Universities warn 14,000 jobs could be lost if international enrolments drop

Universities have warned a government proposal to cap overseas enrolments could see thousands of job cuts across the sector.

The Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 seeks to cap the number of international student enrolments for two years from 2025.

Universities Australia chief executive Luke Sheehy told a Senate inquiry the policy could lead to 14,000 job cuts across the industry.

Sheehy described the bill as a “political smokescreen” to gain an upper hand in a “poll-driven battle over migration”.

“The impact of having some 60,000 fewer international students arrive on our shores is significant,” Sheehy said.

“It would represent a $4.3 billion hit to the economy and could cost the university sector alone over 14,000 jobs – not to mention the flow-on effect for small businesses which rely heavily on international students.”

International education is one of Australia’s largest export industries worth $48 billion in 2023.

The figure includes international student spending on tuition, housing and living costs as well as other expenditure.

Sheehy said the sector was second behind mining and supported around 250,000 jobs. 

“No other major export industry is treated the way international education is right now,” he said.

“Not mining, not agriculture, not tourism – none of them.”

Data from the Department of Home Affairs showed study visa grants for overseas students were down by nearly a third for the first four months of 2024.

Last year the government unveiled its new migration strategy, introducing tougher visa restrictions, stronger English literacy tests and a crackdown on agencies that bring international students to Australia.