What is the cap?
On Tuesday the 27th of August, Jason Clare, the federal Minister for Education, announced that Australia will be capping the number of international students allowed at its institutions. This cap is proposed to take place at the beginning of 2025, allowing only 270,000 students to be enrolled at Australian universities and vocational training providers.
This is a significant reduction, with the Department of Education recording 717, 587 international students in 2024. Some students will be exempt from the cut, such as those studying post-graduate degrees, and those coming from Timor-Leste and the Pacific. Currently, this legislation is awaiting approval from the Senate.
Why?
The reason for this cap is the government’s desire to reduce overall migration to pre-Covid-19 pandemic numbers. In December 2023, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a plan to reduce immigration, in response to the significant influx that occurred once Australian borders re-opened following the pandemic. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that in 2022-2023, migrant arrivals rose from 427,000 to 737,000, equating to an increase of 73%.
During the pandemic, numbers decreased by 71% due to the closure of borders, but migrant arrivals have now surpassed those recorded pre-pandemic. International students make up the largest part of this migrant population.
Peter Dutton, leader of the opposition, attributes the housing crisis partly to this increase in migrant arrivals. By putting a limit on the number of international students, the proposed cap could aid this crisis.
What has the initial response been?
The announcement has sparked outrage. University executives, politicians, and students have voiced their disproval, for multiple reasons. At least 11 higher education institutions within Australia have offered places to international students to begin in the 2025 academic year. These offers are now uncertain due to the proposed cap and institutions may have to revoke offers.
Universities Australia states that up to 14,000 workers employed at Australian Universities could lose their jobs as a result. The new cap may further affect international students already studying in Australia if they were to transfer to another degree at a different university.
How will this affect UNSW?
As a nation, Australia is one of the biggest hosts of international students in the world. Being one of the Group of Eight universities, UNSW will be impacted by this new policy. UNSW has over 20,000 enrolled international students from over 135 countries, making up a diverse student population. The proposed cap will significancy reduce the diversity of UNSW if it is imposed.