Australia Doubles Fees For International Students; Indian Students To Impact Most
As per the recent development for the international student’s fee structure in Australia, the fee has been increased to double from AUD 710 ($473) to AUD 1,600 ($1,068) effective from July 1. This move by the Australian government came amid record-high migration levels that have impacted the housing market. Furthermore, the minimum saving rates for student visas have also shot up from AUD 24, 505 ($16,146) to AUD 29,710 ($19,576).
The fee hike is expected to impact Indian students notably who constitute the second-largest group of international students in Australia. In addition, temporary visa holders, including temporary graduates, visitors, and maritime crew visa holders will no longer be able to apply for a student visa while residing in Australia. The decision is expected to impact numerous Indian students studying in the country. The fee hike will make the application process expensive in comparison to the US and Canada.
As per the data released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, till September 30, 2023, the country saw a net overseas migration of 548,800 people. In 2022, a significant number of Indian students, totaling over 100, 00 were enrolled in Australian institutions and the number increased to 122, 000 in September 2023. The students visa saw a sugre of over 30 percent in the 2022-23 period
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The Minister of Home Affairs and Cyber Security of Australia, Clare O’Neil said that the change will help to restore the integrity of the international education system and create a fair small, and better migration system. Reportedly, the decision aimed to ensure that only genuine students receive the visas that may support the country’s economic growth.
