Australia student cap may hurt economy, says migration expert

CANBERRA – A proposed cap on student visas for Australia is a “blunt instrument” that could impact the country’s economy and research capabilities, said Ms Elizabeth Collett, global fellow at the Migration Policy Institute​. 

The government is seeking to restrict the number of international university students as part of

a plan to curb immigration levels.

In Australia, the latest data shows that one in 33 people is a student from overseas, with education the country’s fourth-largest export.

“Putting something in so quickly may have an outsized impact, certainly on those economies that are most deeply dependent on international students,” Ms Collett said in an interview on Bloomberg Television on Aug 20. 

Global immigration crackdown ensnares students abroad

Australia is seeking to address community concerns over high post-Covid-19 migration numbers which are aggravating a national housing shortage, as well as questions over the quality of service provided by some tertiary institutions. 

The country has already implemented a number of policies to tighten student immigration, including a 125 per cent increase in visa application fees and tougher English-language standards.

While those policies mainly targeted lower education providers, a cap could have a larger impact on top schools and their ability to invest in research, said Ms Collett.

The impact may be particularly acute for universities that plan their research objectives and budgets years in advance, she added. 

“There are some genuine concerns from the education providers that they haven’t had time to really think about what this means,” she said.

“You will see an impact on all levels of education providers should this come into effect.” BLOOMBERG