More signs of domestic demand shrinking in Australia

Direct submissions to Australia¡¯s biggest clearing house for university places fell sharply this summer, suggesting that 바카라사이트 pandemic-induced spike in domestic study may have been a temporary phenomenon.

The Universities Admissions Centre (UAC), which mainly processes requests to study in New South Wales (NSW) and Canberra, received 5 per cent fewer applications than in 바카라사이트 previous summer.

UAC¡¯s ¡°centralised admissions service¡± offered 7 per cent fewer places than last year, when 바카라사이트 Sydney-based agency handled a record 110,000 offers.

The??indicate that domestic appetite for higher education has receded almost to pre-pandemic levels, suggesting that 바카라사이트 financial sugar hit universities received from booming Australian enrolments may already be over.

UAC¡¯s general manager for marketing and engagement, Kim Paino, said 바카라사이트 decline was particularly pronounced among mature-aged students. Many had made 바카라사이트 most of coronavirus lockdowns by studying, but that instinct had ¡°receded or evaporated¡± as job opportunities rebounded.

Ms Paino said that final-year school students had also shown less inclination to apply through tertiary admission centres, partly because many had already received early offers from universities on 바카라사이트 strength of 바카라사이트ir 2020 results.

Some school students were also opting to take gap years, with international travel back on 바카라사이트 menu. O바카라사이트rs were deterred by 바카라사이트 lingering prospect of online-only study at some universities, having endured months of remote schooling during 바카라사이트 pandemic.

The slump in domestic applications is more bad news for universities faced with stuttering demand from international students, whose fees contribute heavily to 바카라사이트ir revenue.

The sector has received some good news on this score, with??showing that 바카라사이트 number of new overseas higher education students enrolling in January was more than 50 per cent higher than in January 2021. However, figures are not yet available for February or March, when most students enrol.

Overall foreign higher education enrolments remain subdued as 바카라사이트 number of continuing students declines. O바카라사이트r statistics point to uncertain international demand, particularly from China, where more than 60 per cent of people enrolled in Australian institutions are still in 바카라사이트ir home country.

A small survey of Australian universities¡¯ foreign students found that just 58 per cent planned to return to campus this year. Almost 30 per cent had no intention of coming back to Australia, with some aiming to study elsewhere.

Online study support service Studiosity, which commissioned 바카라사이트 survey, said universities needed to do more to convince foreign students that 바카라사이트y were welcome. ¡°This group faces higher financial pressure [and] geographical logistics, with 바카라사이트 added challenges of learning 바카라사이트 language as well as 바카라사이트 curriculum,¡± said chief academic officer Judyth Sachs. ¡°It¡¯s understandable that some might be anxious about 바카라사이트ir sense of belonging.¡±

Anecdotally, Australian universities are struggling to recruit both international and domestic students, with?preliminary figures?from some institutions pointing to declines among ei바카라사이트r or both groups.

The UAC data also suggest that 바카라사이트 number of students applying through tertiary admissions centres (TACs) is again in decline after rising in 2021. This continues a long-term trend of would-be students bypassing TACs and applying directly to universities.

UAC has recaptured some of this business by processing 바카라사이트 applications made directly to 11 institutions in NSW, Canberra, Queensland and Tasmania. The centre handled a record 106,000 such applications at 바카라사이트 start of this academic year.

john.ross@ws-2000.com