The study abroad dreams of many students are crushed due to rising accommodation costs in Australia. The sharp rise in accommodation costs is witnessed due to the housing shortage. As per the reports, housing costs have shot up by nearly 15% for shared rooms and dormitories in the last quarter. Moreover, Indian students make up the second-largest group of international students in Australia, with around 120,000 students.
Recent rules in Australia have made it mandatory for students to maintain a specific amount in their bank balance to maintain their standard of living. However, to curb the inflow of international students and assure quality, the Australian government has enforced stricter student visa regulations.
As far as the cost of accommodation is concerned, the prices of shared rooms or dorms in Australia have risen to AUD 329 per week over the past year. Moreover, student visa approval rates have dropped in Australia by 5%. The data reveals that students from India, Nepal, and Pakistan are among those who are most affected.
The net immigration in Australia was expected to reach 510,000 in 2022–23. However, as per the new announcement, the country is now aiming to lower the annual intake to 250,000 in line with pre-pandemic levels by mid-2025.
The Australian government wishes to end the practice of misusing student visas and solve the housing shortage. The experts are of the view that, though the international college market has seen a slight decline in recent years. However, there will be a surge in students studying abroad in the future as soon as foreign students begin to comply with the reforms made by each nation’s government.
