English Australia Survey of Major ELICOS Regional Markets in 2003

Introduction

This is the eighth survey of the ELICOS sector commissioned by English Australia. A benchmark study was commissioned in 1996, which covered enrolment statistics for the previous calendar year. A follow-up study was conducted in 1997. These two studies were undertaken by Austrade. This current study, the sixth undertaken by Environmetrics, covers enrolments for the 2003 calendar year.

The purpose of the study is to gain a clear picture of the number of overseas students and visitors who undertook English language studies in Australia in 2003. Particular attention was taken to obtain statistics on:

• student numbers by nationality;
• student numbers by visa type;
• numbers of individual and group enrolments;
• length of enrolments; and
• enrolments in each state or territory.

This report presents the main findings of the study. Data is analysed to provide an overall profile of the ELICOS sector, as well as a profile for Asia, Europe, Central and South America and, for the first time, the Middle East.

• Total ELICOS enrolment numbers for 2003 were 78,338, a decrease of 1% from 2002 (79,418).

• Asia remained the largest source of enrolments. It accounted for 84% of the total. European enrolments accounted for 13%, with Central and South American accounting for 3%.

• NSW accounted for 45% of all enrolments in 2003, followed by Queensland (23%), Victoria (19%), WA (9%) and SA (4%).

• English Australia institutions accounted for 81% of total enrolments.

• Individual enrolments accounted for 91% of all enrolments.

• Japan and China were again the two major source countries in 2003. South Korea and China experienced the largest absolute increases in enrolment numbers (over 2,000 each), and Chile and Mexico the largest percentage increases in total enrolments (106% and 89% respectively).

• Student visas were used by 58% of enrolees – an increase from 2002 (51%). 31% held tourist visas in 2003, a decrease from 41% in 2002. 11% held working holiday and other visas in 2003, the highest recorded level.

• Despite the decrease in total enrolments, there was an increase in weeks spent studying. 2003 saw an increase from 915,867 to 946,241 weeks (a 3% increase). The average number of weeks stayed increased from 11.5 to 12.1 weeks. The average number of weeks spent studying rose for Asian students, but declined for European, Central and South American, and African students.

• The increase in weeks was reflected in results for total spending. The total economic impact of all enrolments increased from $802 million in 2002 to $849 million in 2003 (an increase of 6%).

• Asian nationalities again dominated group enrolments. Ninety eight percent of all group enrolments were Asian, with Japanese students making up 54% of these.

• Total numbers of enrolments for the Asia Pacific region increased from 63,510 in 2002 to 65,671 in 2003. This represents an increase of 3%.

• The most dramatic increase in enrolments for an individual nationality was 38% for South Korea. All other nationalities experienced decreases, except for China (18% increase) and other Asian (91% increase).

• Japan continued to dominate the Asia Pacific market, contributing 32% of the region’s total enrolments (cf. 35% in 2002).

• NSW accounted for 44% of all Asian enrolments in 2003, followed by Queensland (22%), Victoria (21%), Western Australia (9%) and South Australia (4%).

• The proportion of student visas increased from 54% to 61% (highest recorded level), with working holiday and other visas also increasing (from 9% to 12%) from 2002 to 2003. The proportion of tourist visas decreased from 37% to 27% in 2003.

• Total student weeks increased from 753,158 in 2002 to 820,291 in 2003 (a 9% increase), as did the average number of weeks spent studying (from 11.9 in 2002 to 12.5 in 2003).

• Japan (25%), China (24%), and South Korea (22%) accounted for the largest number of student weeks in 2003.

• Students from the Asia Pacific region injected over $735 million into the Australian economy in 2003, an increase of 11% over 2002.

• The number of groups from the region decreased from 400 in 2002 to 280 in 2003 (a decrease of 30%). The number of Asian students in groups declined in line with this, from 10,192 to 6,706.

• The average number of weeks for groups increased from 3.2 in 2002 to 3.8 in 2003.

• The number of European enrolments decreased by 19% in 2003 to 10,065.

• Germany, France, Spain, Slovakia, Belgium and Other European (both East and West) experienced increases in numbers. Large decreases included Switzerland (49%) and Russia (27%).

• As in previous years, Swiss enrolments made up a large proportion of the European market, accounting for 31% of all European enrolees, however this percentage has fallen considerably from 49% in 2002. Swiss numbers were followed by German enrolments with 21% of the total.

• NSW accounted for 56% of all European enrolments in 2003, followed by Queensland (25%), Western Australia (12%), Victoria (4%), and South Australia (3%).

• The visa status of European enrolments reverted to a pattern more similar to that of years prior to 2002. 58% of European enrolees held tourist visas (65% in 2002), 35% were on student visas (up from 29% in 2002) and 7% on working holiday and other visas (up from 6% in 2002).

• The total number of weeks enrolled has declined from 2002 levels to 93,268 (a decline of 22%). The average number of weeks decreased from 9.5 to 9.3 in 2003.

• European enrolees spent around $85 million (down from $100 million in 2002), a decline of 15%.

• There was a decrease of 24% in total enrolments from the area (from 3,358 to 2,545).

• While Brazil again yielded the largest number of enrolments, it experienced a 32% decrease from 2002 (a total of 1,546 enrolments for 2003). Increases were seen for all Central and South American enrolments except for Brazilian, Colombian, Argentinean and Venezuelan.

• NSW accounted for 45% of all Central and South American enrolments in 2003, followed by Queensland (38%), Victoria (11%), Western Australia (5%), and South Australia (1%).

• 71% of all Central and South American enrolees held student visas (down from 72% in 2002), with 27% arriving on tourist visas (up from 26% in 2002), and 2% arriving on working holiday and other visas (no change from 2002).

• There has been a 26% decrease in the total number of student weeks (31,935), along with a decrease in the average number of student weeks (from 12.8 to 12.5).

• Total estimated spending of Central and South American enrolees was around $29 million. This is an overall decrease of 21% from 2002.

• Total enrolments for the Middle Eastern region in 2003 were 1,466. The biggest contributors to this were United Arab Emirates (16%), Turkey (15%) and Saudi Arabia (15%).

• Queensland accounted for 29% of all Middle Eastern enrolments, followed by NSW (28%), Victoria (26%), Western Australia (14%) and South Australia (3%).

• 83% of all Middle Eastern enrolments held student visas, with 14% arriving on tourist visas and 3% on working holiday and other visas.

• The total number of student weeks for Middle Eastern enrolments was 23,985, and the average number of student weeks was 16.3 (this was lower for group enrolments at 9.3 weeks).

• The total estimated spending of Middle Eastern enrolees was around $20 million.