A population perspective on international students in Australian universities

Nearly a third of Australian university students are international, and major contributors to Australia’s economy. We explore the contribution to global higher education equity through population rates of international student enrolment in Australian universities. In 2022, per 100,000 population, median rates in regions studied were: Indian subcontinent 42, Pacific 28.9, China 10.5, South-East Asia 5.8, Sub-Saharan Africa 0.5: national rates varied from 0.03 to 403 per 100,000 population. to We find no regional or national patterns with GDP, proportion of GDP spent on education or access to national higher education, apart from some high GDP countries with high rates of student enrolment in Australian universities. Repeating the analyses for student numbers in 2019, and restricting the population denominator to ages 15-24 make no substantial difference. It is likely, given the high fees for international students, that individual ability to pay is the most important predictor of becoming an international student in Australian universities. We call for Australia to develop a strategy for international higher education based on global need rather than solely Australia’s economic benefit, and for a global alliance to support access to higher education for all individuals and populations that have capacity to acquire and use it.