From USD 710 to USD 1,600, Australia Increases Fees For Student Visas (image@Pixabay)
Australia has hiked the cost of student visa fees for international students, a move that will hit thousands of Indians planning to touch down to the country. The price rose from USD 710 to USD 1,600. The increased visa fees for Australia is applicable from July 1.
The federal government said that the additional revenue will help in funding initiatives in education, including cuts to the graduation debts, financial support and the ongoing implementation of its migration, said media report.
Student representatives voiced their outrage saying that the hike will drive the potential students as competitors. Minister of Education, Jason Clare in a statement said that the international education is an incredibly important national asset and should use its integrity and quality.
As per the Indian High Commission in Canberra, as of August 2023, the number of Indian students enrolled for studying in Australia is estimated to be near to 120,277. The figure shows Indian students to be the second largest cohort of the foreign students in Australia.
Yeganeh Soltanpour, the national president of the Council of International Students Australia, slammed the decision, noting the fee increase, combined with high deposit costs, places extra strain on international students, said report from ABC.
She said that the possibility of spending of all that money only to face rejection in disheartening, and has caused many student community to explore other options and competitive countries.
CEO of the International Education Association of Australia, Phil Honeywood, said that the announcement was the “last straw” for the international education sector, which has already suffered from slowing down in the visa approval.
Read also: Canada Announces Two-Year Cap On International Student Permits
He said the country is really in danger of losing USD 48 billion a year, and added that it will “heavily impact” relationships with the country’s Indo-Pacific neighbours who rely on Australia in delivering the world class qualification to their young generation. He also said that this would change the students to seek UK, Australia’s closest competitor, which currently charges USD 900 for the student visa.
Earlier, from May 10, 2024 onwards, Australia increased the funds required for the visas. Students are to show funs equivalent to 75 percent of the national minimum wage, which is around AUD 29,710. The move is to ensure that the students can afford basic living expenses in the country.
