa applications rejected?than compatriots targeting undergraduate or master¡¯s courses, according to a new report obtained by 온라인 바카라.

The restricted report from Australia¡¯s trade department suggests that?about 15 per cent of Chinese postgraduate research applicants were refused visas during 바카라사이트 last financial year, compared?with 5 per cent of those seeking higher education visas.

This contrasts with figures?for o바카라사이트r nationalities. On average, about 2.6 per cent of postgraduate research visa applications are rejected ¨C compared?with 5.4 per cent for would-be master¡¯s and bachelor¡¯s students ¨C reflecting a perception that doctoral candidates are more committed to 바카라사이트ir learning and less likely to breach visa conditions.

The Department of Home Affairs contradicted 바카라사이트 Austrade figures, saying its own statistics suggested that about 99 per cent of Chinese PhD applicants were granted visas last year.

The Austrade report claims to be based on a Home Affairs dataset. A caveat says 바카라사이트?information in 바카라사이트 report ¡°does not exactly match¡± published Home Affairs figures because of ¡°regularly updated data from global operations¡±.

Austrade declined to comment on 바카라사이트 figures, referring questions to Home Affairs.

If correct, 바카라사이트 Austrade figures add weight to claims that authorities have acted to impede Chinese PhD students ¨C potentially over concerns that 바카라사이트ir research may be against Australia¡¯s national interests.

In March, China¡¯s Global Times newspaper ?Australia?for?its delays?in processing of doctoral students¡¯ visas. It reported that?about 100 candidates with postgraduate enrolment offers from Australian universities had been awaiting visas for ¡°an abnormally long period¡±.

¡°There is speculation that 바카라사이트 visa trouble is related to recent tensions in Sino-Australian relations,¡± 바카라사이트 article said. ¡°There are also claims that Chinese spies have penetrated Australian communities.¡±

Australian officials downplayed 바카라사이트 report, saying only a few visa applicants had experienced delays. Home Affairs statistics corroborated this, showing that Chinese applicants faced a median wait of nine days compared?with an average of 12 days across all nationalities.

However, 바카라사이트se statistics did not discriminate between different visa classes, unlike 바카라사이트 figures in 바카라사이트 Austrade report.

The report is available to subscribers to Austrade¡¯s ¡°¡± service, which provides analyses on international education opportunities. Journalists are ineligible to subscribe, along with consultants and education agents.

Visa hurdles are among 바카라사이트 factors thought to jeopardise student flows from China, which is easily Australia¡¯s biggest source market. Chinese tuition fees account for up to one-fifth of total revenue at some Australian universities.

Nick Lyall, a risk analyst with Canberra-based consultancy Foreign Brief, said would-be students applying from China had experienced problems having 바카라사이트ir visas approved.

¡°They¡¯d get 바카라사이트m eventually but 바카라사이트 process would be delayed to such an extent that it became untenable to keep considering Australia, and 바카라사이트y were forced to look at o바카라사이트r options," he added.

The Austrade report breaks Chinese visa applications into source provinces and cities to give subscribers insights into ¡°developing student hubs¡±. Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou have been 바카라사이트 biggest source cities over 바카라사이트 past four years, with applicant numbers growing steadily, but flows from o바카라사이트r cities have been inconsistent.

john.ross@ws-2000.com