Australia loses title as ‘most coveted’ destination for Chinese students

Border closures and rising tensions with China have caused one huge problem for a major Australian industry, new research has found.

Australia is losing its long-held position as a hub for international students thanks to the closed border and our worsening ties with China, new research has revealed.

A study from global education provider Navitas said Chinese students had been turned off Australia by its hard border stance, safety concerns and worsening diplomatic and trade ties with their mother country.

It comes after relations between the countries declined after Australia called for an international probe into the coronavirus crisis, with China placing strict produce tariffs on the country.

The report showed students from China were still interested in studying in Australia, but some education agents were encouraging students to apply to another country.

The research showed Chinese students were still interested in studying in Australia. Picture: Tony Gough

“The challenge for many agents is convincing parents and students that waiting for borders to open only places them in a longer queue for admissions, visas and flights once travel is possible,” report author Jonathan Chew said.

The report revealed countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States were being looked upon more favourably due to their open borders and promising predictions of bouncing back from the effects of the pandemic.

Canada and the UK were being recommended as more reliable travel options for the next 12 months.

Mr Chew said agents were recommending would-be students wait before deciding whether to travel to Australia or New Zealand.

“On the one hand this reflects the uncertainty around the closed borders in those two countries, but it could also be interpreted positively, in that agents are not recommending students change their plans entirely,” Mr Chew said.

Border closures and diplomatic tensions between China and Australia have made Australia a less viable place to study for some Chinese students. Picture: NCA NewsWire/James Gourley

“There is a large proportion of students that remain not-yet-committed to a given country.”

The survey of 900 agents across 73 countries was held in March, before China announced the suspension of the Australia-China Strategic Economic Dialogue.

According to the research, the federal government’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic did not influence agents’ attitudes, with Australia being rated alongside the US as an attractive study destination thanks to its public health response.

“There is strong scepticism about when Australia and New Zealand will reopen their borders,” the report said.

“Only 20 per cent of agents from China have confidence that students will be able to travel to Australia (in the first half of 2022).”

The report said Australia was gradually losing its historical advantages on the ground.

The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom have all been named as preferred study destinations. Picture: NCA NewsWire/James Gourley

“Many agents have done away with their Australia only desks/departments,” the report said.

“There is clear evidence that Chinese agents all but insist that students apply to another destination, and for the time being, the UK provides the best hedge.”