Australian universities high rankings make a mark in China
In particular, the remarkable leap of three Group of Eight member universities into the world’s top 20 list for the first time has instilled an unprecedented sense of pride among Chinese students and alumni. The University of Melbourne secured the 14th position, marking a historic high for any Australian university, while the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney tied for 19th place.
The students and alumni of the University of Melbourne woke up filled with excitement over the incredible news that they had surpassed Yale (16th) as well as the highest-ranked Chinese universities, Tsinghua (17th) and Peking University (18th) – institutions they had once only aspired to join.
A mocking meme began circulating on social media, with the question, “How did you manage to get into a QS20 university? I applied, and my university did the rest.”
Not only did the top-ranked universities excel, but other Australian institutions also demonstrated impressive performances. Fifteen universities made it into the top 200 list, including the University of Technology Sydney, which made its debut in the top 100 at 90th place, marking a remarkable rise of 47 places. Monash University debuted in the top 50 at 42nd place, soaring 15 places, while Macquarie University (130th) and RMIT (140th) made stunning jumps of 65 places and 50 places, respectively.
Headlines such as “Australian universities sweep the board!”, “A collective explosion!”, “Australia – the big winner!” were widely circulated on Chinese social media, reflecting the euphoric reactions within the overseas study communities.
The impressive surge in rankings has boosted the morale of study agencies in China, which are now intensifying their efforts to promote studying in Australia and capitalise on the recent leap in rankings. A typical social media post by a study agent read, “Congratulations to Mr Li, who has just received an offer from one of the QS top 20 universities!”
The selling points are now crystal clear and compelling.
“With the soaring rankings of Australian universities, is it recommended to switch your application?”
“You can still make it by changing to Australian universities.”
“Apply now – the highest ranked university in the Southern Hemisphere.”
The recent enthusiasm surrounding Australian education in China, despite some mocking from students, is influenced by a complex set of factors. Despite the impressive progress of Australian universities in recent years, Chinese students still prefer the United States and the United Kingdom as their top study destinations.
The perception that Australian universities prioritise profit over quality, fuelled by comparatively easier entry criteria, shorter degrees, and occasional media reports of high concentrations of Chinese students, has persisted. Additionally, ongoing discussions about the commercialisation of overseas degrees and a prevailing belief that qualifications from foreign universities no longer hold the same prestige in the Chinese job market as they once, did contribute to the perceptions.
However, the substantial leap in rankings achieved by Australian universities will undoubtedly help alleviate these concerns to some extent. While there may be occasional criticisms of the latest QS ranking, it is undeniable that rankings still wield significant influence over the decisions of ambitious students and their parents.
Another relevant context is the resolution of the trade war between Australia and China. As diplomatic relations show signs of improvement and China gradually lifts trade bans, the education relationship between the two countries appears to be returning to normal.
It is worth noting that the four overseas study warnings issued between 2018 and 2021 against studying in Australia are the only warnings of their kind on the Chinese Department of Education’s website during that period, except for an additional warning issued against the US in 2019. This serves as a reminder of the challenging times when positive news about the Australian education sector in China was scarce.
With the political dust seemingly settling and the possibility of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visiting China by the end of the year, the sentiment for Chinese students studying in Australia has not been this positive in a long time.
Furthermore, international university rankings, such as QS, are considered criteria for talent recruitment programs by various levels of Chinese governments and enterprises. Chinese graduates who return to China are now required to hold postgraduate degrees from top 200 universities to be eligible for positions and benefits under these programs. Australia’s rising status in the rankings provides graduates from Australian universities with enhanced employment opportunities.
The recent surge in rankings will undoubtedly provide a significant boost to Australian universities in attracting students from China, the leading source country of international students in Australia which currently accounts for over one-third of all enrolments.
While universities have made efforts to diversify their student recruitment and learned valuable lessons, it is crucial to closely monitor other changes in the needs and preferences of this sizeable market.
Heidi Han is a former mandarin editor of The Australian.
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The strong performances of Australian universities in the latest QS World University Rankings have been enthusiastically celebrated by Chinese students, both those who have already enrolled with and those who are planning to study Down Under.