In February 2018, more than half a million foreign students from 190 countries made their way to Australia, according to the country’s Department of Education.
The latest combined enrollment registration of 542,054 is a 54 percent increase from 305,534 total enrolments five years ago. China makes up the largest proportion of students at 31 percent. Meanwhile, over 10,000 students from the Philippines come to Australia for education every year, according to the Australian Trade and Investment Commission.
Australia has the third highest number of international students in the world, after the United Kingdom and the United States. And it’s quite easy to see why.
The country is a global education powerhouse, providing more than 24,000 courses across 1,100 institutions. Australian education focuses on meeting global industry needs—connecting skills with job outcomes.
Seven of the top 100 universities in the world are in Australia.
The latest QS World University rankings ranked the Australian National University at 24th, followed by the University of Melbourne (39th), University of Sydney (42nd), University of New South Wales (45th), University of Queensland (48th), Monash University (59th), and the University of Western Australia (91st).
In addition, Austrade said Australia’s institutions continue to feature in the top 50 ranked universities in the world across a range of study fields, including Arts and Humanities, Clinical, Pre-clinical and Health, Engineering and Technology, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Social Sciences.
It has been teaching international students for more than 60 years, and many of those who have received their education in Australia have returned to their countries to become government ministers, business leaders, researchers, scientists, medical practitioners, and community leaders, among others.
Some of the Filipinos who are alumni of Australian universities include Hans Sy, Jr., who graduated with Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Engineering degrees at University of Melbourne and is currently the vice president of SM Engineering Design and Development; Presidential Communications and Operations Office secretary Martin Andanar who graduated with Bachelor of Arts in Social and Political Studies & Film and Media Studies at the Federation University Australia; and Chef Tony Boy Escalante of Antonio’s who took culinary arts at Regency Park TAFE in Adelaide.
Aside from meeting global standards, Australia has an international reputation for discovery and innovation. The country has proudly produced 15 Nobel laureates, and people around the world rely every day on Australian discoveries such as in vitro fertilization, ultrasound, Wi-Fi, cervical cancer vaccine, and long-wearing contact lenses, among many others.
Thanks to its significant government and private sector research and development investment—Australia is ranked in the top 10 OECD member nations for its total expenditure on R&D—and quality-enabling ICT infrastructure, the country continues to innovate and lead the way in new areas such as fintech/digital commerce, cybersecurity, digital e-health, and edutech.
Austrade said Australia has a higher percentage of people employed in knowledge-intensive services than Canada, France, the USA, Germany, Japan, and South Korea.
Its long experience in providing education to international students has allowed Australia to ensure foreign students receive the high quality education they expect.
For instance, all education providers that offer courses to international students must register with the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students. This register allows the government to monitor the education offered to international students in Australia, and ensure that it is of consistently high quality.
With only about eight hours of flight and a number of direct flights available, Australia is quite accessible to the Philippines. This means students and their families can visit each other much easier and more frequently.
Adjusting to the Australian way of life is quite easy, too.
Australia is a friendly, multicultural, and inclusive society that is home to migrants from more than 200 countries and who speak 260 languages.
International students have many opportunities to embrace the Australian lifestyle—the great climate, and the wealth of cultural and sporting activities—and be independent in some of the safest and most liveable cities in the world, such as Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, and Perth which are in the top 10 list of most liveable world cities.
Going around the country is easy what with a wide range of transport options available, including buses, mainline and metropolitan trains, trams, and ferries.
Some larger education providers have an in-house transport system, which is especially useful for students who have to stay late on campus or live in an area that is hard to reach on public transport.