Australia's Student Visa Refusal Rate Hits a 10-Year High: Learn crackdown, refusal and genuine

If you are planning to study in Australia, or thinking about a student visa after a working holiday, you have probably noticed that Australian student visa checks have become stricter and the refusal rate has gone up. According to an ABC News report from 30 October 2026, the Australian government is reviewing the "unintended consequences" of its recent international student visa policy, including the fact that many genuine students are now too afraid of being refused to apply at all.

This story is great material for English learners because it is full of words you will meet in the news and at work: crackdown, refusal rate, genuine and assess. You will run into them when you read international news, go through visa rules or even write a formal email.

Below, an original short passage based on the report walks you through the latest on Australia's student visa rules and the key vocabulary that goes with it. We suggest listening once with the player at the top of the passage before you look at the text, then reading along.

Australia's government says its tough approach to international student visas has had some effects it did not plan. In recent years, the number of rejected student visa applications has risen sharply. According to the ABC, about one in four applications was refused recently, the highest level in about ten years.

Julian Hill, the assistant minister for international education, planned to tell an audience in Sydney that many genuine students are now afraid to apply. He wanted to warn against an "overcorrection". Public universities expect about 18 per cent fewer new international students this year, which could cost them around 2 billion Australian dollars over three years. Hill was also expected to say that tighter visa rules are only part of the reason. Competition from other countries and higher living costs matter too.

To fix the problem, the government wants to change how student visa applications are assessed, especially the financial requirements for students from South Asia. Officials from the home affairs and education departments will design new financial standards, and universities and education agents will be consulted in November. Hill was expected to say the standards could even become higher, although this may mean fewer students qualify.

The government is also looking at a longer-term idea based on New Zealand's system, where students deposit money to cover their tuition and living costs to show they can afford to study. None of these changes has been finalised yet.

Australia's government says its strict student visa rules caused some problems it did not expect. In the last few years, many more student visa applications have been refused. The ABC reports that about one in four applications was refused recently. That is the highest level in about ten years.

Julian Hill is the assistant minister for international education. In a speech in Sydney, he planned to say that many real students are now afraid to apply. He wanted to warn the government not to go too far the other way (an "overcorrection"). Public universities expect about 18 per cent fewer new international students this year. This could cost them about 2 billion Australian dollars over three years. Hill also planned to say that strict visa rules are only one reason. Other countries are competing for students, and living costs are higher too.

To fix this, the government wants to change the way it checks student visa applications, especially the money rules for students from South Asia. Officials from the home affairs and education departments will write new financial standards. In November, they will ask universities and education agents for their opinions. Hill planned to say the standards might even become higher, even if that means fewer students can qualify.

The government is also studying a longer-term idea from New Zealand. There, students put money into an account to cover their tuition and living costs, which shows they can afford to study. None of these changes is final yet.

Note: the passive of refuse is be refused, so you can say My visa was refused. Headlines often use the noun crackdown, while the body of an article more often uses the phrasal verb crack down on.

Pattern 1: According to + source, subject + verb

According to the ABC, about one in four applications was refused recently.

According to introduces the source of a piece of information and is one of the most common openers in news and reports. Note that according to is followed by someone else or by data; do not say according to me (use in my opinion instead).

Try it: According to the weather report, it will rain all weekend.

Pattern 2: ..., which + verb (which refers back to the whole previous clause)

Public universities expect about 18 per cent fewer new international students this year, which could cost them around 2 billion Australian dollars over three years.

After the comma, which does not refer to a single noun but to the whole situation described in the clause before it. It is used to add a result or effect.

Try it: The MRT was delayed for 30 minutes, which made me late for work.

Pattern 3: None of + plural noun + has / have been + past participle + yet

None of these changes has been finalised yet.

None of means "not one of". Formal writing often uses the singular verb has, but have is also very common in speech. Combined with the present perfect passive has been + past participle, it means "has not been ... so far".

Try it: None of the tickets have been sold yet.

Situation: Amy plans to study in Australia next year and is chatting with her friend Ken, who works at a study-abroad agency.

• Amy: Ken, I read that Australia's refusal rate for student visas is really high now. Should I be worried?
• Ken: It's true there was a crackdown, but the government says it had some unintended effects.
• Amy: What do you mean?
• Ken: Even genuine students are scared to apply, so they're planning to change how applications are assessed.
• Amy: Will the financial requirement change too?
• Ken: Maybe. Nothing has been finalised yet, so let's check the official website regularly.
• Amy: OK. In the meantime, I'll work on my English and save up for the living costs.
• Ken: Good idea. Strong English will make studying there much easier.

Answer these 5 questions to see how much of today's vocabulary and grammar you remember.

Understanding visa rules, speaking clearly in an interview and keeping up in class once the semester starts all come down to everyday English practice. Ambitious Learner's online English courses are planned around your goal, whether that is IELTS, studying or a working holiday in Australia, or workplace English. If you would rather build a solid base intensively in an all-English environment first, take a look at our Philippines study programmes.

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• Labor warns against 'overcorrection' on student visas as universities face $2b revenue hit | ABC News, 30 October 2026
• Australian student visa refusal rate hits 10-year high amid government crackdown | ABC News, 9 September 2026
• Student visa (subclass 500) | Department of Home Affairs official page (the authority on current rules)