Global Spotlight: Australia

Though Australia is already the third most popular destination for international students (behind the United States and the United Kingdom), in 2016 its government announced ambitious plans to keep students coming. Under the new international education strategy, Australia aims to enroll 720,000 international students at its universities by 2025.

While its international enrollment growth rate has declined slightly over the past few years, Australia has averaged 12.3 percent growth since 2016; international student numbers have more than tripled since 2000. And with more than 690,000 international students enrolled in 2018, the country is on track to hit the 2025 target with its 2019 enrollment numbers—6 years ahead of schedule.

Pressures associated with the boom include student accommodation shortages, concerns about language proficiency standards, and reports of inadequate resources and support for the needs of the international student population. However, Australia’s government and public and private institutions continue to prioritize international education and seek solutions to these challenges.

By the Numbers:

693,750: Number of international students enrolled at Australian universities in 2018. The top sending markets are China, India, Nepal, Brazil, and Malaysia.

48.4: Percent growth in Nepalese enrollment at Australian universities in 2018.

$24.6 billion: Estimated contribution (in USD) of the international education sector to Australia’s economy in 2018.

36: Percent of the commencing student body at Monash University, Australia’s largest university, who are international students.

56: Percent of international students in Australia who reported using an education agent, according to a 2017 survey of 110,000 international students from around