By Sarah McCrea
ANU has two goals when it comes to international students: increasing the number of international students and ensuring, as ANU states, a “world class education” for those already here. But are these being achieved? Observer speaks to the ANU and members of the International Students’ Department (ISD) to find out.
The ANU has revealed it’s not meeting the international student cap placed upon it and other tertiary education institutions in Australia.
In 2024, the government passed legislation which created limits on the number of international students who could commence study at Australian tertiary education institutions, to be put into effect in 2025. Each institution had different caps, with the ANU only being able to admit 3400 international students.
However, towards the end of this year, the government has raised the cap, allowing 25,000 more total international students into Australian tertiary education in 2026.
It is uncertain how many of these will add to ANU’s potential international student numbers.
However, the rising cap doesn’t necessarily matter, as a spokesperson for the ANU revealed that the university had only filled just under 84 per cent of its 2025 allocation. As of 1 October 2025, 2,860 international students commenced study at ANU.
The spokesperson stated, “The University still has capacity under the current allocation to admit another 540 non-exempt students and we are continuing to work towards that target.” Domestic and international student applications for study at the ANU increased in 2025 compared to 2024, both overall and in the two semesters.
The university is intending to raise this even more in 2026.
“As a community, ANU is enriched by the contributions of our international students. Accordingly, the University will take steps to maintain and grow international student numbers into 2026 and beyond.“
Some have questioned whether the university should be aiming to increase its international student numbers if it is having issues accommodating its already-enrolled international students.
One international student told Observer, “ANU relies heavily on student societies to support international students and help them integrate. Personally, I did not receive any formal briefings from ANU upon arrival.”
They compared their experience to their study in the United States, with sessions on visa requirements and “university-organised town tours and trips to notable locations”.
There are also issues with helping international students adjust at a campus level, them commenting “the international student representative, even in halls where international students make up the majority or a substantial proportion, receives only about $200 as a stipend.”
“Some hall events, such as ‘Sex Week,’ tend to be hit-or-miss with international students. In my hall, while leadership often expressed a desire to increase international participation, there was little actual consultation with international students in leadership roles or collaboration with our department.”
They added representatives who were domestic students, “often assumed shared cultural norms, and were puzzled when engagement remained low”, as well as giving an example of international students being blamed for issues in residences.
Allegedly, when attempting to resolve issues of food theft, “some student leaders suggested that ‘maybe it’s the international students because they can’t speak English or read notices’”. They added this was “tone-deaf given that all international students must meet English proficiency requirements.”
The experiences of current international students demonstrate there are significant issues with the system of management of transitioning to living and studying in Australia, as well as on a campus level and in day-to-day interaction. But what could be contributing to ANU not meeting its’ international student cap?
“Increased tuition and living costs in Australia are making it harder to afford studying at ANU…other universities [are] offering more competitive programs and better support,” said Jirachaya Insingha, ISD Social Officer.
For international students currently studying at the ANU, there are ways to ask for help, voice concerns and opinions, and contribute to advocacy for international students.
Seungbin Kang, the President of the ISD and International Students Officer at ANUSA, encourages international students to complete the ISD’s inaugural International Students’ Experience survey, “which looks to collect information on international students’ experiences in education, cost of living, housing, social experiences, and more.”
Results from the survey will contribute to the inaugural International Students’ Report, which will be released each year by the ISD.
International students at the ANU are directed towards the fortnightly meetings held by the ISD. Kang states, “These spaces are a good opportunity for students to meet their representatives and share any feedback or thoughts they have.”
The Department is further involved in communicating with international students through social media platforms such as Rednote and physical outreach events such as the one at Toad Hall this year.
Graphics by Fatima Usman
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