Australia to cap foreign enrollments at universities to ease housing pressure
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Australia is set to introduce new legislation aimed at limiting foreign enrollment at its universities.
This decision is intended to ensure sustainable growth and alleviate housing pressures in the country.
Under the new rule, the education minister will have the authority to set a quota on the maximum number of new international student enrollments that universities can offer. However, institutions that provide purpose-built student housing will be permitted to exceed these limits.
According to the official website of the Ministers' Media Center, the Australian government will introduce the new legislation within the week to "support the integrity and sustainability of the international education sector."
Australia has been consistently tightening regulations for international students amid rising immigration pressures on the housing market.
Recently, the country made it more challenging for international students to obtain visas.
The financial requirement for student visa applicants has been increased to 75% of the national minimum wage. In addition, in March, the government raised English language requirements for student visas and has been implementing policies to prevent students from extending their stay through various loopholes.
A new assessment called the Genuine Student Test was also introduced to ensure visas are used for studying purposes.