Source: Published 20 December 2023 3:50pm, By Natasha Kaul, SBS
The Australian government has consistently bolstered the international education sector through a series of modifications to student visas. Here is a list of significant visa changes announced this year that impacted international students, along with a preview of what lies ahead for the cohort next year.
The influx of international students to Australia has been on the rise, and the government has noted that the student program is currently garnering a significant number of applications.
“For the current Program Year (2023-24) till 30 November 2023, lodgements (total) remain strong, with almost 225,000 applications lodged since 1 July. This is a 16.4 per cent increase on the same period last year,” the Department of Home Affairs told SBS Hindi.
Concurrently, as international students make their return post-COVID-19 pandemic and border closures, the federal government has been intensifying its efforts to combat visa system exploitation.
In July this year, the federal government reinstated a maximum weekly work hour limit of 24 hours for international students, with the objective of deterring the abuse of student visas for employment purposes.
Subsequently, in August, the government closed the ‘concurrent certificate of enrolment’ loophole, preventing the practice of shifting international students between courses within the first six months of their arrivals.
The COVID-era visa,
, which allowed thousands of international students to work without restrictions, was also closed as of September this year for all new applicants.
The government also raised the required savings for international students applying for a student visa.
As of October this year, applicants for student visas must provide evidence of having $24,505 in savings.
The latest strategy comprises various initiatives focused on international education, with the government asserting that these measures will guarantee the contribution of foreign graduates in addressing skills shortages.
Starting next year, the English language criteria for international student and temporary graduate visas will be increased.
According to the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), candidates seeking a Graduate visa will now need a score of 6.5, up from the previous requirement of 6.0.
Similarly, applicants for a student visa must achieve a score of 6.0, compared to the previous requirement of 5.5.
The government also plans to introduce a new Genuine Student Test for all international students.
The government will also increase scrutiny of individuals seeking a second visa and onshore, so-called ‘visa hopping’ will be restricted.
The strategy noted that extending the duration of a graduate visa did not enhance career outcomes for graduates.
Consequently, the government has suggested modifying the duration and eligibility criteria for post-study work rights.
Under this change, the
Subclass 485 Temporary Graduate visa
will shorten post-study work rights for Master’s by coursework degrees from three to two years and for PhDs, from four to three years.
Apart from this, the maximum age for international students to qualify for a temporary graduate work visa will be lowered from 50 to 35 years old.
The work experience requirement for a Temporary Skills Shortage visa (and future Skills in Demand visa) will be changed to give Temporary Graduates visa holders more opportunities to move on to skilled visas.
