Many of these students drew on their savings to sustain them, while others left the country, condemning Australia’s actions.

Paradoxically, the City of Melbourne continued to attract the interest of international students, climbing the global ‘QS Best Student Cities Ranking’.

Melbourne was declared the best city for students in Australia, and the fifth best city in the world.

Sydney follows, in ninth place; Brisbane, in twenty-fourth; and Adelaide rests in thirty-first place.

London sits firmly in first place, as it has done for some years.

The ranking is dictated by the experience of international students, rather than the domestic ones.

Now a global industry, the art of attracting overseas students to Australian universities has resulted in a financial boon for many tertiary institutions.

Despite these accolades, inflation and the sharp increase in rental prices have had devastating effects on young people, who are often limited to casual work.

“We’re doing everything we can to attract international students back to Melbourne,” City of Melbourne mayor Sally Capp said.

“We offer unforgettable experiences in our city: free tickets to attractions and events, work and mentoring programs, mental health and food safety services, language lessons and partnerships with educational institutions.

“Prior to the pandemic, international students contributed $13.7 billion a year to Victoria’s economy and supported nearly 80,000 jobs.

Regardless of the two-year hiatus, more than 85,000 international students arrived in Melbourne last month.

This was a 25 per cent increase, compared with December 2021, and the highest level reached since March.

Melbourne ranked third in the world for ‘student voice’, a category based on alumni recommending the city to their peers as an excellent place to study.

“Our international students are a huge part of what makes Melbourne such a great place,” Capp continued.

“We want to do everything we can to ensure their time here is overwhelmingly positive.

“The strong return of international students will have significant economic benefits for our city, creating jobs and driving up spending at city businesses.”

Originally from Ariccia, near Rome, Angelo Marchionne is an international student who now lives in Melbourne.

He migrated to Australia on a student visa and started studying marketing.

He began a sommelier role at the Tesoro Gastronomia restaurant in Balwyn and undertook a further year at university, studying Communications.

Angelo Marchionne

“It’s only been seven months since I landed in Australia,” Marchionne said.

“I left the outskirts of Rome for a big city, but I’m happy here – Melbourne meets my needs and the cost of living is relative to my wages.”

Marchionne appreciates the “comprehensive network of trains, trams and buses that make Melbourne easy to live in”.

Though the cost of using public transport is “a bit expensive”, Marchionne believes that “it’s worth it”, as “the systems are punctual and reliable”.

In contrast, Laura Innocenti arrived in Victoria last January to study her Masters in International Relations at Monash University.

She has found few offers for students and has seen several inconsistencies in the government’s offerings.

Laura Innocenti

“The discounts for public transport are intended exclusively for those who are studying their first degree,” she explained.

“There are no concessions for students undertaking their Masters.

“I find there are continual interruptions on the two railway lines I use most often – Cranbourne and Pakenham.

“Whether it’s maintenance or a breakdown, in the last seven months, trains have been cancelled and replaced with buses so many times, which makes my commute to the city very long.

“What I like most about my experience are my extraordinary professors and the excellent university administration, which are far superior to the French universities where I obtained my first degree.”

Even if Melbourne offers a variety of events and attractions, Innocenti argues that “there isn’t a lot of time for leisure if you’re working part-time and studying full-time”, which is a necessity for “keeping up with the cost of living in Australia”.

The City of Melbourne has appealed to the federal government, asking them to implement a four-year post-study work visa for all international students who have completed their studies in the country.

The idea is to “increase the attractiveness of Melbourne as a study destination and to increase the number of skilled workers living in the city”.