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Offering a range of opportunities for students
Australia has an international reputation for excellence in all areas of education and offers a diverse range of opportunities for students at every level.
Our innovative and research-intensive education culture is attracting students from across the world – from high school students looking for undergraduate degree programs, to college students planning part of their studies abroad, or college graduates considering further study.
Institutions deliver practical and career-orientated training so graduates can be confident they have the skills and qualifications demanded by international employers.
Furthermore, academic personnel at Australia’s education institutions are recruited from around the world and often are leading industry experts in their field.
Australia also offers excellent value for money, with living expenses and tuition costs considerably less than the UK and the US, and a standard of living that is amongst the highest in the world.
An expanding industry:
- In 2008, there were 537,893 international students enrolled to study in Australia – an increase of 20.7 per cent on the previous year.
- International education activity contributed A$14.2 billion in export income to the Australian economy in 2007-08. Of that amount $13.7 billion was spent on fees and goods and services by students undertaking studies in Australia.
- The majority of international students undertook studies in Higher Education programs, followed by Vocational Educational Training (VET).
- Management and commerce dominates the broad field of education breakdown with 48.4 per cent of enrolments and 49.8 per cent of commencements. Other fields that experienced strong demand were Services, Hospitality, Transport, Health, Community Services and Nursing.
Cultural diversity
Multicultural Australia is a safe, friendly, sophisticated and harmonious society in which students can learn and travel.
People from about 200 countries have migrated to Australia, making it one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world. This means international students are readily accepted and teachers are experienced in teaching classes to students from many countries.
Australians value the wealth of cultural diversity and social sophistication that international students bring to our campuses and our communities.
Where do international students in Australia come from?
Of the 537,893 international students enrolled to study in Australia in 2008, over 126,000 were from China. India accounted for in excess of 95,000 students, followed by The Republic of Korea with over 35,000 students (Source: Australian Education International)
Other significant enrolments include students from Thailand, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, USA and Brazil.
Read what some foreign students say about studying in Australia.
Where students study
International students study in Australian schools, vocational training institutes and colleges, English language schools, universities and community colleges. Australia also offers distance and online learning.
Many Australian education programs are offered offshore so students can study for Australian qualifications in their own country or combine with studying in Australia.
Australian qualifications are internationally recognised and Australian qualifications are linked nationally so students can move between educational sectors (for example, from vocational training to university).
In 2008, the majority of all enrolments in Australia were in New South Wales and Victoria.
More information can be found on the Study in Australia section.
Vocational educational training
The Australian approach to vocational and technical education is recognised as among the best and most innovative in the world. It has played an important role in Australia's economic performance, by greatly increasing the skill of workers and contributing to improved productivity.
Public and private vocational training institutions deliver VET-focused on the workplace. These courses range from accounting and applied science to business studies, tourism and hospitality and include trade skills, such as plumbing and carpentry.
International students are attracted to study VET in Australia because they develop practical skills that can be immediately applied to the workplace. Another advantage is that Australian qualifications are linked nationally, so VET study is part of a recognised pathway to advancement and a future university degree.
International students have a wide range of VET institutions to choose from with over 660 colleges and more than 7,000 VET courses on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS).
Corporate trainers and consultants
Australian corporate trainers and consultants have always been well regarded internationally and are increasingly in demand for their expertise and experience.
Australian trainers and consultants have been recruited overseas for a variety of projects, including:
- Assisting with curriculum development
- Training in joint programs or on a consultancy basis
- Delivering in-house training programs to corporations and government departments
- Providing distance education and online learning programs
- Collaborating on research projects with industry and government
- Working on projects via the Asian Development Bank, the World Bank, AusAid, non-government organisations and private agencies
(Source: IbisWorld, Australian Education International)
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