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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