Australian universities have been seeing a consistent surge in applications from international students in 2024. However, this growth has been tempered by a sharp increase in visa refusals for non-genuine students, which has slowed the overall intake of students at Australian universities.
Between January and August 2023, the number of international students reached a significant milestone, totaling 725,582. The number of international students in Australia shows an impressive 31% increase from the previous year. Moreover, China emerged as the primary source, contributing approximately 154,467 students to Australia.
Despite claims of increased interest among students in enrolling in Australia, the pace of this growth has been relatively slow. Forecasts indicate that international student enrollment in Australia is expected to increase by 20% next year, following a significant 77% surge observed in 2023. However, the Department of Home Affairs has tightened regulations, scrutinising visa applications from countries known for sending non-genuine students to Australia, resulting in stricter oversight.
Notably, there has been a significant decline in student visa approvals from June to September. Even major contributors like India experienced a decrease in visa approvals, despite being a significant source of international students for Australia. The approval rate for student visas dropped from 73% to 42% during this period, with a total of 120,277 Indian students studying in Australia.
Similar declines were observed for Pakistani students, with visa approval rates dropping from 64% to 30%. Conversely, countries like China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore witnessed increased approval rates, surpassing 90%. Universities report substantial interest from the international student community to study in Australia in the upcoming intake, contrasting with the challenge of the high rate of visa refusals.
