International students in Australia constitute a significant community, representing Australia’s largest service export worth $28 billion. By 2025, it's estimated that there will be around 950,000 international student enrollments, concentrated mainly in management and commerce courses. Key issues affecting their experience include employability challenges, living costs, social integration, mental health, and changes in visa policies.

1. The big picture
Understanding the IET Sector

2. International students
make up a significant
part of the community,
which cannot be
ignored.
Australia is the third most
popular education destination
in the world.
Education at a Glance 2017 (OECD)
Worth $28b, it is Australia’s
largest service export and the
third largest export – after iron ore
($62.8b) and coal $54.3b).
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2016-17)

3. The community is only
going to get bigger.
Deloitte Access Economics
estimates that by 2025:
Australia could expect to
attract around 950,000
onshore international
student enrolments.
International education by numbers, IEAA

4. Who are international students?
International education by numbers, IEAA

5. Monthly Summary of International Student Data, January – November 2016,Department of Education and Training

6. By field of study
International students are concentrated
in management and commerce courses.
• Similar across Higher Ed and VET with
50-55% of students enrolled in
management and commerce.
• Chinese students heavily concentrated in
higher ed management and commerce
courses.
This is followed by:
Engineering and IT for Higher Ed (10%)
Food, hospitality and personal services for
VET (14%)
International education services, Productivity Commission Research Paper, April 2015

7. Victoria accounts for a third
of international students in
Australia.
In Victoria, international education has been the largest
services export industry for more than 10 years - generating
$7.1 billion in export revenue in 2016.
Many of the 175,000 international students in Victoria
come from the Asia Pacific region including:
• 58,000 student enrolments from China
• 13,100 from Vietnam
• 10,000 from Malaysia
• 5,000 from Indonesia.
International students are concentrated in NSW
and Victoria.
By location
It has been branded
the Education State.

8. A significant proportion
of these students live
and/or study in the City
of Melbourne
In 2014, there were around 40,000
international tertiary students living
and/or studying in the municipality, of
which:
• International students form China make
up a third of the student population (32
per cent)
• Students from India, Malaysia, Indonesia
and Vietnam make up the next top four
nationalities (31 per cent)

9. Nonetheless, international
students are a little understood
and under-reported part of the
community
Mainstream media coverage of international education or
international students have largely focused on:
• International students as a “number” – i.e. a billion-dollar
export industry
• Stereotypes – students generally depicted as victims,
cheaters and mere permanent residence hunters

10. What are their
experiences?
What we do know is that…
While overall international
student satisfaction with
Australia remains relatively
high, the experiences of
students vary.

11. There has been a renewed
focus within the sector on
student experience.
“Offering a premium student experience
is a critical component of Victoria’s
continued success, particularly as
competition increases and the
decision-making of students and families
grows more sophisticated. Education
institutions must work in partnership
with all levels of government, industry
and the community to address issues
affecting student experience.”
- Victorian International Education Sector
Strategy, March 2016

12. Issues impacting student experience:
Employability and the struggle to find work (part-time, post-study
employment in Australia or in-country) – students not getting a ROI on
their education due to issues of equity and access to work experience
opportunities.
Not level playing field due to lack of local networks, weak English
language skills, lack of familiarity with Australian job-seeking
procedures, discrimination on the part of employers.
Difficulty meeting daily living costs - cost of public transport, lack of
affordable housing, high cost of living.
Vulnerability to insecurity or exploitation – e.g. work and housing.
Social integration on campus and in the wider community.
Mental health and wellbeing including managing isolation,
homesickness, stress and depression.
Constant changes to visa policy settings – migration, post-study and
work rights.

13. Who’s doing anything
about it?
Major stakeholders include…
• Education institutions
• Federal, state and local governments and
agencies
• Peak bodies and industry associations
… attracting an orbit of companies providing:
• Services to students – from education and
migration agents to career consultancy firms,
professional year service providers,
accommodation providers etc
• Services to the sector – advisory and consultancy
services, student engagement through online
tools, print/digital media and design
And an active and vibrant grassroots network
made up of:
• Community / NFP organisations
• Student associations and groups International education services, Productivity Commission Research Paper, April 2015