Australia’s migration crackdown is starting to hit universities

Australia’s tighter migration settings are already showing up in university enrolments. Adelaide University has enrolled 16,677 international students in 2026, compared with 20,820 at its two predecessor institutions at the same point last year, putting it below target and potentially costing tens of millions of dollars in revenue.

Meanwhile, Australia is strengthening immigration compliance, including 100 additional compliance officers and 250 additional detention beds, as it addresses a reported 77,000+ people without valid visas.