University Of Melbourne opposes Australian government's proposed international student caps

While the Australian government is implementing new policies to curb the migration of international students, the universities which get huge funding from international students' fees are not happy with the decision. The experts have predicted multiple job losses in Australian universities if such caps are imposed.

Australia has always been one of the top choices of Indian students for pursuing higher education from abroad, however, recently, the aspirants have faced many challenges due to increased visa rejection, stopping of visa hoping and other measures the government is taking to reduce the migration of international students. Consequently, Australian universities fear job losses and want the government to not impose caps on international student admissions.

The University of Melbourne has issued a statement and said that it strongly opposes the Australian Government’s proposed international student caps. The university said that it will wreak havoc on the sector by leading to significant budget cuts that will affect Australian students and result in job losses and will also harm Australia’s reputation with international students.

“International education is one of Australia’s great success stories, bringing numerous benefits to the nation and enriching our community. These caps are penalising the sector for a temporary, larger-than-expected increase in student numbers due primarily to the pandemic lag effect. Already the number of international students granted visas to come to Australia has decreased dramatically, with student visa grants down 34% in March compared to the same time in 2023," said Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global, Culture and Engagement) Professor Michael Wesley.

The university's submission to the Draft International Education and Skills Strategic Framework outlines the risks associated with the provisions in the Education for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 and the policy drivers. The submission has also offered recommendations.

Also read:

• Australia Releases Draft International Education and Skills Strategic Framework
• Australian Education Minister confirms plan to cap international student enrolments

Cap implementation should be deferred until 2026, says University Of Melbourne

“We are urging the Government to prioritise integrity measures in 2025 and use existing regulatory frameworks, focusing on bad actors within the higher education sector. We also recommend implementation of any caps be deferred until 2026, to allow feasible implementation and an orderly transition to reduce the risks of a shock to the sector and the economy. We are alarmed this is before Parliament and could be legislated without universities having been consulted," added Professor Wesley.

The university has said that such caps could also seriously harm Australia’s GDP, as spending by international students accounted for more than half of Australia’s economic growth in 2023, causing ripple effects across the economy. Also, it will result in reduced funding in the areas which are not funded by the government including teaching and research areas, which will ultimately lead to job losses.

Read more:

• Australian officials project loss of 250,000 jobs dependent on international students
• Australian govt announces end to 'visa hopping’ in migration system from July 1