Gulf states suspend scholarships to Australian universities

Oil-rich Gulf states have suspended scholarships to Australian universities because students can’t come here.

Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states have suspended scholarships to Australian universities.

Australian universities stand to lose thousands of students from the oil-rich Gulf states after Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE recently suspended government and corporate scholarships to study in Australia because of border closures and dissatisfaction with online learning.

The situation has alarmed the Group of Eight universities, which enrol about 1500 students from the Gulf states, most studying with lucrative scholarships from their government or companies such as Saudi Aramco.

In another concerning move, university sources say the Saudi Arabian government has also withdrawn its recognition for Australian online degrees, even as thousands of Saudi Arabian students are currently studying online with Australian universities from their home country.

Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson said the issue was affecting students and she was working with the federal government in a bid to find a solution.

“There is no doubt that Covid-19 and the associated border closure has impacted the student pipeline from the region and, of course, there is added uncertainty for students with a change from the Saudi government as it relates to the recognition of online degrees,” she said.

“We are working with our government on these and other related issues because we know that there are clear opportunities in the Middle East for our education and, importantly our research.”

International Education Association of Australia chief Phil Honeywood said the situation made it more difficult for Australian education providers to reduce their reliance on China and India. He called on the federal government to give more certainty to international students as to when they would be able to ­return to Australia.

“We have the federal government telling us we have to diversify our markets … but every attempt we make is coming unstuck because of the lack of an ­indicative return date for inter­national students,” he said.

Last year, Australian universities enrolled nearly 6000 students from the Gulf states, 75 per cent of them from Saudi Arabia.

Most Gulf country students come to Australia on generous government or corporate scholarships and enrol mainly in health, medicine, science and ­engineering degrees to help fill skill shortages at home.

Last year, when the pandemic hit, the Saudi embassy in Canberra advised Saudi students in Australia to return home. Students who left were then stranded when Australia closed its borders, forcing them to remain in their home country and study online. Some are medical students who cannot continue to study remotely because they are required to do placements in hospitals.

Now state-owned oil company Saudi Aramco has crossed Australia off the list of destinations for its scholarship students.

Neighbouring country Oman has removed Australia and New Zealand from its scholarship destinations and advised current students studying online because they can’t return to Australia to transfer to universities in other countries.

“In view of the circumstances associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, which led to the closure of the borders in Australia and New Zealand, the ministry announces the exclusion of Australia and New Zealand from all types of undergraduate scholarships for the year 2021-22,” the Omani Higher Education Ministry said.

Australia’s main competitor countries in international education – the US, Britain and Canada – are allowing international students to enter for study.

Curtin University said the situation was “extremely difficult” for international students from the Gulf states.

“Curtin University is engaged in ongoing conversations with our partners and government departments in the Gulf countries, as we continue to support our students who are unable to return to campus due to border restrictions,” it said.