University of Melbourne Professor Michael Wesley has strongly criticised the Albanese government's decision to cap the number of international students at Australian universities.

In a recent opinion piece, Professor Wesley argues that the policy is a kneejerk reaction with severe consequences for both the higher education sector and students.

Professor Wesley says imposing uniform limits on the percentage of international students universities can enrol would be disastrous. 

He argues that such a policy would limit students' access to quality education and shift the financial burden of expanding tertiary education onto taxpayers and domestic students, who are already facing rising student debt.

“Imposing a flat 35 per cent or 40 per cent international student cap on all Australian universities, as some have suggested, will inevitably reduce the overall quality of Australia’s tertiary education system,” Wesley writes. 

He explained that this would force top-ranking universities to cut thousands of international student places and forgo significant revenue. 

The resulting staff cuts, infrastructure delays, and reductions in diversity-promoting scholarships would have immediate and lasting negative impacts.

The repercussions of such a cap would be particularly harsh on Australian students. 

With fewer international students, universities would have to cut costs significantly, leading to higher student-teacher ratios, larger class sizes, reduced access to labs and libraries, and ageing infrastructure. 

This would result in a poorer educational experience for domestic students.

Professor Wesley dismisses the notion that international students who miss out on their preferred Australian universities would simply choose other institutions within the country. 

He cites data showing that international students prefer to study in large, cosmopolitan cities. 

If they cannot enrol in universities in these cities, they are likely to choose institutions in other countries.

He warns that a uniform cap would harm individual universities and could set the entire sector into a downward spiral. 

Australia currently has more universities in the global top-100 than any country except the US and UK, a status that attracts international students and enhances the national reputation for higher education. 

However, a uniform cap could lead to a fall in university rankings, reducing Australia's appeal as a top education destination. 

He points to Canada as a cautionary tale, noting that its decision to cap international student numbers has led to a sharp decline in its attractiveness as an education destination within less than a year.

“Maintaining world-class universities is not a vanity project for Australia. It is vital to our national future,” Wesley says. 

He noted the benefits that other countries derive from their world-class universities, including global networks of discovery and innovation, attracting top talent, intellectual and cultural excellence, and highly educated workforces. 

Professor Wesley says any caps on international students should be tailored to each university's profile to avoid irreparable damage to the sector. 

He expresses concern that short-term populist politics could inflict lasting harm on Australia's higher education system and the opportunities available to future generations. 

“This is something that should concern every Australian,” he writes.