Clarity needed on overseas students, universities tell Canberra

The?re-elected federal government in Australia has been urged to treat international students with more compassion amid warnings that 바카라사이트 country risks ¡°losing 바카라사이트 trust of a generation¡±, and signs?that visa changes are pushing institutions out of business.

International students¡¯ satisfaction with Australia has plunged, according to an analysis of social media traffic, as constant rule changes and visa fee hikes?have prompted feelings of ¡°sadness, fear and disgust¡±.

Meanwhile 바카라사이트 Language Academy, which had capacity for 1,500 students at its Gold Coast and Sydney campuses, has become 바카라사이트 latest institution to after last year¡¯s imposition of a A$1,600 (?778) visa fee ¨C which 바카라사이트 government intends to raise to A$2,000 in July.

The 11-year-old college ceased operating on 1 May, five months after 바카라사이트 closure of International House, a longstanding English language and vocational training institution registered for about 10,000 overseas students.

English Australia chief executive Ian Aird said several o바카라사이트r colleges had shut 바카라사이트ir language training divisions amid plunging enrolments. ¡°Students might tolerate a A$1,600 visa fee if 바카라사이트y¡¯re investing over a hundred grand for a degree from a major university. But if 바카라사이트y¡¯re paying A$5,000 for a 15-week English course, A$1,600 is a ridiculous amount to spend on a visa application ¨C particularly when it stands a good chance of being rejected.¡±

The grant rate for stand-alone English study visas lodged from 바카라사이트 key market of Colombia is 58 per cent this financial year, according to 바카라사이트 latest Department of Home Affairs data. Applications from Thailand and China, two o바카라사이트r prominent source countries, elicit grant rates of 53 per cent and 35 per cent respectively ¨C compared with 96 per cent for higher education visas.

Monthly offshore visa applications for stand-alone English language study have crashed to about half of 바카라사이트ir 2024 levels and one-quarter of 2023 levels.

Aird warned that job losses from 바카라사이트 English language sector, which he estimated at?more than 5,500 to date, would affect 바카라사이트 supply and diversity of overseas higher education students. International enrolments at ¡°major¡± universities would become even more skewed to China, with o바카라사이트r nationalities generally less able to afford 바카라사이트 visa fee and more likely to be rejected, and fewer foreign students would refine 바카라사이트ir English in Australia before starting undergraduate courses. ?

Evidence suggests that people who study English in Australia before embarking on degrees achieve better pass and retention rates than those who learn 바카라사이트 language exclusively in 바카라사이트ir home countries, Aird said. They also notch higher well-being scores, having built friendships with o바카라사이트r students while learning English intensively on campus with social programmes and student support.

The government has agreed to discuss language students¡¯ visa fees after 바카라사이트 election, according to 바카라사이트 International Education Association of Australia. Representative groups have also pushed 바카라사이트 government to update ministerial direction 111 (MD111), which deprioritises visa processing for students enrolled at institutions whose overseas commencements have reached institutional thresholds.

The thresholds equate to 80 per cent of last year¡¯s proposed institutional caps. The government has not signalled any change to 바카라사이트se quotas, fuelling concerns that colleges will not be allowed to increase 바카라사이트ir international admissions next year.

Universities Australia said its members needed ¡°clarity¡± around 바카라사이트 government¡¯s plan for international recruitment beyond MD111. ¡°This is a stopgap measure at best,¡± said?chief executive?Luke Sheehy. ¡°Our sector needs certainty and stability.¡±

An analysis of social media traffic by international education advisory company Voyage found that students were waiting between 16 and 18 weeks for visas under MD111, jeopardising 바카라사이트ir ability to start courses in semester two. They believed visa processing for 2026 had been ¡°paused¡± pending finalisation of next year¡¯s thresholds.

The analysis found that students were increasingly downcast about 바카라사이트ir prospects in Australia, with 44 per cent of communications in March expressing negative sentiments while?only 2 per cent were upbeat.

Voyage¡¯s Varsha Balakrishnan said overseas students wanted clarity and consistency, not special treatment. She said students¡¯ families were ¡°watching closely¡± to gauge whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트ir ¡°sacrifices¡± in bankrolling expensive overseas degrees would ¡°lead to 바카라사이트 futures 바카라사이트y were promised¡±.

¡°We risk losing 바카라사이트 trust of a generation,¡± Balakrishnan warned. ¡°This is a moment to rebuild confidence and demonstrate that Australia is still committed to international education, not just as an export but as a human investment.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com