New data from the Department of Education shows that international student enrolments in Australia surpassed one million for the first time in the year 2024.
A total of 1,018,799 enrolments were recorded, marking an increase of 128,447 from the previous year, Macrobusiness informs.
This growth is attributed to both universities and Vocational Education and Training (VET) institutions, which saw significant rises in enrolment numbers.
According to the latest figures, the surge in international student enrolments was primarily driven by the university and VET sectors. Enrolments in higher education increased by 64,217, while VET enrolments rose by 63,876.
Additionally, international student commencements reached a record high of 495,469 in the year 2024, an increase of nearly 20,000 from the previous year. This marks a significant milestone in Australia’s international student sector.
Despite the strong enrolment figures, recent policy changes have had an impact on the types of students enrolling in Australia. Ministerial Direction 107 (MD 107), introduced in 2023 by former Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil, aimed to manage the flow of international students and curb net overseas migration.
Under this policy, immigration officials were instructed to prioritize visa applications from countries with low visa rejection rates, such as China. As a result, students from high-risk regions like South Asia and Africa, where there is a higher likelihood of visa overstays, were less likely to have their applications approved.
The policy also led to a shift in enrolment patterns. Top-tier universities in major cities saw an influx of Chinese students, while regional institutions reported fewer students from high-risk countries. Applications from India, Nepal, and the Philippines saw significant declines, with reductions of 43%, 57%, and 67%, respectively.
In contrast, visa applications from China remained relatively stable, with less than a 2% decrease. These changes have led to concerns about the future diversity of international students in Australia’s higher education sector.
