Australia has drastically hiked the fees for international students' visas for students to $1,600 from the current $710. This, Student representatives feel, will impact the ambitious target of Indian students migrating to Australia.
According to an ABC News report on Monday, student representatives have taken strong objections to the increase in the price push potential students to prefer countries other than Australia.
The international student visa application fee has been hiked from USD 710 to USD 1,600, effective July 1. The ministry said the increase would raise more revenue to support various educational initiatives including reducing graduate debt, providing financial aid for apprentices, and continuing to deliver on its migration strategy.
"International education is a very significant national asset, and we have to protect its integrity and its quality," said Minister for Education Jason Clare.
According to the Indian High Commission in Canberra, there are about 1,20,277 Indian students currently studying in Australian institutions by August 2023, forming the second-largest international student community in the country.
Speaking to the same effect, Yeganeh Soltanpour, the national president of the Council of International Students Australia, hit at the decision. Now, she said, the fees being high and linked with tremendous costs in deposits, the issue is an additional burden to international students.
"The possibility of spending all that money only to face rejection is quite disheartening for many students. It has caused many in the student community to explore other options and competitive countries," she said.
"This fee increase is the last straw," said Phil Honeywood, chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia, commenting to ABC.
"We really risk wiping off the face of the map a USD 48 billion a year industry," he said, adding that such a shift might also jeopardize relations with Indo-Pacific nations that have been using Australia for quality education. It has also been noted that those who are eager to pursue education may opt for the next biggest supplier of education - the United Kingdom - which currently levies USD 900 as student visa fees.
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