International students are getting cold feet about studying in Australia.
International students are turning their backs on Australia in favour of countries like the US who are now scrambling to take advantage of the sudden interest in their education system.
Recent changes to immigration policy in Australia have hit overseas students hard, whilst the community were still reeling over the much-publicised attacks on Indian students. Back then the government promised to do all it could to support students who, they said, were a valuable asset to the economy.
However recent events may have given students cause to question the government’s commitment to them. Yesterday20 students met with the Australian immigration department to try to persuade the DIAC not to cancel their visas. This was after 70 international students studying in Adelaide Pacific International College were told their Australian student visas may be withdrawn due to the college having its federal registration suspended after breaking strict attendance rules.
This is part of a major clampdown on colleges who cater specifically for international students after the government found out that many overseas students were being exploited by colleges who charged extortionate fees or who lured students to Australia with the promise of permanent living in Australia.
But you would be forgiven for thinking that it was the student who was in the firing line. Students who now wish to apply to study in Australia have found that they need around $54,000 in order to apply for a three-year degree and this is not including additional fees and cash up-front.
To make matters worse the DIAC cancelled the MODL and announced that the CSL would be replaced with a much smaller list, the Skilled Occupations List, which meant that many students who had chosen a course on the CSL now faced an uncertain future in Australia. As the DIAC have made many such decisions, such as the proposal of a Bill to give the DIAC new visa capping and ceasing powers and the postponement of many general skilled visa applications until July, many students are wary of what will happen in the future.
Statistics are already showing a 40% decrease in student visa applications whilst countries like America are seeing a steady increase. If the Australian government is not careful, a significant chunk of the economy will take their business elsewhere if Australia fails to provide for its international students.
Which would be a huge shame as Australia is really one of the best places to study and offers an education system that is rapidly gaining in worldwide admiration. If you are thinking of studying in Australia you will need to look at our Australian visa guide and watch out for our forthcoming feature on studying in Australia.
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6 Responses to “International Students Shun Australia”
Comment by Tony — June 10, 2010 @ 1:32 am
Dear fellow international students,
The actions of the labour government throughout the past year and a half can only provide you with a clear message. “WE DON”T WANT YOU! WE JUST WANT YOUR MONEY”. They are simply not interested in what we can do as educated individuals in their society. They are only interested in what we can spend on. At the end of the day, we all know it, we are their cash cows.
Dignified international students would never choose Australia for their studies or their future employment, as we are not appreciated by anyone but the Education Sector in this country (i don’t think that there is a need for an explanation as to why they love us. I love my daddy too, this is where I get most of my income!)
To your shock, countries like France make international students pay the the same amount of tuition fees the local students pay (which is around 400 euros per year.. YES THAT LOW … just Google it….). They also provide them with rent assistance available to local and international students equally. Why do you think they do this??? Well, the message is very clear too: “We are interested in your capabilities not your money”.
My advice to international students is to carefully consider your options with all countries available. You really want to be in a country that values your intellectual ability and not your ability to milk your hardly-earned parents’ money.
And for those international students graduating with me in four weeks (those who have already been milked), we can only pray to as many gods as we could (ask your friends if you get lost). This is the only solution available as NO ONE CARES, not even the Education Sector whose interest in us will fade when the get reassured by the government through increased grants.
Deceitful governments are the last thing you want to deal with. Do you know why? Cause they are a government and you are a LEGAL NON-CITIZEN that can now become ILLEGAL when sent a 28 day notice to leave the country. DIAC could easily send you this notice whenever they feel like it.
Thanks,
Tony
Comment by Mel — June 13, 2010 @ 3:18 am
Well said Tony !!!!! I too have graduated this week in fact. I am in total confusion of what to do next. Do I stay to fight it out to the bitter end, investing more time and money? Or do I cut my losses and return to my home country?
Who can live in a constant state of confusion and anxiety? Graduating students should be given a “fair go” and allowed sufficient time to apply for GSM under the old rules which applied at the start of their course.
Comment by Julian — June 19, 2010 @ 4:54 pm
During the last 4 years, I’ve been doing a PhD and I’m well-respected scientist in my area. Under the new immigration law, to get a permanent visa I need to show VETASSESS (a private organisation that gives assessment for over 100 swill qualifications) that 2 years work experience (>20 hours a week) in th last 5 years. That’s ridiculous, as I’ve been doing my PhD during this time. That said, I’ve been doing research for 50 hours a week and I’ve published research papers in many top international journals. In my area, I’m internationally regarded as one of the world specialist in my area. Still, VETASSESS and DIAC say this is not enough to proof that I’m competent in my area. My parents have given me over 200,000 AUD to live in Australia and help develop my skills. Tony is right., Australia wants my money but they don’t want highly educated scientists. In other countries in the world, brain drain is a major concern; not in Australia. Well, the good thing for me is that Canadian authorities can give me a permanent residence based on my scientific skills, so I’ll there to settle down and apply my knowledge. I would have liked to use my knowledge to the benefit of the Australian economy but I think that the authorities in charge have little appreciation for scientists and highly-educated people.
Comment by Tony — June 21, 2010 @ 2:36 pm
I just want to thank Mel & Julian for sharing their experiences. I also demand that our plight comes to an end very soon when hopefully we witness the fall of the labour government and demise of Chris Evans with it.
Comment by local boy — June 23, 2010 @ 12:45 pm
Aussies does not want skill people anymore, but white english speaking peoples . oneday aussie will like another Greece .lol !
tc
Comment by dhaval — July 11, 2010 @ 9:37 pm
HI! there! i just want to say, Julia gillard and Chris Evans, You guys treat students as comodity (demand and supply rules) this is racism against humanity.