Dubai: The number of students applying to universities in Australia has fallen but not due to the recent tightening of migration rules, said an IDP Education spokesperson recently.
Instead, it is the ongoing attacks on Indian students that is causing scepticism amongst parents planning to send their children to universities in Down Under.
"We have seen a lot of withdrawals from Indian students leaving from the UAE based on recent attacks," said Rashi Bhattacharya, IDP relationship manager. "However we try to tell students and parents the incidents are isolated," she added.
In the past two months IDP has reported 15 withdrawals by students in the UAE and 40 withdrawals since July 2009.
A leading organisation for placing international students in Australian universities, IDP offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi have placed 150 students at universities in Australia since last summer, registering a 25 per cent decrease from the same period in 2008.
Disrupted plans
Tarek Mustafa, 20, had plans to transfer from the University of Wollongong in Dubai (UOWD) to the mother campus in Australia in September 2010. Since the rule change he is now reconsidering. "I wanted to go get my residency in Australia because the regulations were easy, but not anymore," said the Egyptian national.
Previous migration rules allowed international students to apply for permanent residency while studying at university; however this regulation has been changed. "I could have easily transferred to Australia through UOWD and applied for residency after two years," said Mustafa.
"[Permanent residency] is one of the reasons people go to Australia but not the main reason," said Bhattacharya. "Student's don't tell us…but it is an added value to have the option of settling when they finish their course," she added.
More changes expected
Bhattacharya said more rule changes are expected from the Australian Consulate-General in April.
For UOWD student, Aisha Adirs, 18, post-graduate education in Australia is a promising option in comparison to the UK or US. "I might get a visa to Australia where as I probably won't get one to the UK or US because of the whole Abdul Muttalib thing," said the Nigerian national.
UOWD student, Nafiz Faisal, had plans to transfer to the University of Wollongong in Australia but has decided against it since the attacks on Indian students. "I did have plans to go there but the situation right now is bad with all the racism and discrimination going on," he said. "My friends there tell me it's dangerous to go out at night," Faisal added.
However if tensions ease he wants to pursue a Master's degree in Australia but has no plans to settle. "Whatever happens I will always come back to the UAE. I'm attached to this country and would find it hard to settle anywhere else," he said.
Migration is not an issue
There are not many students from countries in the GCC region interested in Australian migration, said Eve Guernier, Regional manager of the department of education at the Australian Consulate-General in Dubai.
"It is not a major issue for us," said Guernier. "Most of our students are from the Gulf [or Arab] region and they travel to Australia on scholarships and are obligated to come back," she added.
Guernier said the Australian government encourages those seeking to migrate to do so through proper channels such as agencies. "We want genuine students who can benefit from their studies and come back to their own country to establish increased bilateral relationships," she said.
