India has overtaken China for the first time as SA’s biggest source of international students

For the first time, India has overtaken China as SA’s biggest source of international students. See the full enrolment list.

India has overtaken China for the first time as South Australia’s biggest source of international students.

Latest federal government figures show there had been 8693 enrolments from India this year to the end of June, compared to 7622 from China.

Together they made up more than half the 31,566 total enrolments.

While ongoing international border closures in China are largely blamed for the change, India has been emerging as a growing market for overseas students for several years.

UniSA had a team in New Dehli and Bangladore last week launching new courses aimed specifically at Indian students.

StudyAdelaide chief executive Jane Johnston said Chinese students had been slower to return “due to continuing lockdowns and travel restrictions in China”.

“We look forward to welcoming these students when they can arrive, as we welcome all international students,” she said.

“In the meantime, the Indian market continues to be a strong market for international students alongside other growing markets such as Nepal, Vietnam, Philippines and Colombia.”

International students Ansh Birani and Shivani Bura from India study at the University of Adelaide. Picture: Brenton Edwards

Adelaide has students from 120 countries.

India’s biggest contingent in SA is more than 4700 vocational education students, followed by nearly 3900 university students.

China is far more weighted towards uni students, around 5800, plus about 650 vocational ones.

Other categories are school students, English language course students and those doing non-award courses.

Ansh Birani, 18, came to Australia from Jaipur to study after visiting on a family holiday.

“I really like this place and when I just talked to a couple of people who have been studying in Australia, they were really happy,” Mr Birani said.

He scored a 30 per cent scholarship to study a Bachelor of Mathematics and Computer Science at Adelaide University.

After graduating, Mr Birani hopes to return to India as soon as possible after only a year or so working in Australia.

“If I could continue my job remotely from my home country, I would probably do that and if not, I’ll go back to my home country and maybe do a masters later on,” he said.

Shivani Bura, 23, from Gurgaon near New Delhi, is studying for a masters in global food and agriculture business at Adelaide University.

With dreams to become an entrepreneur, Ms Bura hopes to find opportunities in Australia.

“If I’m getting an opportunity to work in Australia, why not? I would love to do that,” she said.

Across the country, there were 91,413 enrolments from India to the end of June, well behind the 141,466 from China.

The federal government has introduced new supports for international students including visa fee refunds and extra time for English language tests and health checks, plus extended “stay and work” periods.

For example, fully vaccinated international student visa holders who arrived in Australia between January 19 and March 19 were eligible for the visa application fee refund.

They can make a claim any time up to the end of the year.