Perth International College of English Closes Amid Visa Fee Hikes and Enrolment Struggles
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The Perth International College of English (PICE), a long-standing institution in Australia’s ELICOS (English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students) sector, has officially shut down due to rising student visa fees and mounting visa refusal rates.
A notice issued by the Tuition Protection Service (TPS) confirmed that PICE ceased operations on 16 June and has entered liquidation. TPS is now coordinating support for the affected international students.
PICE, which had served international students for over 25 years, cited the increased visa application fee of AUD $1,600, lengthy processing delays, and a surge in visa rejections as the primary reasons behind its closure. These issues contributed to a sharp drop in enrolments, making the college financially unsustainable.
Ian Aird, CEO of English Australia, acknowledged the gravity of the situation. “Despite PICE’s exemplary reputation, the rise in visa fees and delays meant they simply couldn’t sustain enough enrolments,” he said. Aird noted that PICE director John Paxton and his team had welcomed and educated tens of thousands of students since the college’s founding in 2002.
The closure marks yet another blow to Australia’s ELICOS sector, which has seen a 50% decline in English language student enrolments following the 2024 visa fee hike. Other institutions such as IH Sydney and The Language Academy have also recently ceased operations, citing similar financial pressures.
English Australia is now working with TPS and PICE to support students impacted by the closure, including hosting a student information session on the former college campus.
“This is a time to support one another,” said Aird, extending sympathies to staff and educators affected by recent closures across the sector. He also encouraged those impacted to reach out for guidance and assistance.
Australia’s international education community is calling for urgent reform to safeguard the future of the ELICOS sector, a critical component of the country’s education and migration ecosystem.
Source: THE PIE NEWS
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