Educational policy contraction and international student mobility

Nepali graduates and prospective students respond to changes in Australia

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/a0zr3954

Keywords:

Australian education, downsizing, early career graduates, prospective Nepali students, brain drain

Abstract

We examine the effects of educational downgrades on early-career Nepali graduates navigating post-study life and prospective students to Australia. This research uses a qualitative-dominant mixed-methods approach, with both qualitative and quantitative data. This research has employed a descriptive, exploratory research design. The findings reveal that three dominant factors play crucial roles in selecting alternative destinations for international study. The study concludes that Australian educational downsizing markedly reshapes aspirations and expected returns to education due to increasing uncertainty, whereas Nepalese students are redirected to alternative destinations, underscoring the need for student-friendly policies for destinations and a stronger domestic education system. Therefore, this research focuses on the Nepalese case, linking Australian higher-education downsizing to academic disruption and career uncertainty among international students.

 

Author Biographies

  • Tirtha Raj Timsina, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

    An Assistant Professor and PhD candidate at Tribhuvan University, Nepal, with research interests in Development Economics, Migration and Remittance, and Rural Regeneration and Resource Management.

  • Bishnu Bahadur Khatri , Tribhuvan University, Nepal

    An Associate Professor and former Head of the Central Department of Rural Development, Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

  • Nirajan Rijal, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

    Former Head of Department and faculty member of the Department of Rural Development, Bhaktapur Multiple Campus, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

  • Bandana Pokharel, Tribhuvan University, Nepal

    A freelance gender analyst and PhD candidate at Tribhuvan University, Nepal.

  • Sushma Baral, AECC Global, Kathmandu

    An Australian PIEC-certified career counselor and visa officer currently working at AECC Global, an A-graded educational consultancy in Nepal. 

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Published

2026-03-07

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 6 (2026): Journal of International Students

Section

Immigration Policies, Student Security, and Emerging Issues

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Copyright (c) 2026 Tirtha Raj Timsina, Bishnu Bahadur Khatri , Nirajan Rijal, Bandana Pokharel, Sushma Baral

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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How to Cite

Timsina, T. R., Khatri, B. B., Rijal, N., Pokharel, B., & Baral, S. (2026). Educational policy contraction and international student mobility: Nepali graduates and prospective students respond to changes in Australia. Journal of International Students, 16(6), 133-154. https://doi.org/10.32674/a0zr3954