International Admissions in Australia Dropped by 30% Between January to April of 2024

Australia recently increased the living expense requirement from AU$ 24,505 to AU$ 29,710 and the Student Visa Application Fee from AU$ 710 to AU$ 1600. The impact of these new regulations is already being felt in the percentage drop of international students between January and April of 2024. There is a drop of almost 30% when compared to the same period last year. The higher levels of funds required, constant efforts to constrain the migration of international students, and constant policy alterations might have had a part to play in this sudden decline of student numbers. Close to 74000 students were admitted this year, while approximately 104,000 students were admitted last year in the same period.

With shrinks in visa grants of 69% and 56% respectively for the Vocational Education & Training (VET) and Language Training (ELICOS) industry sectors have been particularly hard hit this year. For both sectors, that represents the minimal visa grant levels in a decade or more, excluding the pandemic period. Nearly two-thirds (61%) of the overall drop in visa issuances during this year's January–April period was attributable to the two industry sectors combined.

The most recent Department of Home Affairs analysis also reflects these stricter requirements, showing that overall approval rates decreased to 77.4% for offshore applicants for the January–April 2024 period from 80.5% the previous year. In the first few months when those revised settings were taking effect, this is a partial but significant indication of tightening visa requirements. The general approval rate for abroad applicants has never slipped below 80%, except the opening quarter of this year. The approval rate was slightly less than 90% on average over the 18 years before this year.

High Visa Application Fee, Greater Fund requirements, Greater Language Proficiency requirements and a further Genuine Student Test have made it tough for students to choose Australia as their study destination and hence the reduced numbers are there on record.

The Vocational Education Training Institutions have seen their acceptance rate of Visas drop to 37.8%, which was close to 90% on average in the past 10 years. This is historic downfall for them and really a big question for their existence.

A lot of notable educational commentators are worried about the brand of Australia as an educational destination, which it has built over so many years, and fear it going to waste with these policies in place. The sector contributed AU$ 48 billion to the economy last year, accounting for over half of Australia’s economic growth and supporting the vital work the universities do on behalf of all Australians. Stability and growth in the sector are essential for Australia’s prosperity in the larger scheme of things, and to ensure universities can meet the nation’s skills needs and continue helping the Government to deliver national priorities.

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