For many students, the choice of a study destination becomes an important decision. A country’s culture and climate can have great impact on their experience abroad so it is best if you do some research before making that crucial final decision!
A concern about Australia on an international level is the decline of international education, whereas New Zealand has seen significant growth.
National Union of Students (NUS) president Jin Au-Yeung said that at first glance it would appear that Australia’s decline in the market was more of a threat than New Zealand seeing greater success. “Australia has always been a major competitor to our international education sector, but I think it’s important we don’t become complacent and rest on our laurels because we’ve seen a decline in Australia,” Au-Yeung said. Au-Yeung said that Australia’s decline was down to the fact that they had continually undervalued the importance of education as an export market, while New Zealand had been focused on building up the industry.
Au Yeung said that a major factor in Australia’s decline was it offering a number of short, diploma courses. “It seems many international students were going there for these shorter courses and nowadays they prefer to study something more long-term,” he said, adding that devaluing international education was “terrible” policy.
I think this is a very interesting question, to which I don’t know the answer. So what do you say? Which country is a better study destination for international students, New Zealand or Australia?
Australia and New Zealand are both popular destinations for international students looking to attain higher education in the English language. Both countries are Commonwealth members, with good reputations for good tertiary education, beautiful landscapes and cultures.
The two countries have many things in common but there are also some key differences that may make one country more appealing to prospective international students over the other. Australia is a larger landmass than New Zealand but has a smaller population with only about half the number of international students studying there in 2016. In comparison with New Zealand, however, Australia has a lower cost of living and tuition fees for international students are much cheaper.
When compared to other popular study destinations such as Canada and the United Kingdom, New Zealand is a more affordable option. However, it must be noted that Australian universities have a stronger reputation in certain fields of study such as business, engineering and computer science.
New Zealand is preferred by international students for its smaller size, lower population density and warmer climate. It is estimated that around 200,000 international students are enrolled at New Zealand tertiary level institutions. According to Universities New Zealand, quality university education can also be accessed at low cost when compared to other OECD countries.
The Australian Government, on the other hand, has made it clear that international education is one of its top three service exports in Australia and they are committed to furthering the growth of the student experience. The government also aims to attract more international students to study courses in areas in which Australia has a competitive edge such as medicine, education and engineering. Both countries offer students the opportunity to receive government-subsidised loans to pay for their tuition fees and living costs.
Australia and New Zealand both provide visa options for international students who want to pursue further studies in either country after finishing high school . Students can find more information about the different visa options for studying in Australia and New Zealand on the respective government websites.
It is important to note that major differences exist in the entrance requirements for international students to study at tertiary level institutions in each country. Australian universities usually require students to complete an Australian Year 12 qualification, whereas in New Zealand students need to complete their equivalent of high school and can choose to gain one of the recognised University Entrance awards or complete a separate entrance examination such as the New Zealand University Admission Standard (NZUAS).
The Australian Government is putting more emphasis on attracting international students from countries with emerging economies including China and India. The government’s focus has been targeting wealthier students to study at Australian universities given the lower education and living costs compared to other popular destinations such as the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.
International students can find out more about studying in Australia or New Zealand by visiting the respective country websites . I hope this article has given you a better understanding of both countries so you can figure out which one is a better study destination for international students.
