International students accounted for a record 44.3 percent of Australia`s net overseas immigrants in the past 18 years. (iStock)
The Herald Sun reports that while the number of foreign students in Australia is at an all-time high, nearly two hundred thousand foreign students change visas each year in order to extend their stay and retain the right to work.
On June 30 last year, the number of Australian students reached 486934, up 10 percent from the previous year, a record high at that time.
Half the students are from four countries, China, India, Nepal and Brazil, according to a new report by the Ministry of the Interior, (Home Affairs Department).
Between 2017 and 2018, the number of Chinese students in Australia reached 112297, an annual increase of 7.8 percent.
However, Nepalese students were the fastest-growing group, rising 54.9% to 41696. Students from Sri Lanka, Brazil, Colombia and India rose 22.9 percent, 19.9 percent, 18.6 percent and 18.3 percent, respectively.
Student visa applications climbed, thanks to a 22.3 percent surge in vocational education and training applications. At the same time, the number of applications for higher education also increased by 10.5%.
Dr. Birrell (Bob Birrell), director of the Australian Institute of population Research (Australian Population Research Institute), said the report also showed a surge in the number of Indian and Nepalese applications for student visas already in Australia.
He said the Indian subcontinent has become one of the main destinations for entry into Australia and for workers in Australia. "once they come to Australia, they begin to extend their stay by applying for further student visas in Australia, especially for cheaper courses such as vocational education.
According to the report, last year some 193000 student visa holders held other substantive visas-mainly 500 student visas (38.3%) and 485 temporary graduation visas (24.2%). Tourist visa (20.7%).
International students accounted for a record 44.3 percent, or 104872, of Australia`s 236733 net overseas immigrants in 2017 and 18, Birrell said.
The student industry is estimated to inject 32 billion Australian dollars a year into the Australian economy. However, more and more people are worried about the urban congestion caused by international students and the lack of job opportunities for young Australians.
