University leaders warn they’re struggling to fill international student places due to visa uncertainty and heated political debate on immigration, with regional areas hit the hardest and concern that financial deficits could affect domestic students.
Ferguson attributed the fall to government policy, including hiking visa applications to $2,500, high refusal rates, and growing uncertainty from announcements by the Coalition and One Nation targeting international students.
Duncan Bentley, vice-chancellor of Federation University in regional Victoria, said he too supported those measures but that his university was also facing significant pressures with far fewer international students enrolling this year.
” Williams also said international students were being deterred by the heated political debate, “which would lead people to wonder whether they would be welcome in Australia”.
” Immigration debate and visa uncertainty is putting students off and increasing pressure on budgets University leaders warn they’re struggling to fill international student places due to visa uncertainty and heated political debate on immigration, with regional areas hit the hardest and concern that financial deficits could affect domestic students.