Australian student visas decreased by nearly 40%
The number of Australian student visas fell by 38% after a year when the country changed its immigration policy to squeeze immigrants.
Statistics from the Australian Government’s website show that the number of visas issued to international students from October 2023 to August this year is 298,000. Meanwhile, the same number last year was more than 477,000.
The vocational training (VET) sector was the hardest hit, with a 67% drop in student visas. Short-term English courses for foreign students (ELICOS) and higher education are reduced by 50% and 25% respectively.
Except for Bangladesh with a 3% increase in the number of student visas issued, other markets all fell sharply, especially the Philippines (down 67% over the same period), Colombia (down 62%), India and Nepal fell by 56% and 53% respectively.
For Vietnam, the number of visas issued decreased by 28% compared to last year.
| Country | Fluctuations in the number of visas issued over the same period |
| Bangladesh | +3% |
| China | -7% |
| Japan | -7% |
| Sri Lanka | -26% |
| Vietnam | -28% |
| Indonesia | -32% |
| Brazil | -46% |
| Nepal | -53% |
| India | -56% |
| Colombia | -62% |
| Philippines | -67% |
Higher education in Australia has experienced a volatile 12 months: visa processing costs have doubled, financial and English language requirements have increased, while the duration of post-graduation work permits and the age at which they can be applied for visas have decreased.
According to Keri Ramirez, CEO of Studymove, an organization specializing in providing international education data, the policy of tightening student visas is currently unfair. The reason is that applicants and schools don’t really know what its criteria are.
“The constant change makes it very difficult for students to understand the value of studying in Australia at this time,” Ramirez said.
Studymove forecasts that tuition fees for international students in Australia will increase by an average of 6.2% in 2025, the highest increase since 2018. Because of the ban on international student admissions, universities have had to change their strategies to achieve their financial goals, including diversifying services, increasing online learning, and training outside Australia…
In fact, the country’s top 10 schools have announced tuition fees at AUD 26,500-113,000 next year, AUD 2,000-3,000 higher than currently. In addition, international students need about AUD 20,000-39,000 (335-650 million VND) of living expenses per year, according to the Shiksha study abroad information site.
Australia is one of the most popular study abroad destinations in the world. As of July, the number of international students here was nearly 944,000, an increase of more than 14% year-on-year. Vietnam has more than 44,000 international students, ranking 5th.
To apply for an Australian student visa (500 visa), students need an invitation letter from the school, payment of health insurance, a declaration from a parent or guardian (if under 18 years of age), a letter explaining the purpose of study and the ability to stay or leave after studying, and other documents.
At the New South Wales Study Abroad Exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City in mid-September, Katherine Tranter, senior officer in charge of student visas at the Australian Department of Home Affairs, said that the number of visa applications from Vietnam last academic year was 24,400, an increase of more than 30% compared to the previous academic year. However, the approval rate fell from 91% to 76%, the lowest in 18 years. The common reason is “dishonest about the purpose of studying abroad”.