Australia, once regarded as the top destination for higher education, is becoming increasingly difficult for students, especially those from the middle class, to obtain a student visa. Only students with extremely strong financial backgrounds are still able to secure a student visa to study there.
According to the latest statistics from the Australian government, the number of Nepali students applying for higher education in Australia has drastically decreased. Comparing data before and after COVID, there has been a significant drop in the number of successful visa applicants.
On one hand, frequent changes in immigration policies and the increased powers given to educational institutions to approve student visas have made it nearly impossible for average students to obtain a visa. This has resulted in a sharp decrease in the number of visa applications from Nepal in the current fiscal year compared to the previous one, as indicated by government statistics.
Recently, new rules imposed by the Australian government on international students have also affected Nepali students. The government has become stricter about verifying the documents required for student visas, and as a result, the number of applicants has fallen by more than 50% in the first four months of 2024.
The number of students successfully obtaining visas from Nepal has decreased dramatically since the previous fiscal year. In the 2022/2023 fiscal year, 47,300 students applied for visas, and 40,700 were successful. However, in the 2023/2024 fiscal year, only 19,000 out of approximately 42,000 applicants managed to secure a visa. Due to the high rejection rate, educational consultants have even started advising students not to apply for visas to Australia.
Australia has long been considered one of the best destinations for international students. It ranks third globally in terms of the number of international students, and many of its universities are regarded as among the best in the world. According to the Department of Education, there are currently 824,900 international students in Australia, with 63,972 Nepali students enrolled. After China and India, Nepal has the third-highest number of international students in Australia. In Sydney alone, there are 40,665 Nepali students.
Department of Education data shows that in the first four months of the 2023/2024 fiscal year, 8,200 students applied for a visa from Nepal, but this number has dropped to only 3,600 in the same period of the current fiscal year. Among those who applied for student visas, most have been successful. According to industry professionals, the reason for the slight reduction in the overall number of successful visa applications is that only financially strong students with proper documentation have been able to secure visas.
Sanjiv Pandey, a legal professional in Sydney who tracks immigration policies, explains that the Australian government has been modifying rules to ensure that only students intending to study are granted visas, which has had a direct impact on Nepali students. He adds that the government has announced its intent to reduce the number of international students, which further limits opportunities for Nepali applicants. Furthermore, local universities have been reluctant to issue the Confirmation of Enrolment (COE) required for visa applications, which has also contributed to the decrease in student numbers.
“Looking at the current situation, it is more difficult for students from Nepal to obtain a visa compared to those already studying in Australia,” said Pandey. “Even if current students face visa rejections, they have the right to appeal, so they don’t face immediate issues. However, starting from 2025, the modified rules could create even more challenges for prospective students, and some may have to return to Nepal.”
Pandey also highlights that the Australian government has been encouraging students to apply only to educational institutions at Assessment Level 1, which are considered the most prestigious and internationally recognized. These institutions have stringent document requirements for enrollment, which makes it challenging for Nepali students to meet the standards, further decreasing the number of applicants.
The Australian government has implemented the Simplified Student Visa Framework (SSVF) with the aim of promoting student visa applications for those who genuinely intend to study. Additionally, the government has categorized educational institutions into Level 1, 2, and 3 based on factors like visa rejection rates, the number of students overstaying, illegal status, and security visa applications.
Institutions at Level 1 are more likely to approve student visas, but it is very difficult to get accepted into these prestigious institutions. Some of these include Australian National University, Monash University, Deakin University, Macquarie University, University of Adelaide, RMIT, and the University of Sydney. Most Nepali students fail to meet the document requirements to apply to these institutions, further decreasing the number of applicants.
Furthermore, the government has reduced the number of hours international students are allowed to work while studying, lowering it to 48 hours per fortnight. They have also raised the required English proficiency scores for visa applications. Additionally, the amount of funds required to be shown for a student visa has been increased by 17%, now standing at 24,505 AUD.
Lastly, students who transition from Temporary Residency (TR) to a student visa will no longer be eligible to reapply for a student visa, and the government has been cracking down on students who shift from higher to lower-level education programs after arriving in Australia. These changes have had a direct impact on Nepali students looking to study in Australia.
