Overseas student numbers plummet

The fall in international student commencements accelerated in July as numbers from India plummeted with the crackdown on student visa fraud and tougher migration policies.

The falls are hitting vocational and English language courses heavily but these also feed students into universities, which are braced for the effects as well.

The figures, compiled by Australian Education International, have been revealed as the international education sector lobbies government for support and for adjustments to be made to the visa rulings.

Year-to-date new student commencements across the whole international sector were down 7.4 per cent at the end of July compared with a year ago.

The English college sector was worst hit, with a fall of 23 per cent, while the vocational sector dropped 8.6 per cent.

The drop is mainly in registrations from India, where much of the visa fraud had been concentrated. Year-to-date commencements from India have fallen by 20,000 students, or 40 per cent, to 30,500.

Melbourne University migration expert Lesleyanne Hawthorne said the vocational and English college sectors were experiencing a necessary reversal after fast growth as students and colleges took advantage of the previous study to migration pathway.

The old system awarded bonus points for permanent residency for a plethora of courses, including hairdressing and cookery.

However, the government's recent changes would keep students intent on migrating focused on doing quality courses and securing employee sponsorship, she said.

"We are having a shake-out that was inevitable. The steps that have been taken federally to say enrolment in an Australian course isn't an automatic entitlement to permanent residency was a necessary statement," Professor Hawthorne said.

(source: The Australian)
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/nation/overseas-student-numbers-plummet/story-e6frg6nf-1225913528166

Commencements in the higher education sector, however, were up 5.6 per cent.