Australia has announced plans to limit its intake of international students to 270,000 in 2025, as the country grapples with record migration levels that have driven up rental prices nationwide. This cap will apply to both higher education and vocational education and training courses, Australia's Education Minister, Jason Clare, revealed.
The new policy is expected to affect Indian students, particularly those from Punjab, a region that sends a significant number of students abroad for higher education.
"In June 2022, Australia set the foreign student intake cap at 510,000, which was later reduced to 375,000 in 2023. Now, the intake has been further reduced. These limits apply to all international students and are distributed across universities, which then allocate quotas based on country and state," said Sunil Jaggi, a member of Australia's Migration Agents Registration Authority.
Jaggi added that students preparing for the February intake may now face disruptions due to this announcement, with those from Punjab expected to be disproportionately affected.
The decision has sparked concern among students in India. A student from Haryana, aspiring to pursue nursing in Australia, shared, "This decision could impact my future. My family is already taking loans, as the cost of studying in Australia is high," NDTV report Another student called for the Indian government to advocate on behalf of students.
This news comes after Australian Education Minister Jason Clare signed an agreement with India last year to expand in-country access to Australian higher education institutions for Indian students.
According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, approximately 122,000 Indian students are currently studying in Australia. The country ranks as the fourth most popular destination for Indian students, following Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
In a related move, Australia has also raised its non-refundable visa fee for foreign students, increasing the cost from AUD 710 to AUD 1,600. This is seen as part of broader efforts to manage migration levels.
Meanwhile, Canada has introduced its own restrictions on foreign workers. From September 26, businesses will be limited to filling 10% of their workforce with low-wage foreign workers, down from the previous 20%, as the country faces a rising unemployment rate, which has now reached 6.4%.
