The recent increase in student visa application fees has made Wang Cheng hesitant to choose Australia as her study destination.(Supplied: Wang Cheng)
 

After almost 10 years in Australia, Sonya Chuhovska is planning to move back to Bulgaria with her husband.(Supplied)

After moving to Australia from Bulgaria with her husband almost 10 years ago, Sonya Chuhovska is now planning to move back.
 

As thousands of school leavers across Queensland today find out if they've been offered a university place, one question has again resurfaced: why are the entry requirements for international students different from Australian students?

For domestic students, university offers are based on an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR).
 

Tightening visa processes for migrant workers and international students are some of the biggest measures proposed by the Albanese government as it cracks down on the "broken" migration system in Australia.

The government has revealed its 10-year migration strategy which includes Australia's current migration numbers and how it proposes to curb them.

Australia's net migration level is believed to have peaked last financial year at 510,000 and is forecast to fall to more normal levels, down to 375,000 next year and 250,000 in 2025.
 

A COVID-era visa that allowed more than 20,000 international students to work an unlimited amount of hours is being phased out, the federal government has said.

Existing visa holders will remain lawful until their current visa expires, with the ability to extend it for another six months at a cost of $405.

But from February 2024, the visa will be closed to all applicants as it will be completely scrapped.

The program was established in 2020 to support international students who were trapped in Australia during the pandemic, and to fill labour shortages due to international border closures.

According to the latest figures from Home Affairs, more than 17,000 students were granted a 408 visa in 2022, compared to around 3,000 students in 2021.