Amid economic uncertainty, rising rents, and housing shortages, international students are exploited for profit but denied the same opportunities as locals, despite contributing billions to the economy.
University Fees: A Hidden Funding Model
International students are frequently painted as the root cause of rising rents, housing affordability and job competition. Yet, these same students inject approximately $48 billion annually into the economy, paying tuition fees up to four times higher than domestic students.
Unlike domestic students, international students are required to prepay their university fees and are ineligible for government loan schemes like HECS-HELP. Many also face inflated rental prices, a consequence of precarious visa conditions and limited housing options. While universities present a welcoming front, their reliance on international fees has become an unofficial funding policy. These students arrive in pursuit of quality education but often find themselves financially exploited and unfairly blamed for Australia’s broader economic concerns. As government funding for research and domestic student programs declines, universities increasingly rely on international fees to fill the gap. Institutions are exploiting international students – selling the promise of academic excellence while prioritising revenue over student welfare.
Capped and Underpaid:
Despite major economic contributions, international students struggle to find part-time work due to restrictive visa conditions and workplace discrimination. Job listings frequently state “PR or Australian citizens only,” leaving many with no option but to accept underpaid, cash-in-hand work. During the pandemic, their significance to industries like hospitality, retail, and aged care became undeniable – yet they were excluded from government welfare and left to fend for themselves.
During the pandemic, as job markets collapsed, many were left with no choice but to leave the country or rely on food banks – all while then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison told them to simply “go home.”
Vertigo spoke with exchange student Amy, studying and living in Australia for a year from London. She began her experience in student housing, however found herself moving into a share house away from University, given the exorbitant rent of the student accommodation. Amy also shared her experience of International Studentship during this period, recalling her application to over 60 jobs, for which she secured only two interviews. All of this, for one job.
Now, the Albanese government plans to cap international student numbers at 270,000 in 2025. Many view this policy as a superficial response to Australia’s housing crisis – one that overlooks deeper structural issues while once again making international students an easy scapegoat.
Amy finds the decision deeply disappointing, believing that studying abroad is "the best thing anyone can do" and that restricting opportunities for international students is a step in the wrong direction. She is particularly disheartened by the impact on universities, fearing it will diminish multiculturalism on campus.
This flawed approach treats students as mere economic assets, welcomed only when profitable and discarded when they are no longer convenient. By focusing on student numbers rather than systemic issues like corporate greed, and housing inaccessibility, the government avoids tackling the real problems while fuelling nationalist rhetoric.
A History of Scapegoating Migrants:
The racist undertones of Australia’s immigration narrative and the way Australia discusses international students is eerily similar to past racist scapegoating of migrant groups. Whether it is Chinese gold miners in the 1800s or European migrants post World War Two, there is a pattern.
Migrants are welcomed when they serve economic needs but vilified when they seek the same rights as locals. Today’s version of this xenophobia manifests in the way students from Asia, the Middle East, and Africa are treated compared to their Western counterparts. White international students rarely face the same scrutiny, nor are they blamed for economic issues.
International students are not only overlooked by universities and governments but often excluded by their peers in the classroom. Amy observed a noticeable bias against students from non-English-speaking countries, who are frequently left out of discussions and social interactions.
Despite paying up to four times more than domestic students, they receive minimal support. Language needs are rarely accommodated, making it difficult for students to to communicate, build relationships, or fully engage in the classes they fund. Studying in a second language is already a challenge, yet when they struggle to contribute, they’re sidelined instead of supported.
At UTS, all students must complete a language assessment (OPELA), and those who don’t pass are enrolled in support classes. However, they still attend regular courses alongside fluent English speakers, making it hard to overcome language barriers. It's unrealistic to expect students to become proficient in English through just a few classes.
As Australian universities continue to prioritise profit, cultural integration and language support are neglected. The result is a system that exploits international students, viewing them less as individuals seeking education and rather as sources of revenue.
The hypocrisy of blaming students for economic woes proves Australia’s economy is deeply reliant on the education sector and universities have become corporatised institutions that prioritise profit over education. The federal government encourages universities to expand international student enrolments. And yet, when the public expresses frustration about rising costs of living… these very same students become attractively convenient scapegoats.
The real issue is not international students.
It is the government’s failure to invest in housing, infrastructure, and fair employment policies, masking economic mismanagement as public concern.
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