China and India Top Foreign Students’ Enrollment in Australian Universities

Foreign students comprise 36 per cent of higher education enrolments in the country. As per 2006 figures, New South Wales had 61,716 foreign students, Victoria 53,801, Queensland 24,576, Western Australia 15,005, South Australia 10,676, ACT (Australian capital territory) 4,066, Tasmania 2,232 and Northern Territory 222.

In countries of origin, India ranks second, after China, in number of international students enrolling themselves for courses in Australia at the moment. Enrolment growth from India remained high at 14.5 per cent in 2006; around 43 per cent of higher education enrolments have been in business related courses followed by computer science and information system.

In medicine, nursing and health services, enrolment growth of 21.5 per cent was recorded in 2006, up from 18.9 per cent in 2005.
Presently, more than 42,000 Indian students are studying in Australia at present and this might go up by 3,000 during 2007-2008. 

Given Australia’s cost advantages and future opportunities for qualified students in Australia as compared to UK and USA and given Australia’s endless thirst for talent and skilled workers, this only seems to be the beginning of much higher rate of foreign students’ enrollment in Australian institutions.