After encouraging universities to expand overseas enrolments, the government has overseen a sharp fall in student visa approval rates – leaving institutions uncertain and applicants frustrated.

Having tightened policy on overseas students for 18 months, the Government signalled mid-2025, that it would help public universities to grow overseas student numbers through a higher student planning level for 2026 as well as reduced risk ratings for public universities.

That should have meant a higher visa grant rate. Universities responded by boosting offshore recruitment activity in both September and October. But with a cranking up of the offshore student visa refusal rate in October, many universities will be confused about what is happening.

In September and October 2025, offshore student applications ceased declining and increased strongly compared to the same months in 2024.

Offshore student applications in October 2025 were 22,905 compared to 19,873 in October 2024. September 2025 offshore applications were 19,975 compared to 14,963 in September 2024. The........

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