The Collapse Begins Australia’s Visa Crackdown Forces Iconic English College to Shut Down

Australian Immigration News

The Collapse Begins: Australia’s Visa Crackdown Forces Iconic English College to Shut Down A respected name in Australian education is gone—Perth International College of English (PICE) has shuttered after more than two decades. The cause? A brutal mix of rising visa fees, skyrocketing refusal rates, and overwhelming delays. As panic spreads through the ELICOS sector, is this the start of a wider collapse? The full version of this story is available on our website. Link mentioned in the description below.

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00:00The collapse begins.

00:02Australia's visa crackdown forces iconic English college to shut down.

00:09A respected name in Australian education is gone.

00:12Perth International College of English has shuttered after more than two decades.

00:17The cause? A brutal mix of rising visa fees, skyrocketing refusal rates and overwhelming delays.

00:25As panic spreads through the English language intensive courses for overseas student sector,

00:31is this the start of a wider collapse?

00:35The full version of this story is available on our website.

00:39Link mentioned in the description below.

00:55In this video, we explore the closure of Perth International College of English after 25 years.

01:03The impact of the student visa fee hike, rising refusal rates and processing delays,

01:08support measures for affected students,

01:10and the sector-wide consequences for English language intensive courses for overseas students' providers.

01:16Watch till the end to understand the full fallout,

01:21and discover key strategies for students and providers to navigate this turbulent landscape.

01:34Let's begin with closure of Perth International College of English after 25 years.

01:39Perth International College of English officially closed on June 16, 2025,

01:46after serving international students for over 25 years.

01:50Once known for its vibrant student community and high-quality instruction,

01:54Perth International College of English's closure marks a shocking loss to the English language intensive courses

02:00for overseas students' landscape.

02:02The institution had been a trusted member of English Australia for more than two decades,

02:08led by veteran educator John Paxton.

02:11The Tuition Protection Service confirmed its liquidation,

02:14leaving hundreds of students and staff in limbo.

02:20Next, we examine the impact of student visa fee hike.

02:25Australia's recent increase in student visa fees,

02:28from under $700 to $1,600,

02:32has caused severe financial strain on both students and educational institutions.

02:37For many students from developing nations,

02:39this price hike has made studying in Australia nearly impossible.

02:43Institutions like Perth International College of English,

02:46heavily reliant on student enrolments,

02:48found themselves unable to maintain operational costs.

02:52The fee hike is being cited as one of the primary reasons

02:55behind the dramatic drop in international admissions.

03:00Then, we cover the rising refusal rates and delays.

03:05Over the past 18 months, student visa refusal rates have reached record highs,

03:10affecting thousands of applicants.

03:12Even those who met eligibility criteria faced unexpected denials,

03:16creating a wave of fear and uncertainty.

03:20Simultaneously, application processing delays stretched into months,

03:24forcing students to miss intakes and colleges to lose revenue.

03:28These factors combined to create the perfect storm

03:31that institutions like Perth International College of English

03:34simply couldn't survive.

03:38After that, we look at the support for affected students.

03:41The Tuition Protection Service and English Australia

03:45have stepped in to support displaced students and faculty.

03:48Emergency sessions were held at Perth International College of English's campus

03:53to offer clarity and alternative pathways for those affected.

03:58Tuition Protection Service is helping students transfer to other institutions

04:02or arrange refunds, but the emotional toll remains high.

04:07Many international students are now questioning

04:09whether Australia remains a safe and stable option for their education.

04:13And finally, we explore the sector-wide consequences for English language intensive courses

04:21for overseas students' providers.

04:25Perth International College of English's downfall is not an isolated case.

04:30International House Sydney and the Language Academy have also closed their doors in recent months.

04:35The English language intensive courses for overseas students' sector,

04:40once a booming part of Australia's international education industry,

04:43is now buckling under pressure.

04:45Industry experts warn that unless urgent reforms are made,

04:49more closures are inevitable.

04:51The loss of trusted institutions not only disrupts student lives,

04:56but also weakens Australia's global educational standing.

05:02Conclusion of today's video update.

05:05This isn't just about one school shutting down.

05:08It's about a system unravelling.

05:10Visa policies meant to strengthen borders are now threatening one of Australia's most valuable industries.

05:17As the collapse ripples across campuses, the question remains,

05:22will action come too late to save what's left?

05:27All done for today.

05:29Let us know what stood out to you in the comments.

05:32If you found this helpful or interesting,

05:34don't forget to like and subscribe.

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