International student levy proposal in Australia criticised as threat to university reputations

The international student sector in Australia is one of the country’s major exports and was worth S$18.4 billion in 2022. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO
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SYDNEY - A proposal to introduce a levy on the annual revenues from international students at Australian universities has raised concerns that it could affect the funding and reputation of the country’s leading institutions and prompt foreign students to apply elsewhere.

The funds from the levy would be pooled and allocated to all Australian universities for their use, benefiting those with less revenue because they do not draw as many international students.

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