However, the improvement appears to be driven largely by changes in application processing patterns rather than a broad easing of visa policies.
Data from Australia's Department of Home Affairs showed that 83% of offshore higher education visa applications processed in April were approved, up from 59% in March and 67% in February.
About 7,400 visas were granted to offshore university applicants in April, compared with 6,900 in March, despite authorities processing nearly 3,000 fewer applications during the month.
Patrons dine at a bar in Sydney, Australia in 2021. Photo by Reuters
An analysis by Times Higher Education (THE) found that the higher approval rate coincided with a sharp reduction in the processing of applications from several South Asian countries that face heightened immigration scrutiny.
