Raghan Motani, a marketing student at the University of Technology Sydney, fears he is no longer welcome in Australia. The government has more than doubled the cost of international student visas from $710 to $1,600, and increased the financial insurance requirements for visas.

These measures are causing concern for Australia's education sector. The government is also considering capping the number of international students that domestic universities can accept, which could cost Australia billions of dollars and undermine international students' confidence in the country's education policy.

“We, international students, come here with hope and understanding that we are contributing a lot to the economy. The only thing we want is to be protected and have our rights guaranteed,” Raghan said.

Over the past year, the number of student visas issued has fallen by 23%, equivalent to nearly 60,000 students.

Universities and many experts say the policies could create a two-tiered education system, with larger schools less affected than smaller ones. They warn that the changes could undermine the quality of education and affect students nationwide.

Australian Education Minister Jason Clare said he was “consulting directly” with universities to “make sure we get it right”. However, critics say the changes could harm students and create divisions in the education system.

The Australian Government remains committed to these measures to prevent the use of student visas as a route to circumvent the law in Australia. However, the implementation of these measures is controversial and it is unclear how they will affect domestic universities.

Cao Phong (according to CNA, Reuters)