Australian universities urge students to do their own research, rather than heed China's racism warning

International education experts say students are being used as "pawns in a geopolitical game" after China warned students to be cautious about studying in Australia.

Humanities degrees are set to double in price as Parliament passes higher education bill. Source: AAP

Australia's university sector is calling on the federal government to urgently repair its relationship with China before universities and students pay the price.

On Tuesday night, China's education ministry told students they should be "cautious about choosing to go to Australia or return to Australia to study" after "multiple discriminatory incidents against Asians in Australia".

Australia's Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China Li Keqiang. Source: AAP

With recent modelling by Universities Australia showing higher education institutions stand to lose as much as $4.8 billion over the next four years as the coronavirus fallout continues, China's announcement has only brought more uncertainty to the sector.

International Education Association of Australia CEO Phil Honeywood said he hoped the federal government would work with its Chinese peers to make sure students feel comfortable returning to Australian soil.

"We hope that common sense will prevail here and the sector is willing to work with our government to ensure negotiations are done in a cordial manner," he told SBS News.

"Clearly it's a real shame if students and young people are being used as pawns in a geopolitical game being played on the world stage."

Universities are lobbying for international students stuck overseas due to coronavirus border closures to be allowed to return in time for the start of semester two next month.

While China has not moved to ban students from returning to Australia, Tuesday's advisory said Australia had also failed to "effectively control" the pandemic, adding "there are risks in international travel and open campuses". 

Mr Honeywood said he hopes "common sense will prevail" when Australia moves to allow international students to return.

"Chinese parents are well aware that Australia is a safe, welcoming country, and we’ve been receiving over 200,000 Chinese students a year for 15 years or more now," he said.

"The Chinese Government's advisories will obviously have some influence, but they will decide what's best for their children." 

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has previously indicated international students might be able to return to Australia as early as July under phase three of his coronavirus reopening plan, but no firm date has been set.

Group of Eight CEO Vicki Thomson said China's statement was disappointing and urged students to do their own research before deciding whether to return to Australia.

"The Go8 is absolutely committed to our international students and to maintaining a positive and collaborative relationship with China, but statements such as this do make things more difficult at an already difficult time," she said.

"We look forward to being able to welcome them back to our campuses as soon as the Australian government's health advice indicates that we can."

Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge has denied China's claims that Australia is unsafe for international students. Source: AAP

Acting Immigration Minister Alan Tudge said he did not agree with China's assessment of racial attacks in Australia.

"I'll simply say that, yes, there has been some high profile instances occur in Australia, but they are the actions of an absolute tiny minority of cowardly idiots," he said on Wednesday morning. 

"I think the vast majority of Australians would be appalled at those instances as I am or the prime minister is."

Relations between Australia and China have grown increasingly tense since the coronavirus pandemic took hold earlier this year.

Last month, Australia led a successful global push for an independent inquiry into the origins of COVID-19, with China responding by slapping 80 per cent tariffs on Australian barley imports, crippling the industry.

With additional reporting from AAP.