Students, colleges affected by new migration shake-up

Overseas enrolments will be further affected by the latest changes to skilled migration, likely to shift the focus from a long list of skills to sponsored jobs and health and resource sector occupations.

A tightened skilled occupations list (SOL) is to be introduced this year and will effectively replace the critical skills list (CSL) in determining the occupations likely to be targeted by overseas students who want to migrate to Australia. The change, announced by immigration minister Chris Evans, is one of three current overhauls likely to affect overseas enrolments. The other two are the Baird Review of the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act, which is expected to report at the end of this month, and the ESOS Amendment Bill, which was unexpectedly delayed in Parliament last...