In a recent and unexpected move, the Australian federal government announced plans to introduce caps on the number of International Students allowed in the country, causing significant concern among universities. This initiative was revealed just before the May budget and has the university administration worried about the potential repercussions on jobs, research funding, and Australia's international reputation.

University representatives argue that cutting student numbers will lead to job losses and reduced funding for research, impacting the sector’s ability to maintain its global standing. In 2022, Universities collected approximately AU$ 8.6 billion from International Students, accounting for over a quarter of their total revenue. Any reduction in International Student numbers could, therefore, have widespread economic impacts.