International Student Fees and Education in Australia

This essay examines the controversial issue of unequal fee charges for international students in Australia. It highlights the significant financial burden placed on international students compared to their domestic counterparts, often paying substantially higher tuition fees. The essay explores the arguments used to justify these higher costs, such as the claim that international students do not contribute to Australian taxes, and critiques their validity. It presents evidence of the negative consequences of these high fees, including reduced enrollment, student dropouts, and a decline in the country's income from the education sector. The essay also references several sources that discuss the lack of correlation between the high fees and any additional benefits provided to international students, as well as the potential for graduates to struggle to find employment after graduation. The author concludes by emphasizing the need for a more equitable fee structure and the importance of treating all students with respect, regardless of their origin.

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UNEQUAL FEE CHARGES FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN AUSTRALIA
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Introduction
Having researched Australia education, mainly on the fee charges, it reveals that the
international students pay higher than the native students. It is a dream of many from
international students especially from Asia, Africa and the rest of the world to go and study in
Australia. However, their dreams become shattered when it comes to battling with financial
problems. The situation is further worsened when they are required to pay higher than the local
students. This is clear indication that international students are not treated equally with the other
students. The inequality on fee charges raises the alarm and it is a problem that needs to look in
to with great concern. Finding from different universities in the country show that most students
have not graduated due to the financial problem (Osborne, 2015).
Discussion
Based on the fee charges set by the university, for example, science course will cost a
student from Australia $8,500 every year while a student from oversea will be charged $35,500
every year. Looking at the issue on the legal basis, it is termed to be right since it is believed that
international student does not pay taxes to the government of Australia and that is the reason why
they are charged high prices. The taxes are believed to be contributing towards the running of the
university. However, this utilitarian argument seems to hold no water. This argument will only
be justifiable if either the university education was free or universities were newly built.
However, this is not the case because many of the universities in Australia are well-established
and education is not free (Osborne, 2015). Therefore, there is no validity of the consensus that
international students should pay more than the rest of the students because they do not pay
Australian taxes.

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As a result of the higher charges required from the international students, they have been
discouraged from attending the universities in Australia. In return, there has been a reduction in
the income earned by the country from the education sector. There is also a problem of school
dropout; this is because some of the students who had sponsored themselves to go and further
their studies in Australia end up declining because of lack of the fee. Analysts argue that there is
no relationship between the costs charged to them and the grants they receive after paying
(University World News, 2014) This is because observations from many scholars confirm that
some of the international students are offered courses that are not marketable thereby ending up
jobless after graduation.
It is argued that if the idea of charging high prices to the international students should
follow a well-established pattern but should not be enforced (Chang, 2012). This because
charging higher fees to international students means that all non-Australian should be paying
higher prices for every service rendered to them. However, this is not the case. It has been
created in the mind of oversea students that they are not similar with the local students. Globally,
students should be respected as individuals who are trying their best to brighten their future
(Rana, 2015)). This will be fair and right for every student both at local and international level.
For example, in some of the countries in Asia, both domestic and oversea learners pay a uniform
fee.
Conclusion
Despite the deregulation of the university and need for the sustainability in the
universities, it seems that some of the universities in Australia fail to reveal the fee they charge to
international students. It is evident that most institutions do not spend the amount that is beyond
what is granted by the government and the high fee that is charged to the international students

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goes into the pockets of the individuals who are involved in the running of them. Students also
report that despite them paying a higher fee than the Australian students, they do not receive
extra benefits thereby denying them their rights.

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References
Chang, C., 2012. How much does it actually cost universities to teach students?. [Online]
Available at: http://www.news.com.au/finance/economy/how-much-does-it-actually-cost-
universities-to-teach-students/news-story/f6f754409eabcfa336d807e0cb479647
[Accessed 14 September 2017].
Osborne, P., 2015. Why are international students charged such high fees in Australia?. [Online]
Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/ockhamsrazor/why-are-
international-students-charged-high-fees/6908188
[Accessed 14 September 2017].
Rana, M., 2015. Why are international students charged such high fees in Australia?. [Online]
Available at: https://www.change.org/p/malcolm-turnbull-australian-government-department-of-
education-why-are-international-students-charged-such-high-fees-in-australia
[Accessed 11 September 2017].
University World News, 2014. Internationals face higher tuition fees. [Online]
Available at: http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20141023150110719
[Accessed 14 September 2017].