Australia International Student arrivals drop from tens of thousands to dozens

 

While figures from the Department of Home Affairs show 555,310 student-visa holders remained in Australia as of June 30, arrivals from overseas have ground to a halt.

Last July, an estimated 144,000 students arrived in time for the second semester of study, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

This July, just 40 students arrived.

With international travel largely at a halt, restricting students' ability to return home for visits, there are also fewer departures than last year.

But the number of students leaving still far exceeds those arriving.

Student-visa holder arrivals and departures

2019 arrivals

2019 departures

2020 arrivals

2020 departures

Jan

90,260

68,720

91,610

75,640

Feb

183,900

44,650

121,320

28,960

Mar

72,150

31,960

60,360

42,130

Apr

44,500

45,410

30

9,910

May

34,260

39,300

40

5,460

Jun

46,040

118,850

60

7,450

Jul

143,840

65,290

40

12,130

Aug

54,960

39,680

Sep

45,300

48,430

Oct

50,830

39,230

Nov

38,260

109,430

Dec

38,690

142,940



Source: ABS

With COVID-19 restrictions moving many classes online, the on-campus experience has been compromised.

Mr Tehan praised the nation's universities for being "second to none" in shifting to remote learning, adding many students who had opted to enrol and start studying online would eventually be able to come to Australia.

However, 65,839 international students deferred their studies between January and June, and only 21 per cent of those have since recommenced their courses.


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