Lana Oconnell
Australia has had some of the toughest border restrictions in the world since the Covid-19 pandemic began, and in 2021, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that the country's borders would remain closed to international students for the foreseeable future. This decision was expected to have a significant impact on the country's economy and the enrolments in its universities, with international students expressing their dismay at the delayed plans. While there have been some movements to allow international students to return on a state level, it seems that it will be a long wait before they can enter Australia in large numbers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of latest information on borders being closed | 12 September 2023 |
| Date borders were closed until | Mid-2022 |
| Number of international students impacted | 10,000+ |
| Number of international students in Australia in 2019 | 758,000+ |
| Number of international students impacted in 2020 | 210,000 |
| Percentage decrease in study visa applications | 80-90% |
| Projected percentage decrease in foreign enrolments | 50% |
| Number of international students India sent to Australia | 13,000 |
| Number of Indian students impacted | 100,000 |
| Number of international students China sent to Australia | 57% of total |
| Number of international students impacted in 2020-2021 | 140,000 |
| Number of international students needed to enter Australia every 6 months to stop further decline in enrolments | 70,000 |
| Number of international students enrolled while overseas between July and November 2020 | 17,000 |
| Number of international students enrolled while overseas between July and November 2019 | 115,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's border restrictions compared to other countries
Australia has had some of the toughest border restrictions in comparison to other top study-abroad destinations like the UK, US, and Canada. Since January 2021, international students have been unable to enter the country due to COVID-19 border restrictions. While there have been moves on a state level to allow international students to return, it is predicted that borders will remain closed to the majority of international students until at least the second half of 2022.
The Australian government's federal budget mentions the introduction of "small phased programs" to bring in some students from late 2021. However, most arrivals will be constrained by strict quarantine caps. In contrast, Australians are still travelling to the US despite Trump-era border crackdowns and tough new border controls. In May, there was an 8% increase in Australian visitors to the US compared to the previous year, while overall international visits to the US dropped by 3.4%.
Australia's border restrictions have had a significant impact on international enrolments in Australian universities, with a 5% decline in international enrolments and a 22% drop in international commencements in 2020. This is expected to affect general enrolments in 2021 as well. Similarly, thousands of Australian students have returned home from overseas institutions, with a significant decrease in the number of Australians studying abroad.
While Australia's strict border controls have been effective in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, they have also delayed the return of international students to the country. In comparison, other countries like the US have experienced a decline in international visits due to their border restrictions. Australia's border restrictions have had both positive and negative impacts, and it remains to be seen how other countries' approaches will evolve in response to the pandemic.
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The impact of closed borders on international enrolments
Australia's strict border restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic have had a significant impact on international enrolments in the country's education institutions. In 2020, international enrolments in Australian universities fell by 5%, and international commencements (students enrolling for the first time) dropped by 22%. The following year, in 2021, international enrolments were projected to fall further, with a predicted decline to 50% of 2019 levels if borders remained closed.
The decline in international student numbers has had a substantial economic impact on the country's education sector. The international education sector is projected to shrink by nearly 50% in value by the end of 2022, resulting in a loss of A$20.5 billion. This loss is not limited to universities, as a significant portion of the economic value comes from students' spending in the wider economy.
The border closures have also led to a shift in the global market share of international students. Australia has started to lose students to countries like Canada, which reopened its borders earlier. This loss of market share is expected to affect Australian enrolments for the next two to three years.
Furthermore, the rate at which new international students can enter Australia is crucial to the sector's recovery. Between March 2020 and March 2021, the number of international student visa holders decreased by about 140,000. To simply stop enrolments from falling further, approximately 70,000 new international students would need to enter Australia every six months. However, with limited weekly arrival caps and quarantine constraints, it is uncertain if this can be achieved.
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The Australian government's support for international students
Australia has had some of the toughest border restrictions in comparison to other top study-abroad destinations like the UK, US, and Canada. Since January 2021, most of the country's visa-holding international students have been unable to enter the country due to these Covid-19 border restrictions. It was predicted that borders would remain closed to the majority of international students until mid-2022.
Despite the delays, the Australian government has shown its support for international students through various initiatives. Firstly, the government has established the Tuition Protection Service (TPS), a government-run organization that protects international students in the event that their school closes down. The TPS helps students find a similar course at a different institution and facilitates their transfer. Secondly, the government offers scholarships and short courses through the Australia Awards, which are managed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. These awards provide opportunities for the next generation of global leaders to study, research, and develop professionally in Australia. The Research Training Program is another initiative that provides block grants to eligible universities to support domestic and international students pursuing higher degrees by research. International students can receive scholarships to offset tuition fees, stipends for living costs, and allowances for ancillary research costs.
In addition to these financial support measures, the Australian Government, state and territory governments, and education providers offer a range of international student support services. All international students in Australia can access assistance for their health, safety, and well-being, including mental health support and services for students with disabilities. The government also plans to grant international higher education graduates with eligible qualifications an extra two years of post-study work rights starting from July 1, 2023.
While Australia's borders have been closed to international students, the government has indicated a willingness to explore alternative solutions. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison suggested that he would be open to the idea of the education sector establishing private self-funded quarantine facilities for incoming students.
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Student visa validity and compliance during border closures
As of March 2021, Australia's borders remained closed to international students, with Prime Minister Scott Morrison stating that opening the borders would not be considered "safe or wise". This dashed the hopes of thousands of international students and temporary visa holders who were locked outside of the country.
Despite moves on a state level, it seems that it will be a long time before international students can return to Australia in significant numbers. The federal government has not made any decision to open the borders to international students, and the country has had some of the toughest border restrictions in comparison to other top study-abroad destinations like the UK, US, and Canada.
If you are an international student already in Australia, your student visa remains valid if your school closes. However, you must ensure that you remain compliant with the conditions of your visa, which include being enrolled in a registered course. Once you find a new course, you need to update your visa information via ImmiAccount to reflect the new provider and course details. You will have a limited time to enrol in a new course after your school closes, so it is important to act quickly and work with your education agent and the TPS (Tuition Protection Service) to ensure a smooth transition to a new course or institution.
If you are an international student who is currently outside of Australia, you may have to wait a while before you can enter the country. The Australian government has predicted that borders will remain closed to the majority of international students until the second half of 2022, although there may be small phased programmes to bring in some students from late 2021. The rate at which new international students can enter the country will be a critical factor in the recovery of the international education sector.
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The economic impact of closed borders on the education sector
Australia's international travel ban, which includes international students, has had a significant impact on the country's education sector. The ban, which was implemented in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in a decline in international student enrolments and is expected to have economic repercussions.
In 2019, over 758,000 visa-holding international students were studying in Australia. However, due to the border restrictions, there were about 210,000 fewer international students in the country in 2020. The Department of Home Affairs data revealed an 80-90% decrease in study visa applications for Australia during that year. The number of new international students enrolling while overseas also decreased significantly, with only about 17,000 new enrolments from July to November 2020 compared to 115,000 during the same period in 2019.
The impact of the closed borders on the education sector is expected to be substantial. The Mitchell Institute, an education think tank, projected that if borders remained closed to international students, foreign enrolment would drop to 50% of its current numbers in 2021. This would result in a significant economic loss for the sector. It is estimated that the international education sector could shrink by almost 50% to A$20.5 billion by the end of 2022 if borders remain largely closed. This loss is not just limited to universities but also affects the wider economy, as most of the economic value of the sector comes from students' spending outside of their academic institutions.
The Australian government has acknowledged the importance of international students to the country's economy. Prime Minister Scott Morrison expressed openness to the idea of the education sector establishing private self-funded quarantine facilities for incoming students. However, as of March 2021, the federal government had not made any decisions to open borders to international students, citing safety concerns. The government's budget mentioned the introduction of "small phased programs" to bring in some international students from late 2021, but the majority of arrivals would still be constrained by strict quarantine caps.
The delay in reopening borders to international students has caused dismay among those who are unable to return to Australia. More than 10,000 individuals signed a petition urging the government to grant exemptions to the capped entry policy. The prolonged closure of borders is likely to result in a continued decline in enrolments and further economic losses for the education sector in Australia.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Australia's borders have been closed for international students since January 2021 due to COVID-19 border restrictions.
Australia's federal budget initially stated that borders would remain closed to international students until mid-2022. However, the country introduced small phased programmes to bring in some students from late 2021.
Your student visa will remain valid, but you must ensure that you remain enrolled in a registered course to comply with visa conditions. You will have a limited time to enrol in a new course after your previous school closes. It is recommended that you notify your education agent as soon as possible and work with them and Australia's Tuition Protection Service (TPS) to transfer to a new course or institution.
