The duration of time that certain foreign students can remain in Australia on a temporary graduate visa has been shortened under the country’s new migration strategy. PhD candidates will be eligible for three years rather than four, and those who earned a Master’s degree through coursework will be eligible for two years rather than three.
Nonetheless, the initial post-study work policies were codified in the conditions of an Australia-India free trade agreement, which was finalized at the close of 2022. This agreement will not be superseded by the new migration strategy, so Indian students will continue to be qualified for extended post-study work visas.
Nishi Borra, president of the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India, declared, “This is fantastic news for Indian students.” “We will welcome exceptional students who wish to study in Australia.”
More Australian study visas were awarded to Indians in 2022–2023 than to any other nationality. The ability to apply for a second temporary graduate visa will not change, but there won’t be a second two-year extension. This holds true for all overseas learners, including those from India.
In order to prevent the new regulations from applying to current international students who may have chosen to study in Australia in part because of the nation’s generous post-study work policies, some in the industry, including AAERI members, have called for “grandfathering” of the new laws.
After approving a system for the mutual recognition of qualifications in March and announcing an education strategy for the two nations in November, the Australian government is placing a greater emphasis on its educational ties with India.