International student growth driven by applicants already inside Australia
- Jul 15
- 2 min read
Australia's international education sector continues to face tighter visa rules and higher application fees aimed at slowing student arrivals. However, new figures show higher education student visa grants have remained largely stable.
According to the Department of Home Affairs, 78,900 higher education student visas were granted to primary applicants between January and May 2026. That is virtually unchanged from the same period last year.
Although visa approvals for applicants applying from overseas have become much stricter, overall numbers have been supported by students already living in Australia. The approval rate for offshore applicants averaged 72% during the first five months of 2026, the lowest level recorded for this period in two decades. In contrast, applicants already in Australia continued to receive approvals at around 90%.
Students already in Australia now account for a growing share of new visa grants. Between January and May 2026, they made up 41% of all higher education visas, up from 32% a year earlier. Visa grants for this group increased by 29%, while grants to overseas applicants fell by 13%.
China and India remained Australia's largest sources of higher education student visas. Both countries recorded fewer approvals for applicants outside Australia but more approvals for students already in the country. Among the top five source countries, only Vietnam saw growth in offshore approvals.
The data suggests Australia's existing international student population is helping maintain enrolment numbers, even as the government tightens visa requirements and raises application fees. Experts believe future policy measures may continue focusing on reducing new arrivals while students already in Australia remain a key part of the sector's growth.
Source : The Koala News
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