The Australian government is planning to cap the number of international students accepted at
universities and vocational institutions starting in 2025.
Education Minister Jason Clare said that the total number of international students will be capped at
270,000.
This cap includes a quota of 145,000 new students at publicly funded universities and around 95,000 at
vocational institutions.
International Education Economic Impact and Upcoming Student Caps
The Department of Education reported that International education contributed $47.8 billion to the
Australian economy in 2023.
It’s one of Australia’s five highest-earning exports, along with coal, iron ore, gold, and natural gas.
The government plans to determine individual caps for each educational institution starting in 2025.
Education Minister Jason Clare said these caps will be selected based on different factors, including
recent changes in international student arrivals.
Education Minister Jason Clare stated that the cap on international student numbers will ensure that the
overall level of new international students commencing studies at Australian universities in 2025
remains similar to this year’s figures. However, the cap will affect the number of international students
at individual institutions.
Clare also informed us that the cap would mean the level of international students starting to study at
universities in Australia in 2025 will be around the same as this year. But it will impact international
student levels at individual institutions.
Impact of Student Cap on Major and Regional Universities
Major universities in Australia will see a reduction in new international student numbers in this cap on
international students. At the same time, regional institutions will be able to accept more. He
emphasized, “This is about setting up the system in a better and fairer way so it’s not only a lucky few
universities that benefit but the whole sector’.
Some students, such as international school students, government-sponsored students, research and
PhD candidates, and Pacific and Timor Leste students, will not be included in the reform.
The cap comes in reaction to pressure on the federal government to manage concerns in the education
sector. There has been a significant increase in international student arrivals since lifting COVID-19
border restrictions.
Rise in International Students and NTEU Concerns Over Job Security
There are about 10 percent more international students in our universities today than before the
pandemic and about 50 percent more in our private vocational and training providers , Clare informed.
“Students are back, but so are the shocks — people are seeking to exploit this industry to make a quick
buck.
Following the information, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) wanted the federal
government to ensure that the cap would not result in job losses across the sector.
The federal government must ensure university bosses don’t use these changes as an excuse to cut jobs
from an already stretched workforce,” said Dr Alison Barnes, NTEU National President.
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