As of October 2017, Australia reached a record number of 606,780 international students, referred to the official statistics.
Australian universities are becoming a top leader in attracting international students, according to statistics published by the Department of Education & Training in Australia.
In May 2017, Oceania’s country exceeded half million international students (502,544), 14 percent more than in the same period in 2016.
The current statistics display that the number is still on a compelling upward trajectory.
Up to the October 2017, Australia had 606,780 foreign students, that is 13 percent more than October 2016. This means that during May to October 2017, 104,236 new international students came to Australia.
In overall 766,483 enrollments were done until this period of time.
5 countries share more than half (53%) of international students in Australia. China is still holding the lead with 30 percent, way far from India (13%), Malaysia, Vietnam, Nepal (each with 4%).
45 percent or 345, 067 of these students are enrolled in the higher level of education. That is overwhelmingly compared with Vocational Education and Training (VET) with 28 percent and English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) with 18 percent. Non-award and School studies laid at the bottom with 6 percent, respectively 3 percent.
Yet, in comparisons between 2016 and 2017, Vocational Studies (Vet) have scored the greatest annual growth with 16 percent, a bit more than Higher Education (15 percent).
Australia is actually ranked third in the list of the top destinations for international students. But if this trend remains the same, Australia will soon be battling with two top leaders: the US and the UK.
Why Australia?
Australia looks like being very committed to strengthening its educational system, in particular the section of international education.They have accurately understood what usually foreign students are concerned with when planning to study abroad: the financial issue. The country supports international students with scholarships and other funds, while it guarantees a world-class education. Six of their universities are positioned in top 100 best universities in the world. And when you add to these the cheaper living costs compared to western countries, there is totally obvious why they’re becoming such an attraction.
