‘It’s very unfair’: Australia’s visa crackdown is disrupting international students and hitting university finances

Many international students have been forced to withdraw or defer their application to study at a university in Australia due to visa processing delays. Photograph: Ullstein Bild/Getty Images

It took Rajesh more than 12 months to receive his visa to study in Australia.

But Rajesh – not his real name – considers himself lucky. Two of his friends who also come from India have recently had their PhD offers expire after waiting for visas for more than 10 months.