Australia has introduced five new rules in its student visa policy to improve the quality of education for international students and ensure their welfare.
This move, which is expected to have a profound impact on the global student community, underlines Australia’s commitment to maintaining its status as a leading destination for higher education.
Here’s a summary of the changes announced by Australia’s Department of Home Affairs and Department of Education.
1. Increase in Financial Proof.
The Australian government has announced an increase in the minimum savings required for obtaining a student visa.
As of October 2023, international students must show savings of AUD$ 24,505 (US$15,943), marking a 17% increase from the previous amount.
2. Stricter Assessment.
Prospective students are now required to pass a Genuine Student Test (GST), introduced by the Australian government last November as part of its visa application process for international students.
The new test is meant to determine if applicants truly plan to temporarily stay in Australia to study. It replaces the previous Genuine Temporary Entrant requirement and is intended to identify and prioritize those who are most likely to be focused on studying rather than working and bringing valuable skills to the Australian economy.
In essence, individuals pursuing lower levels of qualifications are more likely to be denied a visa.
3. Higher English Levels.
The English language requirement for undergraduate international students has been raised from IELTS 5.5 to 6, and for postgraduate programs, from 6 to 6.5.
4. Institutions Ranking.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs announced in December that they will be ranking universities based on their risk level.
The classification is based on the previous violations of visa regulations by students, and universities are grouped into three categories. International students applying to Group 1 universities will be given priority.
Those in Groups 2 and 3 will need to provide additional proof of English proficiency and financial capacity, which will extend the visa application process.
In response to this new policy, numerous Australian universities have either withdrawn admission offers for international students or asked applicants to retract their applications to safeguard their reputations.
5. Cutting Post-Study Extension.
Australia will adjust its post-study work rights policy for international students, reducing the duration international graduates can stay in the country for work purposes, starting from the middle of this year.
Previously, the Australian government had extended the post-study work visa durations for undergraduates, master’s, and PhD students in selected programs, allowing them to stay for up to 4-6 years, depending on their level of study.
According to the announcement made by Australia’s Department of Education last month, these timeframes will now revert to the original 2-3 years.
What are your thoughts about these five new rules? Kindly drop your comments on this.
