International students are good for Australian universities and Australian students. They provide additional revenue and subsidise costs for local students. The Department of Immigration and Citizenship seem to have forgotten these benefits, forcing African students to cut through red tape and meet onerous and unrealistic financial requirements in order to study in Australia.

The department's attitude has been described as reminiscent of “the White Australia policy”. While that may be extreme, the numbers speak for themselves. The number of African students starting in Australian tertiary institutions fell from 7698 in 2008 to 4591 last year.

It's little wonder. African students are required to have $70,000 to $100,000 in a bank account for three months before applying for a student visa. Although the Immigration department may fear that students will seek asylum once in the country, there must be a balance between allowing them to come over with nothing and forcing them to have more in the bank than many Australians.

Demand that the Department of Immigration and Citizenship reduce the red tape and financial requirements for African students studying in Australia.

We the undersigned believe it should be easier for African students to obtain a visa to study in Australia.

International students are good for Australian universities and Australian students. They provide additional revenue and subsidise costs for local students. Yet the red tape and financial requirements required by your department has cause the number of African students starting in Australian tertiary institutions to fall from 7698 in 2008 to 4591 last year.

Your requirement that students have a liquid amount of $70,000 to $100,000 in a bank account for three months before applying for a visa is excessive. That sum is more than many independent Australians possess.

Please consider relaxing requirements for African students wishing to study in Australia.