New Policies Shifting International Students Away From Australia, Canada & UK

With the implementation of new international education policies by Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom—three of the most popular study-abroad destinations—the landscape of international education is undergoing substantial transformations.

IDP Survey 2024

2,500 students participated in a study by IDP Education titled “The Voice of the International Student” that was done in January across 67 nations. The results show that students’ choices have changed, with a greater interest being shown in studying in the United States, according to ICEF Monitor.

This month, Studyportals, a Dutch company that offers an online education opportunity platform, conducted research that indicated a significant decline in student interest in Canada for 2023, with a corresponding rise in attraction towards the U.S. and Italy. The site that focuses on international education and the student travel industry also cited this research.

Before 2024, interest in the Netherlands was once again high; however, this may be short-lived as Dutch universities want to reduce their intake of foreign students and English-taught courses.

According to the IDP survey, almost half of potential students are reconsidering or are unsure about their plans to study in the UK (49%), Australia (47%), or Canada (43%). For those who are put off by these nations’ laws, the U.S. appears to be a more appealing option.

“This latest pulse survey highlights that international students are highly attuned to the ongoing discussions regarding policy changes and that this is impacting the standing of the top global study destinations at a time when competition between destination countries is at an all-time high,” stated Simon Emmett, CEO of IDP Connect.

Further Details

According to him, the survey highlights the fact that students look for stability when making study abroad choices and that changing laws in the UK, Canada, and Australia are pushing them to think about other options.

These nations’ tightening of their laws governing international education is in line with larger initiatives to tighten immigration regulations. According to IDP, initiatives are also focused on improving quality assurance and combating unethical practices in the education industry in Canada and Australia.

Latest Policy Reforms 2024

Several new regulations about overseas students have been implemented by Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom in recent months as part of larger initiatives to monitor and regulate immigration to their respective nations.

While Canada and Australia are working to ensure that the education provided to international students is of high quality and are attempting to shut down dishonest schools and agents, the government of the United Kingdom announced that most international students will not be allowed to bring family members with them beginning in January 2024.

Studyportals’ Research

Studyportals’ analysis of pageview statistics from its website revealed a decrease in interest in Canada, especially British Columbia. The political tensions between Canada and India, which have an impact on visa processing timelines and perceptions of Canada’s stature as a study destination, are partially blamed for this development. On the other hand, the United States has enhanced its capacity to handle visas in India.

Studyportals data indicates that fewer students from significant nations, such as India, are interested in studying in Canada. In January 2024, the interest rate decreased by 39.7% from February 2023. It stated that delays in visa applications were partially caused by issues between Canada and India. However, India is also growing less fond of Canada for other reasons.

People in India no longer believe that studying in Canada is as good as studying in the U.K. or the U.S., according to experts speaking at the annual Canadian Bureau for International Education conference in Vancouver in late 2023. At the same time, the conference heard, the United States is creating more offices in India and processing visas for Indian students more quickly, making it easier for them to obtain visas.

5 New Rules in Australia: Student Visa Policy Overhaul

Australia has made several changes to its international student visa regulations to improve the standard of its educational program and guarantee the safety of the students. This action, which is anticipated to have a significant effect on the community of international students, demonstrates Australia’s dedication to preserving its position as a top location for higher learning.

The Department of Home Affairs and the Department of Education in Australia have announced the changes that have been made thus far. Here is a summary of those changes.

1. Increase in financial proof

The minimum savings required to acquire a student visa has been raised by the Australian government. International students have to show that they have savings of AUD$24,505 (US$15,943) as of October of last year, which is a 17% increase from the prior requirement.

2. Stricter assessment

The Australian government implemented the Genuine Student Test (GST) in November of last year as a requirement for international students applying for visas.

The goal of this new exam is to determine whether applicants plan to remain temporarily in Australia to pursue their studies. The Genuine Temporary Entrant criteria have been replaced by the GST. It seeks to identify and give preference to individuals who are most likely to study instead of working and supply the necessary skills to the Australian economy.

Individuals who are seeking lower credentials are the ones who are more likely to have their visa requests denied.

3. Higher English levels

For overseas undergraduate students, the minimum English proficiency score was raised from IELTS 5.5 to 6; for postgraduate students, it was raised from 6 to 6.5.

4. Institutions ranking

In December of last year, the Australian Department of Home Affairs stated that institutions will be ranked according to risk. Universities are divided into three groups based on information from students who have previously broken visa laws. Students from abroad who apply to Group 1 will be given preference.

The visa application procedure will take longer and need more documentation of financial capability and English language proficiency for persons in Groups 2 and 3. To preserve their reputation, several Australian universities have so far this year said that they will be withdrawing their applications or canceling their admission offers to overseas students by the most recent policy.

5, Cutting post-study extension

Australia will modify its post-study work rights policy for international students starting in the middle of this year, limiting the amount of time foreign graduates can remain in the nation for employment.

For undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. students enrolled in specific programs, the Australian government had already extended the post-study work visa terms, allowing them to stay for up to 4-6 years depending on their level of study.

As announced last month, the lengths will now return to the initial 2-3 years by the Australian Department of Education.