In its May budget the Victorian government has predicted international students will begin to return to the state from the start of next year but their numbers won’t return to pre-pandemic levels until mid-2025.

Without access to financial help given to Australian citizens and permanent residents, some overseas students already in the country could not afford to stay.

Victoria University cybersecurity major Hafeez returned to Sri Lanka before finishing his degree and is hoping to return when it’s possible, as Syed Ahmed reports.