International students are preparing to return to campus for the first time since March 2020.
Federal health minister Greg Hunt says Australia is reopening to international students and skilled workers from Wednesday 15 December 2021.
But increased fees isn’t the welcome back international students had hoped for.
Three of Australia's biggest universities say fees were unchanged last year, but require an increase in 2022.
Monash University is increasing fees by 6 per cent and says that's "in line with the market landscape".
The University of Sydney is boosting international student costs on average by 3.8 per cent, and says that's "in the context of demand and a globally competitive market".
Meanwhile, The University of Melbourne is putting up tuition fees by 3.2 per cent for international and domestic students, and says this "reflects routine increases in operating costs".
Monash Student Association 2022 president Ishka de Silva says this is putting financial strain on international students who are already struggling.
