Australia to ease way for Chinese students

For the first time, students from China are likely to be able to study in Australia at junior middle school level.

A legislative proposal allowing the program is nearing approval, said Eliza Chui, education commissioner at the Australian consulate in Beijing, on Thursday.

During a press conference reviewing Australian education policy changes in 2013, Eliza said that the legislation is likely to be passed in the coming two or three months.

It is related to a package of measures to ease student visas and simplify academic assessments, moves included in a series of changes to improve competitiveness in the country's international education sector.

"Assessment levels would be reduced from the previous five to three," she said. "Previously, Chinese students belonged to Level 4. But once the legislation is finally approved, China will belong to Level 3 automatically."

"This means that finance evidence for Chinese students would reduce from 18 months to 12 months," she said, adding that the changes will clear the way for Chinese students to study in Australia for junior middle school.

China remains the top source nation for international students studying in Australia. Chinese students there accounted for 28.9 percent of the international students registered in 2013. More than 14, 600 Chinese students were newly enrolled in Australia in 2013, about a 6.1 percent increase compared with the same time period in 2012.

A total of 9,674 student visas were granted to Chinese students from July to September 2013, among which 1,241 were granted to high school students from China, according to the Australian Trade Commission.

Eliza said that the change has not been implemented at the moment, but she is confident that this will come true in the months to come.

The policy change, if realized, also means that Chinese students would be able to apply for a student visa in Australia with about 40,000 Australian dollars ($35,217) in financial requirements.

Eliza also said that there is a high demand among Chinese for overseas high school education, a fact noticed by the education team of the Australian Trade Commission in a 2012 study.

"We will emphasize our promotion of high school education this year in China," Eliza said.

Contact the writer at zhangyue@chinadaily.com.cn