Record numbers of overseas students in Australia, federal government report shows
Foreign student numbers in Australia have soared to record levels, with just four countries accounting for half of the total, as almost 200,000 students a year switch to other visas to prolong their stay and ability to work here.
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Foreign student numbers in Australia have soared to record levels while nearly 200,000 students a year switch to other visas to prolong their stay and ability to work here.
The 486,934 overseas students here on June 30 last year was the highest number for that date, and a 10 per cent jump on the previous year.
Just four countries — China, India, Nepal and Brazil — accounted for half of the total, says a new Home Affairs Department report.
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In 2017-18, there were 112,297 Chinese students in Australia, up 7.8 per cent on the previous year.
But Nepalese were the fastest growing group with a 54.9 per cent increase in number to 41,696, then Sri Lankans up 22.9 per cent to 9898, Brazilians up 19.9 per cent to 20,349 and Colombians up 18.6 per cent to 12,627 and Indians up 18.3 per cent to 70,240.
Most of the rise in student visa applications was driven by a 22.3 per cent hike in lodgements in the vocational education and training sector, while higher education lodgements rose by 10.5 per cent.
Australian Population Research Institute president Dr Bob Birrell said the report showed a big increase in student visa applications for Indians and Nepalese who were already in Australia.
“This market, the Indian subcontinent, is primarily a market for people who want to get into Australia and work,” he said.
“They’re extending their stay here once they get in by applying for further student visas onshore, particularly in the cheaper course areas, the vocational sector,” he said.
The report revealed that last year about 193,000 student visa holders switched to another substantive visa, mainly the student 500 visa (38.3 per cent), the temporary graduate 485 visa (24.2 per cent) and tourist visa (20.7 per cent).
Dr Birrell said that in 2017-18 the student share of net overseas migration to Australia had reached a record level of 44.3 per cent, or 104,872 students from a total 236,733 arrivals.
The foreign student industry is worth an estimated $32 billion a year to the national economy, however there is growing concern about their contribution to problems like urban congestion and job scarcity for young Australians.
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