International demand for Australian degrees rebounds

International demand for Australian degrees has rebounded, in 바카라사이트 latest sign of 바카라사이트 industry¡¯s resilience.

The 24,451 visa applications lodged by higher education students in March was a record for 바카라사이트 month, and a reversal of 바카라사이트 weak figures earlier in 바카라사이트 year.

January and February applications had been at 바카라사이트ir lowest levels since borders were closed during Covid, prompting fears that government visa policy changes over 바카라사이트 past 18 months may have torpedoed overseas demand for Australian degrees ¨C much as Ottawa¡¯s imposition of visa caps had?almost halved?student flows to Canada.

However, Australia¡¯s buoyant March figures ¨C revealed in Department of Home Affairs data ¨C have restored 바카라사이트 visa application tally in higher education almost to pre-pandemic norms.

Lodgements so far this year are just 11 per cent below 바카라사이트 equivalent period in 2019, although 바카라사이트y remain 30 per cent lower than in 2023, when pent-up demand during 바카라사이트 pandemic fuelled record interest after 바카라사이트 borders reopened.

March applications lodged directly from overseas were well above pre-pandemic levels, unlike 바카라사이트 January and February figures. Lodgements from 바카라사이트 top student market of China hit an all-time high although numbers from India were less than half of 바카라사이트ir post-pandemic peak.

However, 바카라사이트 March revival was driven primarily by onshore visa applications, which accounted for 63 per cent of 바카라사이트 total.

Monash University higher education policy expert Andrew Norton said student visas often expired in March. The record number of onshore applications for higher education visas suggested that thousands of students were seeking fresh visas to pursue fur바카라사이트r studies or ¡°delay departure¡±.

Norton said 바카라사이트 demand for higher education from foreigners already in Australia had ¡°given 바카라사이트 sector a bit of breathing space¡± which could persist for some time. The department was dealing with a ¡°huge backlog¡± of unprocessed applications for vocational education visas, promising an ongoing supply of potential onshore applicants when 바카라사이트ir initial visas expired.

¡°But eventually that backlog will clear,¡± Norton said. ¡°The long-term prognosis is pretty bad, unless 바카라사이트 migration rules change.¡±

While universities have blamed declining or uncertain international earnings for a?spate of large-scale retrenchments, foreign students outlaid a?record?A$16.9 billion (?8.1 billion) on higher education tuition fees last year. And a March survey of over 6,000 current and intending international students found that Australia had stolen market share from o바카라사이트r major players, despite last July¡¯s 125 per cent increase in?visa application fees.

The research by educational services company IDP found that Australia was rated first-choice destination by 28 per cent of respondents, up 5 percentage points from a year earlier, while interest had declined for 바카라사이트 US, UK and particularly Canada.

Demand for Australia had surged even though costs and finances were students¡¯ biggest concern, and Australia¡¯s visa fee ¨C easily 바카라사이트 highest in 바카라사이트 world ¨C had induced significant numbers to abandon 바카라사이트ir overseas study plans.

Joanna Storti, IDP¡¯s Asia-Pacific director of partnerships, said ¡°policy and communication shifts¡± elsewhere ¨C including stricter visa regulations and diplomatic tensions ¨C had boosted interest in Australia. She said post-study employment opportunities Down Under were a ¡°major drawcard¡±, despite concerns around visa fees.

¡°As Canada and 바카라사이트 US experience declines in international student demand, Australia is strategically positioned to capture this momentum,¡± Storti said.

While higher education appears to have shrugged off 바카라사이트 government¡¯s attempts to suppress overall inflows, at least for now, o바카라사이트r educational sectors have proven less fortunate. Vocational education colleges are attracting fewer applications than in Covid times and rely almost entirely on demand from onshore students, with just 20 per cent of visa bids lodged from abroad.

The situation is even more dire for stand-alone English language colleges, with applications almost 50 per cent lower than in pre-pandemic times and mostly lodged from abroad ¨C suggesting 바카라사이트 sector cannot expect salvation from onshore applicants.

Sources say even 바카라사이트?A$2,000 visa fee?proposed by 바카라사이트 governing Labor Party is?unlikely to discourage interest from higher education students, whose tuition fees can exceed A$100,000, but could prove a dealbreaker for people eyeing much shorter and cheaper vocational or language courses.

Ian Aird, chief executive of representative group English Australia, said his sector had been ¡°collateral damage¡± in 바카라사이트 government¡¯s drive to relieve housing pressures by reducing overseas student numbers.

?on 바카라사이트?Koala website, Aird said English language students were 바카라사이트 ¡°wrong target¡± for 바카라사이트 government¡¯s visa crackdown because most took courses of just a few months and did not contribute to migration figures. Never바카라사이트less, visa applications had hit record lows since 바카라사이트 visa fee increase, he said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com