Australian university faces $64 million revenue shortfall as visa restrictions hit students from Nigeria, Kenya, India and Nepal

• Adelaide University faces a projected A$90 million revenue shortfall after international student enrolments fell 40% below target for the first semester.
• Australia’s stricter visa requirements and increased application fees have significantly impacted enrolments, affecting students from countries like Nigeria, Kenya, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
• Student visa rejection rates for applicants from some African and South Asian countries have sharply increased in 2026, contributing to the decline.
• Other Australian universities are experiencing similar challenges, with overall international student numbers falling 8% nationwide, though some institutions like Flinders University have seen growth.

The financial pressure comes as Australia tightens student visa requirements and increases application fees, affecting prospective students from countries including Nigeria, Kenya, India, Nepal and Bangladesh

According to Times Higher Education, Adelaide University enrolled 16,677 international students in 2026, down from 20,820 across its two predecessor institutions during the corresponding period in 2025

The decline represents 4,143 fewer overseas students, a drop of nearly 20%, while first-semester enrolments were 40% below target, contributing to the projected revenue shortfall

Adelaide University began operations in January 2026 following the merger of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia, a project estimated to cost between A$500 million and A$650 million, supported by an A$464.5 million funding package from the South Australian government

The merger was intended to strengthen research and international competitiveness, with projections that the institution could attract 6,000 additional overseas students by 2034

However, declining enrolments have placed those expectations under pressure, prompting administrators to review spending and staffing costs

Among the measures under consideration is a voluntary early retirement scheme for employees aged over 55 with at least five years of service, while voluntary redundancies could follow if further cost reductions become necessary

Adelaide University’s head of people and culture, Joanne Fox, stressed that participation would remain optional

“No one is expected or required to express interest, apply or retire,” Fox said in an internal communication

The university has linked its declining international enrolments to Australia’s tighter immigration policies, including higher visa refusal rates and increased application costs

Student visa application fees have risen to A$2,500, adding to the cost of studying in Australia, while the government has introduced further measures to strengthen immigration controls

On September 17, 2026, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke also announced plans to restrict most international students from bringing family members, with exemptions proposed for PhD students and certain other groups

Reacting to the policy changes, Adelaide University’s deputy vice-chancellor for international and external engagement, Professor Jessica Gallagher, said:

“We are deeply concerned by the policy direction.”

She also linked the university’s declining enrolments to tighter visa requirements affecting South Asian applicants

“The policies that have been introduced over the last 12 months have had a significant impact on our attractiveness to international students,” Gallagher told ABC News

According to Times Higher Education, student visarejection rates for applicants from Nigeria and Kenya approached 80% in September 2026, compared with less than 10% a year earlier

Applicants from India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have also faced tighter screening, although Adelaide University has not disclosed how much of its revenue shortfall is attributable to individual countries

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese defended the restrictions, saying international education remained important but required stronger immigration oversight

“We need to make sure as well that students coming here are coming here for educational purposes, which is why we need to make sure there’s integrity in the system,” Albanese said

Source: africa.businessinsider.com