More Vietnamese nationals studying in Australia
As of April this year, over 37,000 Vietnamese students were studying in Australia, marking a significant increase of over 12,000 compared to the same period last year. This data includes Vietnamese students at various educational levels such as high school, college, university, vocational programs, and short-term English language programs, according to the Australian Department of Home Affairs.
Key Points:
Increase Across All Levels: The number of Vietnamese students in Australia has increased by up to 108% across all educational levels compared to the same period last year. This growth is particularly notable in English language programs.
University Students: Nearly 18,000 Vietnamese students are enrolled in Australian universities, reflecting a 31% increase.
Ranking: Vietnamese students constitute the fifth-largest group of international students in Australia.
Abul Rizvi, former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Immigration, highlighted that these figures were recorded before the Australian government implemented visa restriction measures aimed at managing the number of immigrants entering the country.
Recent Changes Affecting International Students in Australia:
Post-Graduation Stay Limit:
In February, the Australian government reduced the allowed stay duration for international students after graduation from six years to four years.
Tougher English Proficiency Requirements:
Starting in March, international students need an IELTS score of at least 6.0, an increase of 0.5 points from the previous requirement.
Genuine Student Test:
International students are required to undergo the Genuine Student Test to ensure that their visa is used for educational purposes.
Second visa applications for extended stays will be scrutinized more rigorously.
Increased Financial Proofing Requirement:
In May, Australia increased the financial proofing requirement for international students to AUD 29,700 ($19,450), a 20% increase from previous years.
Higher Visa Application Costs:
The cost for visa applications to study abroad has doubled to AUD 1,600 starting this month.
Admission Limits:
Starting next year, universities and vocational schools in Australia may impose limits on the number of international students they admit.
These changes reflect Australia's efforts to manage the number of immigrants and ensure that international students genuinely intend to pursue their education.
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