Australia Limits International Student Numbers for 2024
Stricter Visa Policies and Enrollment Caps Impact Indian Students

Every year, over 100,000 students from India travel to Australia for higher education. However, starting this year, Australia aims to reduce the number of international students entering the country. As of January 1, the country has implemented controls on international student numbers, along with stricter visa rules and updated eligibility criteria.
Australia will now allow only 270,000 international students per year, a significant drop from the 717,000 enrollments last year. This cap applies to public, private, and vocational education institutions, with a notable reduction in vocational institutes, where international student numbers have surged by 50% in recent years.
According to government statistics, 122,000 Indian students traveled to Australia last year, up from 114,000 in 2020. While the numbers dipped below 100,000 during 2021 and 2022 due to COVID-19, they surged to over 124,000 in 2023.
Experts attribute the decline in Indian students in some years to factors like expensive visa fees, tuition costs, high living expenses, and competition from other countries like Japan, France, Germany, Ireland, and South Korea, which offer more affordable study options.
Navigating New Challenges
Education consultant Vinayak Chaudhary advises students to apply to multiple institutions, as admissions typically occur in February and July. Australia offers over 40 institutions, but students should review course ratings and new visa policies to streamline their process.
Counselors can also help students explore scholarships, such as the Australian Government Research Training Program, Australia Awards Scholarships, and Destination Australia Scholarships. Additionally, students can look into loan schemes and prepare for standardized tests like IELTS, TOEFL, and GRE. Given high living costs, students are encouraged to consider part-time work opportunities. Graduates with honors degrees can stay in Australia for up to two years post-study, master’s graduates for three years, and PhD graduates for four years.
Cost of Education
Australian visa fees have more than doubled, now costing approximately AUD 1,600 (₹86,000). Tuition fees range from ₹4 lakh to ₹25 lakh annually, depending on the program level (diploma to postgraduate). Monthly living expenses, including accommodation and food, range from ₹50,000 to ₹90,000.
Popular Courses
Indian students often pursue engineering, business, data science, IT, health sciences, nursing, accounting, and finance. Vocational education training programs (diploma, advanced diploma, and graduate diploma) are also highly sought after.
Australia boasts top-tier universities, many ranked among the world’s best. The Group of Eight (Go8) includes institutions like the Australian National University, Monash University, and the University of Melbourne, all frequently featured in QS World Rankings. Melbourne, Sydney, and New South Wales universities are consistently ranked in the top 20 globally, hosting nearly 100,000 international students collectively.