Melbourne: Australia has increased the cost of student visa fees for international students from $710 to $1,600, a move that will affect millions of Indians studying in the country.

The move has sparked outrage among student representatives, who say the increase will drive potential students to rivals, ABC News reported. The federal government said the extra revenue would help fund measures in education, including graduate loan cuts, financial support for apprentices and the implementation of its migration strategy. According to the Indian Mission in Canberra, the number of Indian students enrolled in Australia by August 2023 is estimated at 1.2 lakh, making Indian students the second largest group of foreign students.