According to new research released today by Ascent One, 41% of international students are unaware of Australia’s recent migration policy changes. In results that suggest there is a large communication gap between the government, education providers, agents and students, over three-quarters (77%) of the students who knew about the changes, found out about the changes themselves, with only 15% being informed via their agents.
Ascent One, the platform for higher education providers to manage agent networks, admissions and marketing, today released its YouGov insights from students from four of the top five countries studying in Australia* – China, India, Philippines and Colombia.
The global survey of 1,058 current, past and prospective international students, also found that over one quarter (27%) of prospective students say they will not continue to pursue studying in Australia given the recent policy changes. One in seven (14%) current students will not continue or are unsure whether they will continue to study here.
Naresh Gulati, founder and CEO of Ascent One said, “The government’s decision to target international student visas to cut migration numbers is already having an impact.. our reputation as a world-class destination for study is shaky at best and needs urgent attention.”
Drivers of choice and the importance of agents
The most common reason for choosing to study in Australia is to have better career opportunities post-study (63%), followed by Australia’s good reputation for study options (47%).
Education/migration agents are key players in the international student experience, with 63% of students having engaged or are planning to use the services of one
Four-fifths (81%) of students trust agents to act in their best interests.
Over four-fifths of students (85%) have or are paying an education agent an average fee of $A4,065 AUD
Unlocking career paths
Students from China (43%) are more likely than those from India (41%) or the Philippines (36%) to cite better career opportunities in their home country when choosing to study in Australia. Consistent with this, respondents from China are the least likely to cite better career opportunities in Australia (34%), compared to those from India (58%), the Philippines (56%) and Colombia (54%).
Post-study work and permanent residence
More than four in five current and past international students (82%) have applied for, are in the process of applying for, or are likely to apply for Australian permanent resident visa. However, students struggle to secure a job post study, with only 23 per cent of current students reporting that they are working in a job that is related to their studies.
Almost half of past students (44%) are not working in a job that is related to their studies, with the most common reason respondents gave for this was that it was the only job the student could find (39%). Another common reason for not working in an area related to their studies was because of the inability to apply for, or being rejected from, a job due to not having an Australian permanent resident visa or full-time work rights (37%).
It’s not all bad news
The survey results weren’t all bad news, with four in five (85%) current and past students saying they would recommend Australia as a place to study to their friends and family in their home country.
