Australia lifts foreign student cap to 295,000 and prioritises Southeast Asia
Photo:
123RF
Australia will raise its cap on foreign students by 9 percent to 295,000 next year and prioritise applicants from Southeast Asia, the government said on Monday.
Limits on places were announced last year as a way to rein in record migration that had contributed to a surge in housing prices, with 270,000 places made available for 2025.
An additional 25,000 places were being granted in 2026 as the policy was successfully bringing down "out of control" international student numbers, the government said.
"This is about making sure international education grows in a way that supports students, universities and the national interest," Education Minister Jason Clare said in a statement.
Australia granted nearly 600,000 student visas in the 2023 financial year, as international students returned to the country in record numbers following Covid-19.
Australia's largest cohorts of students come from China and India.
As well as introducing the cap on numbers, the government also more than doubled the visa fee for foreign students in 2024 and pledged to close loopholes in rules that allowed them to continuously extend their stay.
The government's measures to curb migration were "bearing fruit" and allowed for a modest increase in the cap in 2026, International Education Assistant Minister Julian Hill said.
"The numbers were growing out of control," Hill told national broadcaster ABC.
"The government has taken tough decisions over the last 12 months, not always loved by the sector, to get the numbers down and get them to a more sustainable footing."
Roughly two-thirds of places will be allocated to universities and one-third to the vocational skills training sector.
Larger, public universities would need to demonstrate domestic and international students had "access to safe and secure housing" and recruit more students from Southeast Asia to increase their individual allocations, the government said.
It was important "for Australia's future soft power that we continue to bring the best and brightest from our (Southeast Asian) neighbours to have a bit of Australia with them for the rest of their life", Hill said.
Relations with Southeast Asia have been a focus of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government as it looks to reduce Australia's economic dependence on China.
Universities Australia welcomed the "sensible" increase in places.
"Universities have called for growth in this critically important sector, and the government has honoured this," chief executive Luke Sheehy said.
Australia has one of the highest shares of international students globally. The sector contributed more than AU$51 billion (NZ$55.87b) to the economy in 2024, the country's top services export.
-
Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Australia lifts foreign student cap to 295,000 and prioritises Southeast Asia
Australia will raise its cap on foreign students by 9 percent to 295,000 next year. Photo: 123RF Australia will raise its cap on foreign students by 9 percent to 295,000 next year and prioritise applicants from Southeast Asia, the government said on Monday. Limits on places were announced last year as a way to rein in record migration that had contributed to a surge in housing prices, with 270,000 places made available for 2025. An additional 25,000 places were being granted in 2026 as the policy was successfully bringing down "out of control" international student numbers, the government said. "This is about making sure international education grows in a way that supports students, universities and the national interest," Education Minister Jason Clare said in a statement. Australia granted nearly 600,000 student visas in the 2023 financial year, as international students returned to the country in record numbers following Covid-19. Australia's largest cohorts of students come from China and India. As well as introducing the cap on numbers, the government also more than doubled the visa fee for foreign students in 2024 and pledged to close loopholes in rules that allowed them to continuously extend their stay. The government's measures to curb migration were "bearing fruit" and allowed for a modest increase in the cap in 2026, International Education Assistant Minister Julian Hill said. "The numbers were growing out of control," Hill told national broadcaster ABC. "The government has taken tough decisions over the last 12 months, not always loved by the sector, to get the numbers down and get them to a more sustainable footing." Roughly two-thirds of places will be allocated to universities and one-third to the vocational skills training sector. Larger, public universities would need to demonstrate domestic and international students had "access to safe and secure housing" and recruit more students from Southeast Asia to increase their individual allocations, the government said. It was important "for Australia's future soft power that we continue to bring the best and brightest from our (Southeast Asian) neighbours to have a bit of Australia with them for the rest of their life", Hill said. Relations with Southeast Asia have been a focus of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's Labor government as it looks to reduce Australia's economic dependence on China. Universities Australia welcomed the "sensible" increase in places. "Universities have called for growth in this critically important sector, and the government has honoured this," chief executive Luke Sheehy said. Australia has one of the highest shares of international students globally. The sector contributed more than AU$51 billion (NZ$55.87b) to the economy in 2024, the country's top services export. - Reuters
RNZ News
7 hours ago
- RNZ News
Chinese national charged in Australia under foreign interference laws
AFP Counter Terrorism and Special Investigations Assistant Commissioner Stephen Nutt at a press conference announcing that a Chinese national has been charged with foreign interference offence in Canberra. Photo: Australian Federal Police Australian police said on Monday they had charged a Chinese national with "reckless foreign interference", accusing the woman of spying on local Buddhists for Beijing. Assistant police commissioner Stephen Nutt said the unnamed woman had been covertly gathering information on the Guan Yin Citta Buddhist association in Australia's capital, Canberra. Nutt said she was working under the command of China's Public Security Bureau, the country's main domestic law enforcement body. "We allege the activity was to support the intelligence objectives of China's Public Security Bureau," said Nutt, from the special investigations division of the Australian Federal Police. "It is a crime carried out by, or on behalf of, a foreign principle involving covert or deceptive conduct." The woman - who cannot be named for legal reasons - is an Australian permanent resident. She was arrested and charged with "reckless foreign interference" after police raided a number of houses in Canberra over the weekend. "During the searches, a number of items, including electronic devices, were seized and will undergo forensic examination," police said in a statement. Reckless foreign interference carries a maximum of 15 years in prison. China's sprawling security apparatus has long been accused of infiltrating community organisations as a way to keep tabs on expats and dissidents. But it is rare that a major trading partner such as Australia so bluntly links Beijing to a covert influence plot. "At a time of permanent regional contest, offenders will attempt to spy on individuals, groups and institutions in Australia," said Nutt. Australian police have foiled a series of foreign interference plots in recent years, but these have typically targeted migrant communities. Nutt said this case was unusual in that it also appeared to be targeting Australian citizens. "This is the first time the AFP has charged a person with foreign interference that allegedly involves targeting members of the Australian community," he said. Police started investigating the woman in March 2025 after receiving a tipoff from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Australia's top counter-espionage agency. Australia's spy chief Mike Burgess last week warned of the mounting domestic security threat posed by foreign actors such as China. "Foreign interference of the kind alleged is an appalling assault on Australian values, freedoms and sovereignty," Burgess said on Monday. "Anyone who thinks it is acceptable to monitor, intimidate and potentially repatriate members of our diaspora communities should never underestimate our capabilities and resolve." - AFP
RNZ News
10 hours ago
- RNZ News
NCEA qualification to be scrapped
The government has announced they are planning to to ditch NCEA and phase in a completely new qualification. NCEA Level One will be abolished and instead students will sit a Foundation Skills test in numeracy and literacy. The New Zealand Certificate of Education and Advanced Certificate of education will replace NCEA levels Two and Three. Students will need to take a minimum of five subjects and pass at least four to get each certificate. Final results will show a mark out of 100 for each subject, along with a corresponding grade, A-E. Chair of the Minister's NCEA Professional Advisory Group and Rangitoto College Principal, Patrick Gale spoke to Lisa Owen. Tags: To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
