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Higher education is an important export economy for Australia, with international students paying significantly higher fees for their tertiary studies than domestic students in the country. According to Times Higher Education, the University of Sydney and Murdoch University both ranked the highest in terms of share of international students as of 2026. During that period, around ** percent of the students enrolled at those universities were international students.

International tertiary education sector

An internationally recognized qualification from an Australian university is appealing to many foreign students. Chinese students made up the largest proportion of international students in Australia. In 2019, of the ** foreign students studying at higher education institutions, around ** originated from China. Management and commerce courses were the most popular courses for international students to study, followed by engineering, society and culture, and information technology.

Economic contribution

International education activity is a significant export income source for Australia. In 2023, around ** billion Australian dollars were generated from intentional student expenditure – a value that has been increasing consistently over the past years. In 2024, Chinese students studying onshore on student visas contributed over ** billion Australian dollars alone. Australia’s major competitors in this sector include its neighbor New Zealand, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Factors affecting student enrolments include increasing tuition fees, visa application costs as well as the comparatively high cost of living in Australian cities.