The review could have significant implications for African applicants, particularly those from countries experiencing rejection rates substantially above Australia’s overall average.
New international student commencements at Australian public universities are projected to fall by about 18% in 2026, according to figures reported by ABC Australia.
The Australian government acknowledged that its measures to control student migration may have discouraged genuine applicants and created uncertainty among prospective students.
Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill said the government would overhaul parts of the assessment system without abandoning its effort to prevent misuse of student visas.
ABC reported on Friday that home affairs and education officials were developing new financial standards and preparing a replacement for Ministerial Direction 106, which guides how immigration officials assess whether applicants genuinely intend to study.
“We do not want to overcorrect and undermine the very system we are trying to protect,” Mr Hill said, according to the report.
The government plans to consult universities and education agents in November.
African applicants face high rejection rates
Although Australian officials have highlighted concerns involving applicants from South Asia, the broader replacement of the visa assessment direction will affect prospective students from other regions, including Africa.
Data published by Australia’s Department of Home Affairs indicate that approximately 52.2% of offshore applications decided for Kenyan primary applicants were rejected during the 2025/26 financial year.
The figures mean that more than half of the Kenyan applications decided during the period were unsuccessful, placing prospective students at risk of losing application fees and other expenses incurred before receiving a decision.
Australia’s overall student visa grant rate stood at approximately 80.9% as of December 2025, although outcomes varied considerably by nationality and education sector.
The disparity makes any change to financial documentation and genuine-student assessments especially important to applicants from African countries already facing comparatively high rejection rates.
Financial requirements could still rise
Australia currently requires an individual student to demonstrate access to at least $20,900 (A$29,710) for 12 months of living expenses. This is separate from tuition, accompanying-family expenses and travel costs.
The country’s immigration guidance also advises applicants to include approximately $1,760 (A$2,500) for travel from East or Southern Africa and $2,110 (A$3,000) from West Africa.
One option being considered would allow applicants to deposit money covering tuition and living expenses to provide clearer evidence of their financial capacity.
However, the review does not necessarily mean that Australia will lower its requirements or approve more applications.
Mr Hill indicated that the government could raise the financial threshold to create greater certainty, even if that produced a smaller pool of eligible applicants.
“Even if this means raising the financial standards and a smaller pool of prospective students, I want grant rates to improve and greater certainty for everyone,” he said.
Universities count the cost
Australia’s international education industry is one of the country’s largest export sectors and supports approximately 250,000 jobs.
Government data show that 738,694 international students studied in Australia during the first eight months of 2026, an 8% decline from the corresponding period of 2025.
Universities, however, have warned that unpredictable refusals are discouraging qualified candidates and damaging an industry heavily dependent on foreign tuition revenue.
The planned overhaul will therefore attempt to balance Australia’s migration restrictions against the financial importance of international students, including the thousands arriving from Africa.
Source: africa.businessinsider.com
