According to the article’s author, after student visa refusals in Australia, universities are effectively no longer re-enrolling students, so keeping your enrolment (COE) upon refusal matters more than anything else. A second application becomes harder, and financial requirements, according to unofficial reports, may rise to cover a full year of study plus tuition. Those starting studies in February are advised not to apply for a visa now but to apply at the start of next year.

What’s happening with visas in English-speaking countries

The cuts affect not only Australia but other English-speaking countries too. In England, naturalisation now requires 10 years of residence instead of 5. The period can be reduced to five or even three years if there are salary-level restrictions.

In New Zealand, the master’s programme has scrapped unlimited working hours: the main applicant under the Research programme can now work no more than 24 hours a week. Almost all New Zealand student visa applications will now go through an interview with an immigration officer, who will assess the applicant’s prospects, genuine intentions, and level of academic English.

Australia has banned entry for partners and children of the main applicant under most programmes, with the exception of PhD.

Applying for an Australian student visa and finances

Student visa applications are now accepted only from offshore. The exception is students already studying in Australia on a valid student visa who are upgrading their course level or extending their studies, for example after a failed subject. For everyone else in Australia on another type of visa, applications are only possible offshore.

According to unofficial assumptions from education agencies, the government may raise minimum financial requirements and require proof of savings covering at least half of the tuition plus a year’s tuition fees, before any discounts or scholarships are applied. English requirements, according to the same unofficial data, may rise to level 7, though there are no signs of this yet.

Already, some educational institutions send a financial matrix upon enrolment. It states that you need to prove funds for the first year of living expenses, medical insurance for the entire term for the applicant and family members, a round-trip flight, and at least a year of tuition before scholarships are applied. Whereas a regular enrolment used to require showing 55,000–60,000 Australian dollars, the amount now rises to 80,000–90,000. Previously in Australia, paying a deposit for a semester or trimester was enough for enrolment, but now the institution asks for proof of funds for at least a year.

What to do if refused

Many are receiving refusals, including citizens of Russia and post-Soviet countries, as well as applicants from Europe and Scandinavian countries, where refusals used to be rare. Refusals are also coming through major agencies, including IDP.

If refused, it is recommended to keep your enrolment at the institution where the refusal occurred, if possible, and to push for the COE (Confirmation of Enrolment) not to be withdrawn, or for a new one to be issued. The reason is that after a refusal, almost no Australian institution will re-enrol the applicant. There are colleges willing to accept such applicants, but getting a student visa through them will be extremely difficult. For reapplication, it is recommended to contact immigration agents.

If studies start in February, and alternatives

Those planning to start studies in February are advised not to rush with the student visa and to apply at the start of next year, since applying now is highly likely to result in a refusal.

One option mentioned is the PhD programme, which still allows enrolment with a partner and children if the applicant has completed a specialist degree, with a master’s not required. When applying for a student visa for a PhD, an official language proficiency certificate is not required. If English level is around 5, the university may offer an English for Academic Purposes programme lasting 10, 20, or sometimes 30 weeks, with a conditional offer issued.

According to the author, a PhD takes 3 years to complete, and children’s education in Australian public schools will very likely be free. The partner and the applicant receive unlimited work rights. Subject to meeting certain conditions, including publications during studies, one can move toward the National Innovation Visa. Details, the author says, should first be discussed with an immigration agent. The quota for this visa is small, and few applications have been submitted.

A queue of applicants outside the admissions office of an Australian university

Why online reviews look gloomier than the actual situation

Negative experiences dominate on social media and forums because success stories are published less often. Many people, upon receiving their visa, happily post about it, while failures are discussed in groups, creating a gloomy overall impression. Immigration rules have always changed, and when one door closes, another often opens. The situation is getting harder, but not to the point of making relocation impossible.

For school graduates, according to the author, enrolment conditions haven’t changed and have even become somewhat easier: the overall flow of applicants has decreased, and universities need students. Citing reports of declining university profits and a government estimate that about 2 billion Australian dollars have gone unreceived, the inconsistency of policy toward university education and student visa issuance is noted.