Negative sentiment among current and prospective international students has surged due to the uncertainties surrounding Australia’s student visa policies, according to a report by Voyage Insights, Rapid Response ESOS Debate.
An increase in negative sentiment of 2518% has been caused by the frustration and uncertainty due to the stalled ESOS Amendment Bill and the ongoing impact of Ministerial Direction 107.
The substantial change in sentiment “highlights the widespread anxiety and dissatisfaction among students, particularly regarding visa delays, unfair university classifications, and the lack of transparency in the current framework”, says Voyage.
The Second Reading Debate for the Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment (Quality and Integrity) Bill 2024 commenced late in the evening on 18 November, when Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson confirmed in the Senate that the Coalition would be opposing the ESOS Bill. This news caused a spike in online engagement the following day, as students sought to understand what had just happened.
Ministerial Direction 107
Students have also reacted to news that Ministerial Direction 107 will remain in place, saying they feel disadvantaged by the policy that favours ‘low risk’ institutions.
The report quotes the following students:
- “It feels unfair that my application might be deprioritised just because my university doesn’t fall into the ‘preferred’ category. I chose it for its quality education, but now I’m second-guessing my decision.”
- “This direction feels unfair to students from smaller or newer universities. It’s like they’re saying those of us who don’t go to big-name schools are less deserving of the chance to study in Australia.”
According to Voyage, social media is flooded with posts from students who are trying to make sense of how the categorisation of MD107 works, and it says that this ambiguity has left many feeling anxious about their applications and future plans.
Barriers to access
The ‘preferencing’ of institutions through MD107 has also raised concerns for students from developing countries or less advantaged backgrounds, as students worry that it may limit their access to education in Australia.
“I’ve been saving for years to study in Australia, and now I’m scared this framework will shut me out. What happens to students like me who come from developing countries and can’t always access these ‘preferred’ institutions?”, says one student quoted in the Voyage report.
This, Voyage says, highlights the unintended consequences of policies that “may reinforce systemic inequalities in access to international education”.
Uncertainty about the future
November is traditionally a peak month for students to make final arrangements for study in the following year, however the failure to pass the ESOS Amendment Bill has left many students wondering what to do next.
“If this continues, I’m not sure if pursuing my studies in Australia is the right choice. The lack of clarity and potential for ongoing issues make it hard to plan my future,” says a student from Malaysia.
Students are also concerned about whether their visas will be approved on time, as MD107 prioritises certain institutions over others.
A student from India says in the report, “I’m already planning for my start in 2025, but if my visa is delayed because of these new rules, it could throw everything off. I don’t know what I’d do if I missed the start of the semester.”
Voyage says that students on social media are advocating for clearer guidelines, more equitable policies, and a “recognition of the value they bring to Australia’s education system and economy”, and have called for fairness and transparency.
Supporting the silent voices
Guest contributors to The Koala, Ly Tran, Diep Nguyen, Danielle Hartridge, and Gary Lee wrote this week, “The silent voices are those of ordinary international students who are ironically at the centre of policy changes. Their voices and needs should be given more attention in debates about policy changes. Policy reforms need to be evidence-based, considering student needs and how best to support them”. Read their excellent response in full, TKN 261124.
Last week during a webinar with Claire Field and Dirk Mulder, I also put out a call to action to the sector to care for our students, continuing and new, especially in the lead up to the election. This duty of care is for all of us, because unfortunately the mudslinging between the two major political parties will continue until the election and our students look set to be collateral damage in their race to the bottom. (You can find the recording to the webinar here: TKN 231124)
Voyage Insights is an industry-first bespoke AI-powered dynamic student insight analytics platform. Voyage’s LinkedIn post contains more detail about the report, including a link to access the full report. For more insights and information, contact Varsha Devi Balakrishnan, Head of Student Insights and Strategy, directly at varsha@myvoyage.io
