In 2025, Australia will curb the number of international students entering the country, affecting its multibillion-dollar education sector. On Tuesday, Education Minister Jason Clare announced that universities, higher education institutions, and vocational training programmes will limit new overseas students to 270,000.
Australia confronts political pressure over immigration levels, prompting this policy change. “Some universities will have more students this year than next. Others will have less “Clare noted at a news conference that student intake may vary by institution. Implementation of the new cap requires legislative approval.
International students donated about AUD 42 billion to Australian universities and vocational schools in 2023. The fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, saw approximately 577,000 international student visas granted. The new cap attempts to stabilise student numbers to pre-pandemic levels, changing Australia’s overseas education strategy.
The 2025 plan allocates 145,000 international students to universities, 30,000 to other higher education providers, and 95,000 to vocational education and training. This new limit replaces the recent visa compliance policy that prioritised low-risk applicants, signalling a broader approach to international student intake.
Education stakeholders will debate the long-term effects of fewer overseas students on revenue and campus diversity.
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