Australian universities face international student cuts under government proposals

The Australian Department of Education last week released figures outlining proposed enrolment caps for public universities as part of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Bill, currently under parliamentary review. These caps, known as indicative student profiles (ISPs), vary across institutions.

While 23 universities are set to increase their international student enrolments slightly in 2025, 15 institutions face cuts.

The largest reduction is expected at Federation University, which could see its intake halved from 2,306 students in 2023 to 1,100 in 2025. Murdoch University may also see a 34% cut, reducing its international student cohort from 5,272 to 3,500.

Australian National University and the University of New South Wales are projected to experience a 14% reduction in international student numbers to 3,400 and 9,500.

For the remaining institutions, the cuts are under 11%.

La Trobe University, the University of Queensland, the University of Southern Queensland, and the University of Technology Sydney may not face any reductions.

Among the 23 universities slated to increase their intake, Charles Sturt University stands out with a proposed 517% increase—from 162 students in 2023 to 1,000 in 2025. This figure still represents a 66% drop from pre-Covid-19 levels.

The government has not yet disclosed expected caps for private universities and vocational schools.

This move is part of Australia’s strategy to cap the total number of international students at 270,000 by 2025.

Education Minister Jason Clare announced last month that the government would impose a "national planning level" for all international student commencements in 2025, capping university enrolments at 145,000 and the skills training sector at 95,000, Reuters reported.

This decision follows a series of measures implemented since 2023 to phase out Covid-19-era concessions that allowed foreign students and workers to fill labor shortages during strict border controls.

"There are about 10% more international students in our universities today than before the pandemic, and about 50% more in our private vocational and training providers," Clare said in a press conference.

According to The Pie News, The ESOS Bill has sparked heated debate in parliament, with critics condemning it as a "reckless policy" that could "decimate the tertiary education sector" by failing to account for the financial impact of reduced international student fees.

Due to concerns that the proposed 270,000 cap on international student enrollments has not been thoroughly assessed, the Senate has scheduled a hearing on Oct. 2 to gather additional evidence from stakeholders, including the departments of Education and Treasury. Submissions to the inquiry will be accepted until Sept. 26, with a report on the Bill expected by Oct. 8.

Since late last year, Australia has introduced several policies tightening visa requirements for international students. In February, post-graduation work rights were reduced from six years to four. English proficiency requirements were also increased in March, with IELTS scores now requiring a minimum of 6.0, up from 5.5. The Genuine Student Test has also been strengthened to ensure visas are used for educational purposes, and second visa applications for extended stays will face closer scrutiny.

In May, financial proofing requirements were raised to AUD29,700 (approximately US$19,450), a 20% increase, while the cost of a visa application doubled to AUD1,600 starting this month.

Data from the Department of Education shows that as of May 2024, there were 810,960 international student enrolments in Australia, a 17% increase compared to the same period in 2019, before the pandemic. The majority of these students come from China (21%), India (16%), Nepal (8%), the Philippines (5%), and Vietnam (5%).