Int'l Student Numbers in Victoria 7% Lower Than in 2019: State Seeks Special Treatment Over Cap

The government of Victoria, Australia, has asked to be treated differently from other states regarding the capping of international student numbers. This request follows concerns over the negative effect of the pandemic on the state’s economy.

The state said that the federal government should ensure there will be no significant harm or disadvantage to institutions when the cap is implemented, given that Victoria’s international student numbers are down 7 percent from 2019, Erudera.com reports.

Australia recently introduced a series of measures for the international education sector, including a limit on the number of international students seeking to pursue degrees at Australian higher education institutions. The plan comes after a rapid increase in students, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Victorian authorities have joined the states of New South Wales (NSW) and South Australia in expressing disapproval of the plan proposed by the federal government, according to a report by The Sydney Morning Herald.

“Victoria wouldn’t be Victoria without its international students. International students help address the state’s workforce needs and contribute through entrepreneurship and start-up ventures, as well as critical research areas,” the Victorian state government said in its submission to a parliamentary inquiry on the federal government’s legislation to reduce net migration.

In his budget speech delivered on May 14, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said that universities that want to enroll more international students should be able to provide more student housing.

“We will limit how many international students can be enrolled by each university based on a formula, including how much housing they build,” Chalmers said.

Australia is the third most popular destination for international students among English-speaking countries. For the first time, the number of international students in the country reached 700,000 this February.

According to the Australian Department of Education, 975,229 international students studied in Australia last year. Of these, 437,485 were enrolled at universities.

In 2023, the most international students in Australia were from China (166,420) and India (126,487), accounting for 21 percent and 16 percent of the total, respectively.

Other markets were:

• Nepal - 62,379 students 
• Columbia - 39,724 students
• Philippines - 35,589 students
• Vietnam - 32,948 students
• Thailand - 25,887 students
• Brazil - 24,985 students