Student visas could be fast tracked as Australia responds to a snap decision by the Chinese government to ban citizens from studying at foreign universities online. 

China’s education ministry announced the ban on Saturday, telling its citizens to return to overseas campuses for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic started.

The higher education sector estimates the ban would result in about 40,000 international students returning to Australian universities but have warned of logistical challenges in relation to visa processing and accommodation.

Education Minister Jason Clare said his department would meet representatives from Home Affairs on Monday afternoon.

“It is good that Chinese students are coming back,” he said in Sydney. 

“The department of education is meeting with the Department of Home Affairs … to make sure that we’re putting in place all the measures that we can to assist with visa processing.”

With less than a month until many university courses are due to start, the Australian Technology Network of Universities called on the federal government to move quickly to ensure a seamless return of international students from China. 

“We must ensure that we are working together to guarantee the system can cope with what is going to be a surge in demand, particularly around visa applications,” executive director Luke Sheehy said.

Before international borders closed in 2020, Chinese students accounted for more than one-third of 67,000 onshore international students enrolled at ATN universities, including Curtin, Deakin and RMIT University, the University of Newcastle, University of South Australia and University of Technology Sydney. 

“International students are a part of our family and the return of students from China will have an amazing impact on campus life,” Mr Sheehy said. 

By Maeve Bannister in Canberra