Australia's Genuine Student test is deterring South Asians

Line drawing: the Sydney Opera House, an arrow, a GS checklist document and a magnifying glass

What happened

Australia's Genuine Student (GS) requirement asks students to show why their chosen course fits their past study, career plans and circumstances, and to prove how they will pay. Further visa changes took effect on 2 October 2026, including limits on bringing dependents. In a guest post for ICEF Monitor, Mukesh Dhamala, South Asia regional director for NAPS Australia, says these changes are making many families rethink Australia altogether.

He cites figures reported by ICEF Monitor. The overall grant rate for main student visa applicants was 75.5% in August 2026. Offshore grant rates were 51% for India, 34% for Bangladesh and 13% for Nepal. From January to March 2026, offshore higher education refusal rates were 42% for India, 69% for Nepal, 45% for Bangladesh, 41% for Sri Lanka and 37% for Pakistan.

The author describes a Nepali student who planned a Master of Information Technology and to travel with a spouse; after the October news that most students cannot bring spouses, the family dropped the plan. He says such cases never appear in refusal figures. For India, he says the key is matching the course to the student, who must be able to explain the choice under GS. These are his views, not new government rules.

What it means for you

If you apply to Australia, be ready to explain clearly why your course fits your earlier studies, career goals and current situation.
Since 2 October 2026 most students can no longer bring a spouse, according to the article, so check the dependent rules before you plan to travel as a couple.
Plan finances early: tuition, living costs, insurance, visa charges and proof of every funding source, including loans and family income, should be documented.