Australia Student Visa Trends in 2025
The international student landscape has shifted as the Australian Government prioritised “managed growth” through new enrolment caps and stricter visa processing under Ministerial Direction 107 (and the subsequent MD 111).
Visa & Enrolment Stats
- Total Student Visa Holders: As of late 2025, there were approximately 709,437 subclass 500 visa holders in Australia. This is a slight increase from ~701,000 at the end of 2024, showing that, despite tougher rules, the “stock” of students remains high.
- Total Students (YTD Oct 2025): 833,041 international students studied in Australia during this period, a negligible decline (0.3%) from 2024.
- New Commencements: New starts plummeted by 15% (190,799 students) compared to the same period in 2024, directly reflecting the new caps.
Top Source Countries (2025 YTD)
Five countries continue to dominate the market, accounting for 57% of all international students:
| Country | % of All Students | Market Observation |
| China | 23% | Remains the #1 source; high visa grant rates (~92%). |
| India | 17% | Facing stricter scrutiny; applications down significantly. |
| Nepal | 8% | Stable growth; high concentration in VET sectors. |
| Vietnam | 4% | Emerging as a key growth market with ~83% grant rates. |
| Philippines | 4% | Significant growth in the VET and healthcare sectors. |
Sector-Specific Performance
The 2025 policy framework has reshaped the sector, creating clear preferential treatment across education sectors:
- Higher Education: Grew by 10%, as government policy explicitly favored universities over private colleges.
- ELICOS (English Language): Experienced a massive 37% decline. Increased visa fees ($2,000 as of July 1, 2025) and stricter English requirements hit this sector hardest.
- VET (Vocational): Faced significant declines in grant rates (some as low as 60% for specific South Asian markets) due to “integrity” audits.
Policy Impacts
- Visa Success Rates: The overall offshore success rate averaged at 85%, but this varied wildly by country and provider risk level.
- Migration Strategy: Net overseas migration fell to ~306,000, down from the post-pandemic peak of 429,000, as the government has tightened student visa settings to ensure study visas are granted for genuine study, not as a default stepping stone to migration.
- Cost of Entry: Australia now has some of the highest student visa application charges globally.’
Note on Data: Student visa figures differentiate between “Student Visa Holders” (people physically in Australia) and “Enrolments” (the number of courses being taken). One student may have multiple enrolments if they are doing a “package” (e.g., ELICOS + Bachelor’s).
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