UTas expected welcome 4000 international students for 2022

The University of Tasmania is expected take on an estimated 4000 international students this year, but the number falls far short of pre-pandemic enrolments.

THE University of Tasmania is expected to welcome an estimated 4000 international students this year, most of which will be studying on campus.

This compares to a pre-pandemic level of about 6500 students, with the opening of international borders again allowing for overseas students to travel to Tasmania.

UTAS said its strategy since before Covid-19 was to reduce its reliance on international students, and it was not aiming for the number of students to return to pre-pandemic levels.

“The last two years have been very different given international students were not able to enter Australia,’’ a UTAS spokesman said.

“We are not expecting numbers to be at pre-pandemic levels in 2022 and nor are we aiming for that target.

“It has been part of our strategy since before Covid to reduce the university’s reliance on international education and create a more diverse student body.

University of Tasmania. Picture: Richard Jupe

“We are seeing the reduced numbers of international students partly offset by an increase of interstate students, which is this year projected to be a 15 per cent increase on 2019 or about 2100 students.”

Meanwhile, university-owned accommodation places around Hobart are expected to be at about three-quarters of capacity.

“There has been strong interest in university accommodation by both regional, interstate and international students,’’ the spokesman said.

“This will have flow on benefits for surrounding businesses and the community.

“On current trend, the expected occupancy of university accommodation is between 70-80 per cent.

University of Tasmania. Picture: Richard Jupe

“We have enough accommodation for all students that need it.”

The university’s most recent annual report showed its surplus slumped by 75 per cent last year as the Covid-19 pandemic hit overseas and interstate student numbers.

The university recorded a 7.4 per cent drop in revenue from $769m to $712m in the 2020 calendar year and a 0.2 per cent decline in expenditure from $696m to $694m.

The net result was a surplus of $17.7m, down from $72m in 2019. In 2018, the surplus was $119m.

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