Oz sees huge drop in foreign students

Australia’s $15 billion education industry is set to take a hit as experts predict a drop in enrolment of overseas students from the major markets like India and China, following a spate of attacks on Indians.

Australia’s $15 billion education industry is set to take a hit as experts predict a drop in enrolment of overseas students from the major markets like India and China, following a spate of attacks on Indians.

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In a report published in The Australian, the country’s second-biggest export sector is quickly losing its share to the US and Britain due to soaring costs and uncertain government policies. “Some universities are expecting a fall of 20 to 30 per cent... I think there will be a fall of 50 per cent for some universities,” said Thomas Wang, manager of Australian education at education agent China Star in Beijing.

Another major agency said it expected a drop of between 20 per cent and 30 per cent in new student visa applications.

The report further cited the cause of the drop to the Indian student attack crisis and a crackdown on visa applications that it saidsaw a collapse of education sales , force the closure of about 20 vocational colleges.