Australia's international education sector saw a record-breaking year with over one million student enrollments. However, a significant drop in offshore student visa applications suggests a potential shift in the industry due to government policies.
As the end of the year approached, Australia 's international education sector achieved a new milestone. For the first time ever, there were more than one million international student enrollments last year, reaching 1,018,799. This figure is based on publicly available data up to September.
While one million enrollments doesn't directly translate to the number of foreign students in the country (as some students enroll in multiple courses), a headcount of international students also hit a record high in September at just under 825,000, according to the education department. The international education market is a significant business in Australia. Despite the government's year-long efforts to curb the flow of high-fee-paying foreign students, the sector's size seems relatively unaffected. However, a major shift is underway. Offshore student visa applications dropped by nearly 40% in 2024 compared to the previous year, representing about 120,000 fewer prospective students seeking to study in Australia. These are not students whose applications were delayed or denied under the government's fluctuating visa processing rules (although visa approvals have also declined) but rather those who never applied initially. According to the higher education sector, this decline is a consequence of the chaotic crackdown on an industry long regarded as one of the best globally. 'The message has gone out to our key student source markets that they're not welcome here,' says Phil Honeywood, chief executive of the International Education Association of Australia. 'And they're voting with their feet.
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