Australia–India Education Deal: What It Means for Indian Students

Indian students planning to study overseas may have already heard about the education agreement between Australia and India. Announced in 2024, this partnership is aiming to bring in twice as many Indian students by the year 2030. It’s a significant step for both nations. Australia wants to grow its education industry, while India is looking to create more global opportunities for its younger population. Scholarships, simpler visas, and mutual recognition of degrees are some of the headline features. But while this all sounds promising, there are a few things worth looking at more closely.

Strong Intentions and Big Targets

The deal builds on a framework from 2023 where Australia and India agreed to accept and recognize each other’s qualifications. This has made things smoother for students who want to continue studying or working across borders. The Australian government has set a target of moving from just over 118,000 Indian students in 2024 to more than 236,000 by the end of the decade.

For Indian students, that opens a much wider door. Australia’s education sector already benefits from Indian enrollments, and this move is designed to take things further. Government officials have described it as a landmark in cooperation between the two countries.

Scholarships and Work Visas: What’s New

One of the biggest updates is the launch of the Maitri Scholarships. These are full tuition scholarships for Indian students, especially those pursuing postgraduate courses in science, technology, and related subjects. Starting from 2025, the plan is to support hundreds of students each year through this initiative, far beyond the 32 Australia Awards scholarships offered between 2007 and 2017.

On the visa side, the post-study work period has been extended. STEM graduates at the bachelor’s level can now stay up to three years, while PhD graduates have up to four years to work in Australia after finishing their course. There’s also a newer visa rule called the Genuine Student requirement. It was introduced in March 2024 to make the process more straightforward, though students still need to meet a minimum IELTS score of 6.0.

Financial Strains Are Still a Factor

Even with more scholarships and longer work options, affordability remains a key concern. In 2024, the number of Indian students coming to Australia actually went down. A big part of that is the rising cost of visas and everyday expenses. Currently, applying for a student visa costs AUD$1,600. That, combined with rising rent and food prices, can be difficult to manage, especially with exchange rate fluctuations.

It’s not just the upfront costs either. Students also need to show savings of close to AUD$29,710 to prove they can support themselves. For many families, that’s a serious amount of money to have available before a course even begins.

Post-Election Changes: What’s Different Now?

Following Australia’s federal election in 2025, new policies have taken shape. One of the most important updates is a cap on the total number of international students allowed into the country. For 2025, that number has been set at 270,000, a sharp drop from the 400,000 mark reached in 2023. Within that limit, around 145,000 spots have been set aside for universities and 95,000 for vocational education providers.

Some in the education sector worry that this might push students to choose other countries instead. Places like New Zealand, Ireland, Germany, and France have been working to attract more Indian students and could become more appealing if Australia feels out of reach.

Are More Fee Hikes on the Way?

There’s been talk about further increases to visa fees, though nothing has been confirmed yet. If costs were to go beyond AUD$2,500 per application, students and education agents believe it would become a serious obstacle. Countries like Germany and France, both targeting 30,000 Indian students by 2030, might look more attractive.

What Indian Students Are Experiencing

Students already in Australia have a mix of things to say. Priya Sharma, studying computer science at the University of Melbourne, shared how the Maitri Scholarship helped cover her tuition and how having a longer work visa made her feel more secure about her future. That said, others have pointed out challenges, especially when it comes to housing. Cities like Sydney have seen rental costs go up, and students are finding it harder to locate affordable accommodation close to campus.

Stories like these are valuable, not only because they show the reality on the ground but also because they help shape how policies evolve. When students speak up, institutions and policymakers tend to listen more closely.

This education pact is a major step forward, but there are still questions about how much impact it will have in the long run. The structure is in place, scholarships, extended work visas, mutual degree recognition. These are strong points in Australia’s favor. But the rising costs and limits on student intake could make it harder for the agreement to fully deliver on its promises.