After visa restrictions, housing shortages in Australia another roadblock to study abroad dreams of Indians

Australia has been a dream educational destination for aspiring students in India for a long. However, the latest visa restrictions, increased visa rejections and now housing shortage are crushing the study in Australia aspirations of Indians.

As per reports, Indians have been facing accommodation shortages in Australia thanks to hiked accommodation costs and housing shortages.

Economic Times reported that University Living shared exclusive latest data with ET that shows that in the last quarter, accommodation prices in Australia increased by around 15% for shared rooms or dormitories. India is among one of the largest source countries of international students in Australia.

The housing crisis for international students is not only in Australia, but also reported in the UK, Germany, and Canada.

Enactconsultancy reported that prices were already high in 2022, and the number of international students seeking accommodation was also already rising. 

"The supply of Purpose-Built Student Accommodation (PBSA) in Europe, Australia, and Canada is not meeting demand due mainly to a “slow construction pipeline,” reported the international education website ICEF Monitor citing the research firm BONARD’s 2023 Student Housing Annual Report.

Impact of latest changes in Australia student visa rules

English language requirements for international students have been increased in Australia. Temporary visa applicants now need to get an IELTS score of 6.5 which increased from the earlier score requirement of 6.0. For a student visa, the requirement is 6.0.

Australia has also introduced a new "genuine student test" to further cut down the international students who want to come to Australia primarily to work, while the imposition of "no further stay" conditions on more visitor visas.

The government can now also suspend education providers from recruiting international students if they repeatedly break the rules. Financial requirements for visa applicants also increased.

Popular Courses for Indians in Australia

Australia offers world-class universities, a diverse culture and a high quality of life. Following are the popular courses for Indians in Australia:

• Engineering programs include civil engineering, mechanical engineering and electrical engineering.
• Information Technology including software development, cybersecurity and data science.
• Business and Management including Marketing, finance, international business and management.
• Data Science
• Accounting and Finance
• Health Science and Nursing

Some basic requirements before one leaves for Australia are that the applicant must have a valid passport, visa, and financial proof that the applicant has finances to cover tuition and expenses. 

Even after the recent hurdles, the Indian aspirants would still like to study in Australia as the country is welcoming to international students and offers a smooth transition to professional life.

Read more:

• Australia Tightens Visa Rule for International Students
• Study Abroad: Indian students' challenges after Increased Australian Student Visa Rejection
• Pursue Studies in Australia without Financial Worries, Avail Scholarships