Chinese students are reconsidering pursuing degrees in Australia due to Canberra’s proposed plan to limit visa numbers, according to Angela Lehmann, chair of the Foundation for Australian Studies in China. This reconsideration is fueled by rising visa rejection rates, which are causing alarm among prospective Chinese students despite the high approval rates for university applicants.
Dr. Lehmann highlighted that discussions about the proposed visa cap have permeated social media among students planning to study in Australia. She noted that individuals who have been offered places at Australian universities for the upcoming year are now “reassessing their options” due to fears of potential visa denials or being pressured to withdraw their enrollments.
There is also a growing awareness among these students that Australian universities have previously rescinded offers to overseas students. Although this primarily affected students from the Indian subcontinent, the broader implications are not lost on Chinese students, who worry about similar outcomes for themselves. “They don’t understand the nitty-gritty of what’s happening in Australia. All they can see is that this has happened before. They’re now really worried that they will not get in,” Dr. Lehmann stated.
The high rejection rates for visas are another unsettling factor for students. While 97 percent of visa applications from university students in China are approved, the success rates for other categories—such as school, English language, and vocational education applicants—are much lower, at 83 percent, 56 percent, and 36 percent, respectively. This disparity contributes to a general perception among Chinese students that they are not welcome in Australia.
This perception has significant implications for Australian universities, particularly those that rely heavily on international enrollments. According to the New South Wales Audit Office’s latest report on university finances, Chinese students constituted 51 percent of international enrollments across the state’s ten universities, with even higher percentages at the largest institutions. The University of Sydney, for instance, derived 40 percent of its revenue from Chinese students in 2022, while Chinese students contributed 25 percent of the income for UNSW Sydney.
Dr. Lehmann pointed out that Australia’s visa policies are sometimes viewed as “anti-China policy” in certain circles. Furthermore, students, who have long been frustrated by being valued primarily for their economic contribution, now feel doubly aggrieved as their financial impact is seemingly being undermined. “They hate being considered cash cows… but they’re also aware that they do bring an economic value to Australia, and the country would suffer without them,” she explained.
Social media posts on platforms like Xiahongshu, China’s equivalent of Instagram, have speculated on how Australia would continue to fund its universities and social services without the influx of money from foreign students. Dr. Lehmann noted that the political perception of overseas students as an “easy target” because they do not vote is misplaced. She emphasized that foreign students have close ties with diaspora communities in Australia and often engage with the same social media channels. “Chinese Australians are an important voting population,” she remarked.
“While [students] are not voters now, they are connected very closely to voting communities and one day they may well be voters, so we shouldn’t disregard them as not connected to our democratic process.”
The impact of these policies on the international education sector is already being felt. On June 6, shares in the international education services firm IDP Education fell to their lowest level since the first year of the coronavirus pandemic. In a market update to the Australian Securities Exchange, the company cited the “more restrictive policy environment” as a key factor. “IDP expects that the size of the international education market will decline by 20-25 percent over the next 12 months,” the update stated.
In conclusion, the uncertainties surrounding Australian visa policies are prompting Chinese students to reconsider their educational plans, which could have severe consequences for Australian universities reliant on international enrollments. The broader perception of these policies as unfriendly towards Chinese students exacerbates the issue, highlighting the need for a more nuanced approach to international education and immigration policy.
