CANBERRA - Australian university leaders have raised concerns that tighter migration and visa settings could make the country harder to choose for international students and add to existing financial pressure on the sector.
The government announced on Sept. 17 that most international students and graduate visa holders will no longer be able to attach family members to their visas. Exceptions will remain for some students from Pacific and ASEAN countries and for certain courses, including PhDs.
Home Affairs says the broader migration package will be progressively rolled out over the next 12 months, while current Student visa guidance still allows eligible family members to be included or join later.
Universities Australia welcomed the government’s decision to hold overall migration settings relatively steady and supported exemptions for PhD students and other priority groups, but warned against sharper cuts and other barriers to international enrolment.
“Cutting migration too hard comes with consequences for our economy, our universities, our workforce and the services Australians rely on,” chief executive Luke Sheehy said in the group’s response to the changes.
Regional university leaders expressed stronger concerns. Regional Universities Network chair and University of New England vice-chancellor Chris Moran told ABC that regional economies would be particularly hard hit and said earlier tightening of visa allocations and approval rates had already created major funding gaps for Australian universities.
The Group of Eight, representing Australia’s research-intensive universities, welcomed the exemption allowing families of international PhD students to accompany them. Chief executive Vicki Thomson said Australia could not afford to deter high-quality PhD students, who contribute to the country’s research and skills pipeline.
The student measures will also tighten course changes after arrival. Students transferring between courses at the same institution or qualification level will have to apply for a new visa, while those who complete a course and continue studying will generally be permitted to move only up the qualification scale, according to Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke’s National Press Club address.
The student measures form part of a wider migration package covering visitor, working-holiday and compliance rules, following earlier consideration of tighter temporary-visa settings.
Australian Bureau of Statistics data released Sept. 17 put net overseas migration at 292,100 in the year to March 31, down 5.6% from the previous year. The government says net overseas migration is forecast at 245,000 in 2026-27 and 225,000 in 2027-28.
“If we genuinely want the world’s top scientists, engineers and clinicians to choose Australia, we have to stop signalling that they are unwelcome,” Thomson said in the Group of Eight’s response.