Nguyen, Thi Ngoc Ha ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7509-3633, Gallo Cordoba, Beatriz ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7335-4534, Brisbane, Rachel ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9607-7824 and Vu, Xuan Nguyet Hong (2026) International Students: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the Australian Federal Government’s Migration Policies Relating to Student Visa Holders. In: Springer Briefs in Education. Springer Nature Singapore, pp. 7-28.

Abstract

This chapter first provides an overview of the international education sector. It also discusses the policies on work rights during and post study in Australia and compares them with those in other destination countries. The chapter then reports findings from 12 semi-structured interviews with admissions managers and education agents in Australia about (i) the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on international student enrolments, and (ii) the influence of the federal government’s migration policies relating to student visa holders on international students’ choice of a field of study and their work rights in Australia. Findings highlight work rights during and post study as an effective means to attract prospective students and revive the country’s image after the government’s inadequate support and unfavourable treatment of international students during the Covid-19 crisis. The chapter concludes that international students are an important source of skilled migrants to Australia and calls for migration policies relating to international students that carry clear implications for their skilled migration prospects.

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