AUSTRALIA'S international student market has gone into reverse with government figures showing commencements slumping 3.3 per in the four months to the end of April on the back of steep falls in the English language sector last month.

While international student commencements at universities continue to grow --- they are up 9 per cent so far this year --- English language schools are a key feeder for universities and the sector is now braced for a drop in demand.

Demand is being hit by the Rudd government's tighter restrictions on skilled immigration, students visas and education agents. These changes are supposed to stamp out so-called "visa factories'' offering dodgy courses solely aimed at securing students permanent residency.

But the sector is warning that the changes are being introduced too quickly without enough consultation, threatening market confidence and risking long term damage.

"The market is confused, the agents are confused, students are confused, and with the college closures, too, there is a total loss of confidence, I believe, in Australia as a study destination,'' said Sue Blundell, executive director of English Australia that represents English colleges.

She warned the drop in demand in April will put more colleges at risk of closure.

International student commencements at English language schools tumbled by nearly 30 per cent in April to 6,588 new students commencing compared with 9,320 in April a year ago.

For the year to April, commencements in the sector are now down 17 per cent, a drop of 6,838 students, according to figures from Australian Education International.

In the vocational sector commencements for the four months to April are down 3.8 per cent at 53,914 students.

Total commencements in the education sector are down at 160,924 students from 166,414 a year ago.

Total enrolments to April are up 4.2 per cent at 451,016 students. Chinese national account for 27 per cent of the total, making them Australia's largest market, followed by India at 17 per cent.