Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
20th Jul 2022

Survey shows Australia is “well poised to win back market share” as a top study destination

Short on time? Here are the highlights:
  • Navitas’ Agent Perception Survey indicates that Australia is once again a lead contender for international students – especially in South and Southeast Asia
  • Positive perceptions of Australia are almost as the same level as for Canada and the UK after falling steeply in 2021 due to prolonged border closures

More than 700 agents surveyed in May 2022 agree that international student interest in studying in Australia has bounced back significantly since the country’s borders re-opened in mid-December of 2021. Navitas’ rolling Agent Perception Survey also reveals that students now consider Australia to be virtually as safe and welcoming as Canada and the UK – a strong position to be in especially since Australia is already known for the quality of its educators and programmes and for post-graduation work rights.

Australia is once again competitive

Close to three-quarters of surveyed agents agreed that student interest had increased in the past two months compared to interest in other destinations – and more than half of agents who concurred with the statement “strongly agreed.” This is a massive change from sentiment in October 2021, when only 28% agreed that Australia was gaining ground against competitors. “Australia has substantially closed the gap with Canada and the UK on this measure,” says Navitas.

Students from South and Southeast Asia are particularly interested in studying in Australia. Fully 90% of agents in those regions said that student interest in Australia has picked up in the past two months.

Neil Fitzroy, General Manager, Global Recruitment UPA, Navitas, highlights some of the reasons that Australian educators are now poised to attract more international students:

“Australia’s mid-year intake has seen significant numbers of international students travel to Australia to commence or resume their studies. The excitement and energy on campuses across the country augurs well for further recovery and the recent agent research confirms this shift in sentiment. With >95% of the adult population fully vaccinated, COVID-safe protocols still in play and huge advances made in flexible delivery across the sector, Australia is well positioned to win back market share.”

Level of agreement with the statement, “Over the past two months there has been more interest in this country as an education destination compared to other countries.” As of May 2022, agents were almost as likely to agree that student interest has picked up for Australia as for Canada or the UK, a remarkable change from a similar survey in October 2021. Source: Navitas

Perceptions of safety go a long way

In the May 2022 survey, 8 in 10 agents said that students consider Australia to be “open and welcoming” and “safe and stable.” The chart below illustrates how different these perceptions are from what they were last year.

Comparing agent perceptions of Australia, Canada, and the UK in October 2021 vs. May 2022. Source: Navitas

“Cautious confidence”

Mr Fitzroy believes the May 2022 iteration of the company’s agent survey suggests that the Australian international education sector is rebounding, but he cautions that there is some way to go before it can truly be said to be in full recovery:

“These are green shoots, but there remains a long road ahead before we can put the last 24 months behind us, and students’ parents, sponsors and agents are hoping to see their plans come to fruition. There is cautious confidence amongst those in Australia, as well as those wishing to travel here, that we’re back in business.”

For additional background, please see:

Most Recent

  • US Office of Management and Budget grants budget reprieve to key exchange programmes Read More
  • Canada: How is study permit processing taking shape this year? Read More
  • UK study visa grants strengthening in first half of 2025 Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

US Office of Management and Budget grants budget reprieve to key exchange programmes In a highly unusual intervention in an area of Congressional authority, the US Office of Management and Budget...
Read more
Canada: How is study permit processing taking shape this year? There are two important and recurring themes in our conversations with education agents over the last few months...
Read more
UK study visa grants strengthening in first half of 2025 A 21 August 2025 data release from the UK Home Office shows that student visa grants were up...
Read more
Asian destinations show their strength in latest ranking of student cities The QS Best Student Cities 2026 rankings were released last month, and, for the first time ever, Seoul...
Read more
Many foreign students want to stay in Germany but need more help with the transition to life after study Early findings from an extensive survey of international students in Germany finds that two-thirds would like to stay...
Read more
How post-study work rights can make or break the return on investment for study abroad The following is a guest post contributed by Tim O’Brien and Claire Clifford from INTO University Partnerships, where...
Read more
Australia prioritises amendments to ESOS Act in legislative agenda The Australian government has signalled that amendments to the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 are back...
Read more
UK’s stiffening compliance regime already having an impact on international student recruitment It would be fair to say that compliance is top of mind for international educators in the United...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links