Australia has announced a new policy that will allow international students who graduate from an Australian higher education provider in targeted sectors to stay and work in the country for up to four years. The sectors include health, teaching, engineering, and agriculture. The policy aims to attract and retain skilled workers and address the labour shortages in these sectors.
India tops the list of international students in OECD countries
According to a recent report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), India is the leading country of origin for international students in OECD countries, with 8,85,000 students in 2021. This is followed by China with 4,24,000 students and Vietnam with 2,35,000 students. The report also reveals that the number of international students in OECD countries increased by 24% between 2019 and 2022, reaching a record high of 1.9 million.
UK, US, and Canada remain popular destinations for Indian students
The report also shows that the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada are the top three destinations for Indian students, accounting for 64% of the total Indian student population in OECD countries. The UK granted 127,731 visas to Indian students in September 2022, an increase of 273% compared to 2019. The US hosted 211,930 Indian students in 2022, a slight decrease from 2019 due to the Covid-19 pandemic and visa restrictions. Canada had 319,130 Indian students in 2023, making it the largest source country of international students in Canada.
Other OECD countries introduce reforms to attract and retain international students
Several other OECD countries have also introduced reforms to their migration policies to attract and retain international students. For example, Spain has increased the allowed working hours for foreign students from 20 to 30 per week and eased the transition from a study permit to a work permit after graduation. Korea has launched a fast-track programme for permanent residence and naturalisation of outstanding foreign scientific and technological talents. Germany has reduced the application fee for student visas from €75 to €60.
