Authors: RHIANNON DOWN, HEIDI HAN (Click to view original article [cn.theaustralian.com.au])
Interviewee: Kirk Yan (Director of Newstars Education & Migration Melbourne Branch, licensed Australian migration agent with years of experience and in-depth expertise in migration policy analysis and change forecasting; Editor-in-Chief of Australia’s Weekly Migration Bulletin; affectionately known by clients as “K-God”.)
The return of Chinese students to Australian universities is set to deliver an approximately $5 billion boost to the economy, following China’s surprise announcement banning online study at overseas universities.
China’s Ministry of Education issued the ban last month without advance notice, prompting around 50,000 Chinese students with valid visas — who had planned to study online from China — to scramble to prepare their return to campus. This included 8,000 students whose visas were due to expire mid-year.
According to the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), an additional 5,000 new visa applications were submitted in the past month alone.
IEAA Chief Executive Phil Honeywood said tens of thousands of students being forced back to campus would provide an enormous boost to the Australian economy, with Chinese students typically injecting up to $100,000 into the economy each year.
“The typical Chinese student is a high-value student,” he said. “What I mean is, they tend to buy or rent inner-city apartments, and they often live alone, whereas students from other nationalities are more likely to share a house in the suburbs.
“Also, Chinese students tend to enrol at higher-ranked universities, which means if they are admitted, they pay higher tuition fees — and then there are also lifestyle expenses, and their parents will often visit as tourists.”
Asialink Business, an organisation that promotes greater engagement with Asia, said the return of Chinese students was the next step towards restoring the pre-pandemic international student population of approximately 580,000. Chief Executive Leigh Howard said:
“In the short term, this is an economic stimulus for the education sector and the local economy,” he said. “But in the long run, the number of international students graduating from Australian universities benefits both Australia and their home countries.”
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of students were scrambling to secure accommodation, arrange visas, and book flights — all within a matter of weeks.
Kirk Yan, Director of Newstars Education & Migration, said his company had received 20 to 30 applications for urgent visa processing since the online-study ban was announced.
“While most students already hold a visa, a small number who studied entirely online for nearly their whole degree did not apply for a visa, because they never planned to return to Australia with only half a year or one semester remaining,” he said.
“I have been told that the Department of Home Affairs will expedite visa processing, so I expect these students will have their visas approved within two to three weeks.”
Mr Yan said that expensive flights and accommodation would have a greater impact on students’ return than visa processing times. According to Department of Home Affairs data, the current visa processing time is approximately 13 days.
“Most students will look for accommodation through friends or through limited Chinese-language media,” Mr Yan said.
“Some are being asked to pay two to three months’ rent as a deposit to secure a place.”
An anonymous student completing her final semester at the University of Sydney said it took her a month to find accommodation in Sydney Olympic Park.
“It was really difficult, because I was looking for a three-bedroom place for myself and two other girls, and we only needed it for half a year before we graduate,” she said.
“Paying the deposit requires an Australian bank account, which we didn’t have, so we had to ask a friend to front the money for us.”
China’s Ministry of Education subsequently softened its stance in the face of strong student opposition, confirming that students unable to return could apply for an exemption to the new rules when having their qualifications certified.
The return of Chinese students to Australian universities is set to deliver an approximately $5 billion boost to the economy, following China’s surprise announcement banning online study at overseas universities.
China’s Ministry of Education issued the ban last month without advance notice, prompting around 50,000 Chinese students with valid visas — who had planned to study online from China — to scramble to prepare their return to campus. This included 8,000 students whose visas were due to expire mid-year.
According to the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), an additional 5,000 new visa applications were submitted in the past month alone.
IEAA Chief Executive Phil Honeywood said tens of thousands of students being forced back to campus would provide an enormous boost to the Australian economy, with Chinese students typically injecting up to $100,000 into the economy each year.
“The typical Chinese student is a high-value student,” he said. “What I mean is, they tend to buy or rent inner-city apartments, and they often live alone, whereas students from other nationalities are more likely to share a house in the suburbs.
“Also, Chinese students tend to enrol at higher-ranked universities, which means if they are admitted, they pay higher tuition fees — and then there are also lifestyle expenses, and their parents will often visit as tourists.”
Asialink Business, an organisation that promotes greater engagement with Asia, said the return of Chinese students was the next step towards restoring the pre-pandemic international student population of approximately 580,000. Chief Executive Leigh Howard said:
“In the short term, this is an economic stimulus for the education sector and the local economy,” he said. “But in the long run, the number of international students graduating from Australian universities benefits both Australia and their home countries.”
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of students were scrambling to secure accommodation, arrange visas, and book flights — all within a matter of weeks.
Kirk Yan, Director of Newstars Education & Migration, said his company had received 20 to 30 applications for urgent visa processing since the online-study ban was announced.
“While most students already hold a visa, a small number who studied entirely online for nearly their whole degree did not apply for a visa, because they never planned to return to Australia with only half a year or one semester remaining,” he said.
“I have been told that the Department of Home Affairs will expedite visa processing, so I expect these students will have their visas approved within two to three weeks.”
Mr Yan said that expensive flights and accommodation would have a greater impact on students’ return than visa processing times. According to Department of Home Affairs data, the current visa processing time is approximately 13 days.
“Most students will look for accommodation through friends or through limited Chinese-language media,” Mr Yan said.
“Most students will look for accommodation through friends or through limited Chinese-language media,” Mr Yan said.
“Some are being asked to pay two to three months’ rent as a deposit to secure a place.”
An anonymous student completing her final semester at the University of Sydney said it took her a month to find accommodation in Sydney Olympic Park.
“It was really difficult, because I was looking for a three-bedroom place for myself and two other girls, and we only needed it for half a year before we graduate,” she said.
“Paying the deposit requires an Australian bank account, which we didn’t have, so we had to ask a friend to front the money for us.”
China’s Ministry of Education subsequently softened its stance in the face of strong student opposition, confirming that students unable to return could apply for an exemption to the new rules when having their qualifications certified.
(Copyright © The Australian)
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