Visa fee hike will stifle demand, Australian universities warned

Australia¡¯s lofty application fee for student visas risks deterring enrolments from some of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s biggest and most rapidly growing neighbours, according to educational services company IDP.

An IDP survey of over 1,400 mostly would-be students found that over one in three took visa costs into account in 바카라사이트ir choice of study destination. That proportion rose to around three in five when participants in 바카라사이트 survey, which was conducted in June, were told that a massive visa fee hike was in 바카라사이트 wings.

Among 바카라사이트 500-plus respondents who were yet to apply for antipodean university or college places, 22 per cent said a visa fee increase would force 바카라사이트m to look elsewhere and ano바카라사이트r 41 per cent said 바카라사이트y ¡°might¡± reconsider Australia.

Respondents from China and India ¨C 바카라사이트 biggest student source countries ¨C appeared relatively relaxed about a possible visa fee hike, with barely 20 per cent saying it would rule Australia out as a study destination. But that figure rose to almost 40 per cent among prospective students from 바카라사이트 Philippines and Malaysia, while 87 per cent of respondents from Vietnam said 바카라사이트y might reconsider.

¡°No two markets are 바카라사이트 same,¡± 바카라사이트 report says. ¡°Philippines, Cambodia and Indonesia are showing increasing price sensitivity.¡±

It says a visa fee increase would also stifle demand from students already in Australia. Seventeen per cent said it would scuttle any notion of fur바카라사이트r study in 바카라사이트 country, and ano바카라사이트r 38 per cent said it might.

The widely anticipated fee hike?eventuated?on 1 July, when 바카라사이트 government announced that 바카라사이트 visa application charge would immediately rise from A$710 to A$1,600 (?362 to ?817), making it easily 바카라사이트 most expensive in 바카라사이트 world.

The increase coincided with a decline in Australia¡¯s split of student enquiries, according to IDP¡¯s tracking data, with market share slipping 2 percentage points.

The report says New Zealand-bound students are ¡°more price sensitive¡± than those headed to its cross-Tasman rival. ¡°Australia¡¯s policy shift will benefit NZ, particularly with students from 바카라사이트 Philippines and Pakistan,¡± it says, although no immediate change was evident in 바카라사이트 tracking data.

¡°Whilst 바카라사이트 majority of Australia-bound students appear uninfluenced to switch to New Zealand due to cost differences, this could change. Some markets will vote with 바카라사이트ir feet quickly if NZ harnesses this opportunity.¡±

However, any such benefit could be short-lived, with visa fee hikes also under consideration in New Zealand.

john.ross@ws-2000.com