Australia Doubles Student Visa Fees, Impacting Indian Students

The Australian government’s decision to more than double the cost of student visa fees for international students, from $710 to $1,600, has sparked outrage among student representatives and potential students, especially those from India.

The move, which came into effect on July 1, is aimed at generating additional revenue to fund various educational initiatives, including cuts to graduate debt and financial support for apprentices. However, critics argue that the steep fee hike will deter international students from choosing Australia as their study destination.

According to the Indian High Commission in Canberra, there are approximately 1,20,277 Indian students enrolled in Australian universities as of August 2023, making them the second largest cohort of foreign students in the country. The fee increase, combined with high deposit costs, is expected to place significant financial strain on these students.

Yeganeh Soltanpour, the national president of the Council of International Students Australia, expressed disappointment over the decision, stating that it may lead many students to explore alternative study options in competitor countries. Phil Honeywood, CEO of the International Education Association of Australia, warned that the fee hike could jeopardize Australia’s $48 billion a year international education industry and damage relationships with neighboring countries in the Indo-Pacific region.

The announcement comes at a time when the international education sector in Australia is already facing challenges due to a slowdown in visa approvals. With the United Kingdom charging significantly lower student visa fees at $900, there are concerns that the fee increase in Australia could drive prospective students to choose the UK as their study destination instead.

Overall, the decision to raise student visa fees in Australia has raised concerns about the country’s competitiveness in the international education market and its ability to attract and retain foreign students in the future.