Female international students argue that the new regulation will disproportionately impact those pursuing master’s degrees. Here’s why.
Female international students argue that the new regulation will disproportionately impact those pursuing master’s degrees. Here’s why.
International students are expressing dissatisfaction with a new Australian regulation that lowers the age limit from 50 to 35 for qualifying for a work visa after graduation. Critics argue that the change is unfair and discriminates against women.
The impact on PhD graduates
The new rule, which is part of the federal government’s comprehensive migration review released in December, is expected to significantly affect PhD graduates, who represent a sought-after group in the skilled labor market.
Approximately 23,500 international students pursuing a PhD in Australia, constituting 40% of the entire cohort, are expected to be significantly affected by the new regulation, especially since half of them commence their degree after the age of 30, which typically takes a minimum of three to four years.
Female international students argue that the new regulation will disproportionately impact those pursuing master’s degrees, as women frequently interrupt their studies and careers before enrolling in an Australian degree program.
Ly Tran, a professor in the school of education at Deakin University, expressed concern that the alteration would render a significant portion of PhD students ineligible for post-graduation work visas.
Missing permanent residency
This would result in missing out on a pathway to permanent migration, despite being considered highly desirable potential migrants to Australia.
Under the new regulations, students aged over 35 will no longer qualify for a 485 temporary graduate work visa. Although they could theoretically apply for a skills-in-demand visa, eligibility requires an annual income exceeding $135,000, and sponsorship from an employer.
PhD students have the option to apply for a skills-in-demand visa, with their research work considered toward the requirements. Additionally, the most highly talented PhD students can seek the global talent visa, which doesn’t have an age limit.
Master’s and PhD students from India are expected to be exempt from the new age requirements due to a free-trade agreement with Australia signed in 2022, which holds precedence over the migration reforms.
Expert viewpoints
Abul Rizvi, a migration policy expert, argued that PhD students should be exempted from the age requirements due to their average age and exceptional high-level skills and expertise. He suggested a mid-point for PhD graduates between the current cut-off of 50, deemed too old, and the proposed reduction to 35.
“The age 50 cut-off is silly, as their chances of getting permanent residence would be very limited,” said Rizvi. “But for PhD students, 35 is too low. The key is to set an age that gets them to [permanent residency] without major age concessions,” he added.
Rizvi suggested that setting the age limit at 40 would be more sensible, allowing individuals to graduate, gain relevant work experience, and apply for permanent residency before reaching the age of 45.
Julian Hill, a Labor backbencher and co-chair of the Council for International Education, emphasized at a conference in December that “the most valuable skilled migrant to Australia is one who was educated in their home country for primary and secondary and maybe an undergraduate degree, comes here and does a master’s, and then transitions into a skill shortage area and pays tax for 40 years”.
Filling skill shortages in Australia
There is a growing debate about the role of international student graduates in filling skill shortages in the Australian economy. A graphic from Sky News indicates that 51 percent of international graduates with a bachelor’s degree who are still in Australia after three years are employed in low-skilled Level 4 or Level 5 jobs. This is corroborated by the Graduate Outcomes Survey, which shows that international graduates generally have lower employment rates, participation rates, and median earnings than domestic graduates.
Additionally, major source countries for overseas students, such as China, India, and Nepal, report poor labor market outcomes in terms of full-time employment for their graduates in Australia.
Critics argue that the influx of international students has contributed to an underclass of low-paid, low-skilled migrant workers, exacerbating Australia’s skills shortage crisis. However, recent migration accords signed with India, including provisions for five-year student visas and extended work rights for Indian graduates, suggest a continuing trend towards attracting international students.
Rejection rates for Indians and Chinese
On the other hand, Australia is also under scrutiny as Home Affairs department data reveal that applications from Indians to study in Australia are being rejected at a rate over 50 percent higher than those from China.
Indian nationals applying to study at international colleges face a rejection rate of over 10 percent this financial year. In contrast, Chinese students—the largest international student cohort—had approval rates of 97.7 percent for universities and 42.1 percent for vocational education and training (VET) institutions during the same period, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
