Australia's Game-Changing Visa Rules for International Students | Australia Immigration News
A university entrance exam for international students testing academic merit has been suggested as a simple and effective measure to ensure high-quality enrolments while limiting numbers.
This proposal comes amid concerns over the government's and the Coalition's plans to reduce the number of international students in Australia, which could have negative consequences for the broader economy.
A leading migration expert highlighted the need for a measured, long-term process where registered education providers compete for students with sufficient academic records. The expert proposed introducing a minimum university entrance score cut-off, similar to that for domestic students, determined by the government to prevent educational institutions from prioritizing tuition fee revenue over academic excellence.
Currently, international students must meet minimum English-language standards, pass a genuine student test, and prove they have $29,710 in the bank to apply for a student visa. The government has proposed capping the number of international students at each of the 1400 institutions nationally. The Coalition has suggested a hard cap but has not detailed the limit or enforcement methods.
The expert warned that these policy measures have wide-ranging consequences, criticizing the government's proposal as incompatible with a market economy and deeming the Coalition’s approach potentially chaotic. They also highlighted the importance of international students in funding Australian research and subsidizing domestic student tuition fees, thus reducing taxpayer burden.
Deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Melbourne, also opposed capping student numbers, describing it as an overreach in addressing a temporary problem. He cited Treasury secretary’s statement that the uptick in student visas had peaked and noted that student visas are already 34% below last year's levels.
Wesley pointed out that international students significantly contribute to economic growth and warned that reducing their numbers would place a financial burden on domestic education. He also questioned the feasibility of Education Minister Jason Clare’s plan to double the size of the domestic student population without detailed funding plans for infrastructure, staffing, and fee subsidies.
The migration expert called for setting and managing a target for net migration, noting the bipartisan support migration had enjoyed for 30 years. They expressed concern over the potential weaponization of students and migrants ahead of the next election, fearing it could lead to divisive rhetoric and unrest.
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