Australia has significantly increased the cost of student visas for international students, doubling the fee from US$710 to US$1,600. This move has sparked outrage among student representatives who fear it will deter potential students and drive them to competing countries.
The fee increase, which came into effect on July 1st, has been met with strong criticism. Student representatives argue that the hike, coupled with high deposit costs, places an undue burden on international students and could lead them to seek education opportunities elsewhere. Yeganeh Soltanpour, the national president of the Council of International Students Australia, expressed concern, stating that the financial pressure combined with the risk of rejection is discouraging for many students.
The Australian government maintains that the additional revenue generated from the fee hike will be used to fund initiatives in education, including graduate debt reduction, financial support for apprentices, and the implementation of its migration strategy. However, critics argue that the price increase could have detrimental consequences for Australia’s education sector.
According to the Indian High Commission in Canberra, India is the second largest source of international students in Australia, with an estimated 120,277 Indian students enrolled as of August 2023. This significant Indian student population is likely to be particularly impacted by the fee hike.
Phil Honeywood, CEO of the International Education Association of Australia, voiced concerns about the potential long-term impact on the country’s education industry. He warned that the fee increase could be the final blow for the sector, which has already been experiencing a slowdown in visa approvals. Honeywood expressed worries about losing the US$48 billion annual contribution made by international education to the Australian economy, emphasizing the potential damage to relationships with Indo-Pacific neighbors who rely on Australia for quality education.
The UK, Australia’s closest competitor in the international education market, currently charges USD 900 for student visa fees. The significant difference in fees could incentivize prospective students to choose the UK over Australia, further impacting the future of Australia’s education sector.
