New Delhi, September 22
Concerned over the sharp decline in the number of foreign students Down Under following a spate of attacks last year, Australia today announced significant changes in visa requirements for Indian and other overseas students to win back their confidence.

Under the new arrangements, international students enrolled in courses at the level of bachelor degree or higher will be treated as lower risk applicants regardless of their country of origin. This will mean less onerous financial and documentary requirements for students in this category.

Students undertaking vocational courses, including with private education providers, would continue to be assessed against the higher assessment levels although financial requirements would also be reduced for these students.

The changes will also allow for a two to four year post-study work visa for university graduates depending on the level of study completed.

These and other changes were announced by Australian Ministers for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations Senator Chris Evans and Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, Chris Bowen MP.

According to the Australian High Commission in New Delhi, these changes will be progressively implemented from late 2011, with the full complement of changes expected to be finalised in the first half of 2012.

Following the attacks on Indian students Down Under early last year, the number of Indians getting enrolled in Australian universities has reduced considerably, hitting the higher education industry there. Higher education is a major source of foreign exchange earnings for Australia. There were nearly 1,00,000 Indian students in various Australian universities until they came under racial attacks, triggering concerns about their safety. Many students who had desired to go to Australia last year and this year changed their plans and opted for other foreign universities or institutions in India to pursue higher studies.