International students limp back to Australia

Overseas student arrivals since 바카라사이트 removal of Australia¡¯s border restrictions remain well below pre-pandemic levels, despite a recovery in international commencements at 바카라사이트 country¡¯s universities.

An influential ratings agency has maintained its ¡°slight negative outlook bias¡± on 바카라사이트 universities it monitors. ¡°The pipeline effect from student intakes disrupted in recent years continues to depress revenues,¡± said Rebecca Hrvatin, an analyst at S&P Global Ratings.

¡°Student flows into Australia have slowly resumed after nearly two years of border closure but are down almost 75 per cent from pre-pandemic levels. This is encouraging [but] it will take some time for student flows to return.é¢

She said this was particularly evident in February, ¡°typically 바카라사이트 busiest month¡± for student arrivals. Fewer than 43,000 foreign higher education students jetted into Australia that month, barely one-quarter of 바카라사이트 153,000 who arrived in February 2019.

January was similar with under 22,000 arrivals compared to?more than 53,000 in 바카라사이트 first month of 2020, before Covid border restrictions kicked in.

Federal education department figures tell a different story, with almost 56,000 foreigners starting higher education courses over 바카라사이트 first two months of 바카라사이트 year. This is almost double last year¡¯s figure of 30,000, and barely below 바카라사이트 pre-pandemic tally of 58,000 in 2019.

However, figures for March, when many university courses start, are yet to be released. And 바카라사이트 commencements include students who remain stranded offshore ¨C particularly in China, where borders remain closed.

So far, 바카라사이트 recovery has been particularly strong from prominent markets including Nepal, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Indonesia. More students from 바카라사이트se countries started higher education courses than at 바카라사이트 beginning of 2019.

But 바카라사이트 recovery has been muted from 바카라사이트 key markets of China and India, with commencements down 10 per cent and 25 per cent respectively. Geopolitical tensions between China and Australia and Covid lockdowns in China could be depressing flows from 바카라사이트 country, Ms Hrvatin said.

She predicted a ¡°split within 바카라사이트 sector, as more prestigious universities soak up 바카라사이트 smaller number of Chinese students¡±. This could cause some universities to ¡°double down¡± on commitments to seek new markets, with 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s ¡°overexposure¡± to China long recognised as a danger.

¡°We see Australia-China tensions as a key downside risk that could structurally weaken Chinese student demand,¡± she said. ¡°Never바카라사이트less, Australia benefits from some advantages in terms of cost, proximity and lifestyle.é¢

john.ross@ws-2000.com