Capital: Canberra
Population: 26.1 million (2022 est.)
GDP (Purchasing Power Parity): $1.25 trillion (2020 est., in 2017 dollars)
Currency: Australian Dollars (AUD)
Language: English
UNESCO Student Mobility Number
Australia has 13,742 students studying abroad according to UNESCO.
CIA World Factbook
31.61% of the Australian population is under 25 years old.
OVERVIEW
Education services is one of Australia’s top five exports, valued at $26 billion (2019). In September 2021, the number of international students was 557,836. The top five countries where international students come from are: China (30%), India (17%), Nepal (8%), Vietnam (4%), and Malaysia (3%). During the 2019-2020 academic year, there were 8,252 study abroad students from the United States in Australia.
Australian students are increasingly choosing to pursue studies abroad. A unique mix of professional, academic, athletic, and social opportunities available within American schools has made the United States one of the most attractive destinations for these students. Approximately 3,900 Australian students studied in the United States in the 2021-2022 academic year.
There is a broad academic and geographic distribution of Australians at U.S. universities. Undergraduate Australian students tend to focus on liberal arts and sciences, business, international relations, film, or art. Graduate students generally pursue law, business management, or advanced science.
SUB-SECTORS
Education Technology: The Australian education technology market is dynamic and evolving. With around 600 Australian EdTech companies spread across Australia, this market is currently valued at US$1.4billion and is expected to grow.
The most common solutions of EdTech organizations in Australia target the primary, secondary, and higher education sectors which is closely aligned with government spending in these areas. The most common products offered are online courses, educational content, learning management systems, and teaching tools (EduGrowth 2022).
Some of the most appealing EdTech products and services to the Australian market include STEM in education such as robots and coding, innovative classroom resources, Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality, and gamification.
OPPORTUNITIES
Australia and the United States have similar education systems, so Australian students can transition relatively seamlessly. Australian students are attracted to the unique characteristics of U.S. university life: collegiate sports, interdisciplinary/liberal arts degrees, and life within a close-knit campus environment.
The Summer Work Travel program provides qualified foreign students, including Australia, with an opportunity to live and work in the United States during their summer vacation from college or university to experience life in the United Sates.
More details: https://j1visa.state.gov/programs/summer-work-travel
Opportunities for athletic scholarships and sports programs at all levels of competition are popular among Australian students. Australia ranks amongst the top five sending countries of student-athletes to the United States. Some of the popular sports are basketball, tennis, soccer, track and field, and swimming.
DIGITAL MARKET STRATEGIES
Social Media: Australian students are regular users of Instagram, TikTok, and BeReal. School Counselors largely use e-mail for their communications with parents. YouTube is one of the most popular video streaming platforms. Students mainly use Seek.com, Indeed.com, LinkedIn and campus’ newsletters for job opportunities.
Best Prospects: Undergraduate/OPT, Graduate, and Online Degrees
Best Student Recruitment Methods: Institutional, International Education Consultants and online outreach
Local Scholarships Programs: The Ramsay Centre and John Monash Foundation offer postgraduate scholarships for Australian students to overseas universities including the United States. The Australian-American Fulbright Commission offers postgraduate scholarships to Australian citizens across all career stages.
EVENTS
• EducationUSA Australia - Events | Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/EducationUSAAustralia
RESOURCES
- U.S. Commercial Service – Australia: https://www.trade.gov/australia
- Australasian Council on Open, Distance and eLearning (ACODE): https://www.acode.edu.au/
- Department of Education, Skills and Employment: https://www.education.gov.au/
- EducationUSA Australia: https://au.usembassy.gov/education/
- Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency: https://www.teqsa.gov.au/
U.S. COMMERCIAL SERVICE CONTACT
Rana Nusheiwat, Commercial Specialist
U.S. Commercial Service - Sydney, Australia
Email: Rana.Nusheiwat@trade.gov
Phone: +61 2 8219 2100