The Review outlines 8 Key Actions the government will take in relation to the migration system. One of these items is dedicated to international students: Strengthening the integrity and quality of international education A package of integrity measures to lift the standards for international students and education providers, while ensuring graduates help meet skills shortages and do not become ‘permanently temporary’.
The Strategy contains changes relevant to international education, which include:
- increasing English language requirements to improve the quality of students’ educational experience in Australia and reduce potential workplace exploitation
- applying greater and more targeted scrutiny to student visa applications from high-risk providers
- bolstering the student visa integrity unit in the Department of Home Affairs to reduce misuse of Australia’s student visa system
- strengthening requirements for international education providers
- restricting onshore visa applications
- strengthening and simplifying Temporary Graduate visas.
English language proficiency requirements
Of most relevance to English Australia members is the point ‘increase English language requirements to improve the quality of students’ educational experience in Australia and reduce potential workplace exploitation’.
Since the draft strategy was released, English Australia has been actively working with the government on this area. Our goal has been to make sure the government understands the potential impact of this change, to minimise any negative effects where possible, and to ensure that the voices of our members are heard.
On this point and taken from the report, the government says:
Australia is a proud multicultural, multilingual country. However, the Migration Review found that ‘student English language requirements may not set up students to succeed’.55 English proficiency has a clear and direct relationship with strong education and labour market outcomes. 56 The Review also found that lower English proficiency may make migrants more vulnerable to exploitation. Currently, our English language requirements for these visas are below those of some comparable countries, such as Canada. The Migration Review recommended aligning ‘the English language requirements of the Student and/or Graduate visas with skilled visa English language requirements’.
In early 2024, the Government will increase English language requirements for the Student and Temporary Graduate visas:
- the test score required for a Temporary Graduate visa will increase from an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score (or equivalent) of 6.0 to 6.5
- the test score required for a Student visa will increase from IELTS (or equivalent) 5.5 to 6.0 - the test score required for students undertaking an English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students (ELICOS) before their main course of study will increase from IELTS (or equivalent) 4.5 to 5.0
- the test score required for students undertaking university foundation or pathway programs that deliver reputable English language training will be IELTS (or equivalent) 5.5. This will deliver a range of benefits to the international education sector, the migration system, the labour market and students themselves, including:
- improving the quality of their educational experience
- increasing the outcomes of international students in the labour market
- strengthening the integrity and reputation of the international education sector
- reducing the workplace exploitation of international students.
The Government will also strengthen education provider requirements to report students’ English language proficiency at enrolment.
English Australia has been keeping our members updated on the anticipated changes to the English language requirements and the work we’ve undertaken with the government to highlight the potential impacts of these new provisions, particularly on Vocational Education and Training providers.
At present, we are in the process of gathering additional details about the implementation timelines and changes to the reporting requirements.
The review more broadly
As mentioned, the Migration Strategy: Getting migration working for the nation. For workers. For businesses. For all Australians outlines 8 Key Actions the government will take in relation to the migration system. These are:
1. Targeting temporary skilled migration to address skills needs and promote worker mobility: A new Skills in Demand visa with three targeted pathways, and visa settings that encourage migrant worker mobility in the labour market.
2. Reshaping permanent skilled migration to drive long-term prosperity
3. Strengthening the integrity and quality of international education: A package of integrity measures to lift the standards for international students and education providers, while ensuring graduates help meet skills shortages and do not become ‘permanently temporary’.
4. Tackling worker exploitation and the misuse of the visa system
5. Planning migration to get the right skills in the right places
6. Tailoring regional visas and the Working Holiday Maker Program to support regional Australia and its workers
7. Deepening our people-to-people ties in the Indo-Pacific
8. Simplifying the migration system to improve the experience for migrants and employers
Within item 3, Strengthening the integrity and quality of international education: A package of integrity measures to lift the standards for international students and education providers, while ensuring graduates help meet skills shortages and do not become ‘permanently temporary’ there are 8 sub-actions, these are:
1. Introducing a first set of measures to improve integrity in international education and support genuine students
2. Increasing English language requirements to improve the quality of students’ educational experience in Australia and reduce potential workplace exploitation
3. Applying greater and more targeted scrutiny to student visa applications from high-risk providers
4. Bolstering the student visa integrity unit in the Department of Home Affairs to reduce misuse of Australia’s student visa system
5. Strengthening requirements for international education providers
6. Restricting onshore visa hopping that undermines system integrity and drives ‘permanent temporariness’
7. Strengthening and simplify Temporary Graduate visas
8. Supporting international students and graduates to realise their potential
English Australia will continue to lobby and work with the government and keep you informed as the government prepares to implement many of the items above.
The review document can be accessed here.