13th September 2022: Study Group has welcomed the announcement by the Australian Government that it will increase the duration of post-study work rights of international Indian students for select degrees between four and six years.
The joint announcement from the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Clare O’Neil MP and the Minister for Education, the Hon Jason Clare MP, outlined a raft of post-study work rights for select degrees including increasing the time to stay in the country from:
● two years to four years for select bachelor’s degrees
● three years to five years for select master’s degrees
● four years to six years for select PhDs.
In addition, the Government announced a $36.1 million investment in visa processing to support over 500 extra staff over the next nine months.
In the past only 16 percent of international students stayed after their studies, but with the new time extensions, students can stay longer and work longer in Australia.
“International Indian students fill skills shortages, they work hard, they pay taxes, and they contribute to the increasingly diverse fabric of Australia’s cultural life – we see it every day in business, media, sports, food, and the arts,” said Alex Chevrolle, Study Group’s Director of External Relations in Australia and New Zealand.
“As such, as Australians, we should all be doubling our efforts to make Indian international students feel welcome again and to consider Australia as a potential new home.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to change the study abroad student landscape and their perception of this great country. Not only is Australia a wonderful study destination with excellent educational and social experiences, but it is a place to start a new life and to integrate into and enrich our labour market, society, and culture.”
