Australia targets Southeast Asians with eased foreign student cap
The increase in Australia’s foreign student cap is part of a bid to enhance Canberra’s soft power and reduce its economic dependence on China
Limits on places were announced last year as a way to rein in record migration that had contributed to a surge in housing prices, with 270,000 places made available for 2025.
An additional 25,000 places were being granted in 2026 as the policy successfully brought down “out of control” international student numbers, the government said.
“This is about making sure international education grows in a way that supports students, universities and the national interest,” Education Minister Jason Clare said in a statement.
As well as introducing the cap on numbers, the government also more than doubled the visa fee for foreign students in 2024 and pledged to close loopholes in rules that allowed them to continuously extend their stay.