Australia has significantly increased the cost of student visas for international students from $710 to $1,600, a move expected to impact thousands of Indian students planning to study in the country. This decision has provoked strong reactions from student representatives, who argue that the hike will drive prospective students to other countries, ABC News reported on Monday.
Effective July 1, the fee for an international student visa rose to $1,600 from $710. The federal government stated that the additional revenue would support initiatives in education, including reducing graduate debt, providing financial support for apprentices, and implementing the country's migration strategy.
"International education is an incredibly important national asset, and we need to ensure its integrity and quality," Minister for Education Jason Clare said in a statement.
According to the Indian High Commission in Canberra, approximately 120,277 Indian students were enrolled in Australian institutions as of August 2023, making them the second-largest group of international students in the country.
Yeganeh Soltanpour, the national president of the Council of International Students Australia, criticized the decision. She highlighted that the fee increase, coupled with high deposit costs, places additional strain on international students.
"The possibility of spending all that money only to face rejection is quite disheartening for many students. It has caused many in the student community to explore other options and competitive countries," she said.
Phil Honeywood, CEO of the International Education Association of Australia, expressed concern, describing the announcement as the "last straw" for the international education sector, which has already experienced a slowdown in visa approvals.
"We are really in danger of losing a USD 48 billion a year industry," Honeywood said. He added that the fee hike would "heavily impact" relationships with Australia's Indo-Pacific neighbours who rely on the country to deliver world-class qualifications to their young people. Honeywood warned that this change could push prospective students to the United Kingdom, Australia's closest competitor, which currently charges $900 for student visa fees.
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