Australia issued only 2,600 student visas to Hongkongers seeking higher education in the 2024-25 financial year. This was the lowest number in two decades. The decline follows a surge in approvals that occurred when Australia introduced a tailored “study-to-emigrate” pathway in the 2022-23 financial year.
An overseas education consultant specialising in Australian education noted that the decrease in student visas is attributed to the increasing availability of tertiary education opportunities within Hong Kong.
The trend was uncovered in the latest figures from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs, with the 2,600 student visas granted to Hongkongers – the lowest number since records became available in 2005-06.
The figure also represented a 4 per cent decrease from the 2,717 such visas issued last year and a 36 per cent drop from the 4,087 recorded in 2009-10, which was a peak year.
The decline contrasted with a 2 per cent increase in the number of Australian student visas granted to applicants from all over the world in 2024-25, reaching 206,300.
In 2022-23, the number of Hongkongers granted Australian student visas surged to 3,381, the third-highest level since records became available. The increase followed the launch of the bespoke immigration pathway for Hongkongers.
The number of dependants accompanying scheme applicants rose to 608 cases for that financial year. Before the pathway was launched, only 100 such dependants were typically recorded on an annual basis.
Australia, in the same vein as Britain and Canada, unveiled its bespoke immigration pathway for Hongkongers after Beijing imposed the national security law on the city in 2020.
The country launched its scheme in March 2022, allowing Hong Kong and British National (Overseas) passport holders who graduate from Australian universities and live in the country for three or four years on temporary graduate visas to apply for permanent residency.
In March this year, the Australian government told the South China Morning Post that 796 Hongkongers were offered permanent residency in 2024-25 under the policy, bringing the tally since the scheme’s launch to 1,846.
Will Kwong, managing director of AAS Education, an overseas consultancy company with a strong focus on Australia, said the decline in student visas granted to Hongkongers was linked to the city’s growing degree programme places.
“In recent years, some Hong Kong tertiary institutions have been offering more study places, particularly in health science; students interested in this field in the past might have had to go to Australia to study,” he said.
The education consultant was referring to the surge in degree programmes run by private tertiary institutions, such as Tung Wah College, which has been offering medical and health-related courses.
Kwong added that he expected the number of Hongkongers pursuing overseas studies in the near future to drop due to the city’s sluggish economy.
“Parents have to make sure their jobs are secured before sending children to study overseas; no one would want to pull the kids out of school due to financial difficulties,” he said.
“But Hong Kong’s economy is not as strong as it was, and parents may find their jobs are not stable.”
In a reply to the South China Morning Post, the Australian consulate in Hong Kong said the country was a top destination for international students.
“Australia’s education system boasts a remarkable global standing … our institutions excel across a diverse range of disciplines – many are ranked in the world’s top 50. Australia is also a world leader in graduate employment,” a spokesman said.
According to an annual pathway survey released by Hong Kong’s Education Bureau, 338 secondary school graduates went to Australia last year to pursue higher education, accounting for 11 per cent of those choosing to study outside the city.
The survey ranked Australia as the third most popular study destination for secondary school graduates, with mainland China at No 1 and the United Kingdom at No 2.
