International student numbers fall amid looming sector caps

The number of international students granted visas to come to Australia has plummeted, with overseas enrolments in universities down 28 per cent this year.

The number of international student visas approved for the higher education sector in April was 11,908 compared to 15,498 last year. Picture: Jane Dempster

The number of international students granted visas to come to Australia has plummeted amid an Albanese government push to curb net migration, with overseas enrolments in universities down 28 per cent from a year ago.

The higher education sector accounted for 74,934 international student visas from the start of this year until April, the latest figures from the Department of Home Affairs reveal, marking a sharp decline from the same ­period last year when 103,747 visas were issued.

The vocational education and training sector has borne the brunt of Labor’s crackdown on international students, with 11,614 visas being issued between January and April compared to 40,750 last year, a fall of 71 per cent.

The number of international student visas approved for the higher education sector in April was 11,908 compared to 15,498 last year, the first insight into the impact of a string of new measures including tougher English language requirements and a new genuine student test.

Education Minister Jason Clare introduced legislation in May to implement caps on international student enrolments across the sector from January 1, with the Coalition backing measures to limit overseas students.

Group of Eight chief executive Vicki Thomson said she supported the government’s commitment to “managed growth underpinned by integrity and quality”, but warned that a “one-size-fits-all approach will lead to unintended consequences”.

“We are already starting to see a softening in visa applications across Australia and while it’s early days, we need to consider the possibility it is connected to the current Australian narrative on migration,” she said.

“Go8 universities are still experiencing strong demand from quality students but there is always a risk these students will seek alternatives unless we get the balance right.”

Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy said in a speech on Wednesday that the $48bn a year international education industry kept the Australian economy afloat last year but was now being treated as a “political plaything” with both major parties “on a unity ticket with the shared aim of shutting the door to international students”.

Mr Sheehy accused Labor and the Coalition of seeking to “neutralise an electoral battle” at the upcoming election and being on a political mission of “openly targeting international students in their bid to slash migration”.

“The government has committed to growth in this crucial sector, and we’ll be holding them to account on that commitment,” he told The Australian.

“Without the benefit of international education, our biggest services export, the country would have risked falling into recession last year.”

Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia chief executive Troy Williams said VET sector visa approvals had dived with 3912 visas being issued in April, down from 12,544 in that month last year.

“The downturn in overseas skills training enrolment comes as no surprise, and is seen by many ITECA members as an attack by federal government on independent providers,” he said.

“What ITECA is now calling for is a considered Australian government strategy to ensure the sustainability of high quality providers in the sector.”

The proportion of visa rejections has also soared, with a 83 per cent of applications being approved in the higher education sector, falling to 64 per cent in the VET sector this financial year.

The number of visa approvals for Chinese students remains strong in the higher education sector, with 63,655 approved since July, compared to 79,902 in 2022-23.

Indian enrolments in universities have declined, with 30,766 visas being granted this financial year compared to 62,037 in 2022-23.