Over recent years, Australia, Canada, and the UK have witnessed substantial transformations in their governmental policies, particularly in relation to international students and their respective education sectors.
Across these three countries, a surge in international student numbers has coincided with mounting public concerns regarding soaring housing costs, infrastructure strains, and reported fraudulent activities by unethical agents and institutions. The rapid population growth, fueled mainly by new immigrants, has raised significant issues in these nations. Moreover, cases of international students not receiving the promised quality of educational experiences have surfaced, drawing attention to critical concerns.
Initial broad policies aimed at counteracting the substantial revenue losses experienced by the international education sector during the pandemic are now transitioning into measures that might pose challenges for some students in obtaining study permits or pursuing post-study work or immigration opportunities.
This article delves into the swift paradigm shift in the approach to international education observed in Australia, Canada, and the UK between 2020 and 2023.
Pandemic Disruption and Swift Government Responses
The global pandemic severely impacted economies worldwide, resulting in substantial revenue losses across various sectors due to the absence of international students. This period emphasized the immense value of international education to economies.
Canada swiftly acted to mitigate the impact of travel restrictions and bolster the appeal of Canadian education in international markets. It opened its borders earlier to international students compared to other destinations and allowed them to remain eligible for post-study work permits even while studying entirely online from their home countries. Caps on off-campus work hours for international students were lifted, and a new immigration stream was introduced to facilitate more students’ applications for permanent residency.
Similarly, the UK introduced new immigration streams – the Student Route and Child Student Route – earlier than planned to counteract the trend of international students deferring their study plans. It subsequently launched the anticipated “Graduate Route” in 2021, offering international students two to three years of post-study work rights. Students studying through distance or blended learning maintained eligibility for this route by completing one term of face-to-face learning in the UK.
Consequently, both Canada and the UK witnessed a notable expansion in international enrollment during the pandemic years. Canada’s foreign enrollment increased by 27% compared to 2019, reaching 808,000, while the number of international students in UK universities surged by 22% in 2021/22, totaling 679,970 compared to 2019/20.
Meanwhile, by 2022, Australia had lost market share to Canada and the UK but swiftly implemented a series of policies to regain its standing. These measures included the temporary removal of working hour caps, refunds on visa application fees, and extending post-study work rights for select degree holders, some by several years. Consequently, by mid-2023, international student numbers in Australia had soared to 645,516, surpassing pre-pandemic totals.
Challenges Amidst Growth
While governmental policies significantly fueled the influx of international students into these destinations, several concerning trends have tempered the enthusiasm:
An affordability crisis persists, with accommodation unaffordable for many, including some international students. Reports of unethical conduct by agents or institutions have gained public attention. Infrastructure struggles to keep pace with the expanding population of newcomers. Growing public apprehension about migration levels. In response to these trends, Australia and Canada have initiated new policies aimed at enhancing quality control in their international education sectors during the latter half of 2023:
Australia introduced stringent regulations for education agents and the vocational training sector. Restrictions on students holding “concurrent COEs” (Confirmations of Enrolments) to switch from higher education to lower-cost/quality VET providers were implemented. The financial requirement for international students applying for study visas increased by 17%. Scrutiny intensified on “high-risk cohorts” submitting a higher volume of potentially fraudulent applications. The “Pandemic Event” visa, allowing students to work across multiple sectors for up to 12 months, is set to be discontinued. Canada imposed a requirement for colleges and universities to verify each applicant’s letter of acceptance directly with IRCC to prevent acceptance fraud. A new framework scheduled for fall 2024 will prioritize visa processing for institutions recognized for exceptional services and outcomes for international students. Additional policy changes, including a potential extension of temporary work hour policies for students, are under consideration by IRCC. Continued Evolution and Possible Reforms
These quality control measures in Australia and Canada aim to safeguard the integrity of the international education system and the students entering it. However, there are indications of potential reforms that might impact students’ opportunities:
Canada is contemplating reviewing the Post-Graduation Work Permit, possibly restricting it based on graduates’ skills matching the labor market needs. Speculations arise about the idea of curbing international student inflow to mitigate cost of living and housing issues in these nations, which has yet to manifest in official policies but has surfaced in media coverage.
The UK, on the other hand, has undergone drastic changes in immigration policies affecting international students under Prime Minister Sunak’s administration. Despite the earlier reinstatement of post-study work rights in 2021, recent announcements indicate a cooling attitude towards non-EU students. Restrictions on bringing dependents and potential reforms to the Graduate Route signify a potential shift in policies affecting international students’ work rights and overall experience.
These evolving dynamics pose risks and challenges in maintaining the competitiveness and quality of education offered to international students in these nations. While Australia and Canada emphasize improvements in quality control and recruitment practices, concerns about migration levels and managing infrastructure persist. The UK’s shifting immigration policies create uncertainty for international students, potentially affecting their work rights and overall experience.
As these nations navigate these shifts, the US, another key player in the “Big Four” English-speaking destinations, has shown renewed efforts in international student recruitment. A survey among global students indicates that the US now leads in student satisfaction among these destinations. The US government’s recent prioritization of international students has contributed to a more welcoming environment, according to Edwin van Rest, Studyportals’ co-founder and CEO.
Overall, while these nations’ policy shifts have contributed to increased international student numbers, there remains a need to balance growth with quality control, infrastructure readiness, and public concerns about migration and affordability.
