Hong Kong’s education consultancy firms have raised concerns that admission criteria for some of Australia’s leading universities may become more stringent if a proposed cap on the number of international students is implemented. The plan, which seeks to limit new enrolments in public universities, vocational education centres, and other educational institutions to 270,000 annually, has caused confusion among Hong Kong parents and students about its potential impact on university admissions.
The proposed cap is part of Australia’s efforts to manage a significant surge in migration, which has further strained the country’s already tight housing market. Additionally, the government aims to enhance the quality of education by controlling the number of international students. However, the plan must still pass through the Senate before it can be enacted.
Ava Ng Hoi-man, a senior education consultant at the Australian Education Association, indicated that admission standards at popular universities located in city centres could become more competitive under the new proposal. Ng specifically mentioned that institutions like the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne, which already maintain high admission standards, may raise their requirements even further if the cap is approved.
Ng highlighted that out of the approximately 100 Hong Kong students her firm assists each year, around 40% choose to study at centrally located universities in Australia, while the remaining 60% opt for regional institutions. The consultant noted that the potential changes could significantly influence the decision-making process for Hong Kong students and their families when selecting universities in Australia.
According to Australia’s Education Minister Jason Clare, the proposed cap would allocate 145,000 spots for public universities, 95,000 for the vocational education and training sector, and 30,000 for other universities and higher education providers. This distribution is intended to balance the educational landscape while addressing the concerns associated with the influx of international students.
Willy Kwong, the general manager of AAS Education Consultancy, estimated that the new measures would likely result in higher entrance requirements for students applying to postgraduate programs at institutions within the prestigious “Group of Eight” (Go8) university grouping in Australia. The Go8 includes the University of Melbourne, Australian National University, University of Sydney, University of Queensland, University of Western Australia, University of Adelaide, Monash University, and University of New South Wales.
Kwong noted that 51% of the students his consultancy assists each year choose Go8 institutions, while 41% opt for universities outside this elite group. He predicted that under the proposed quota system, these institutions might prioritize undergraduate applicants over postgraduate ones, as the former generally commit to longer periods of study.
Despite the anticipated changes, both Ng and Kwong believe that the overall impact on Hong Kong students aspiring to study in Australia would be limited. Kwong explained that relatively fewer Hong Kong students choose Australia as their study destination compared to other regions, and those who do often select from a broader range of universities within the country.
Kwong advised students to apply for their desired programs earlier to secure a spot before the new measures are implemented. He also recommended that students focus on universities with strong rankings in their chosen subjects rather than relying solely on the institution’s overall ranking.
The number of Hong Kong students pursuing higher education in Australia has seen a significant increase since 2021 when Australia introduced a bespoke pathway to permanent residency for those studying in the country. This initiative is part of broader migration schemes unveiled by Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada following the imposition of the national security law in Hong Kong in 2020.
Hong Kong and British National Overseas passport holders who graduate in Australia and reside there for three to four years with temporary graduate visas are eligible to apply for permanent residency. According to data released by Australia’s Department of Home Affairs for the 2022-23 academic year, 3,831 visas were granted to Hong Kong students pursuing higher education, a notable rise from the 3,000 visas issued the previous year.
