AEI releases full year 2013 statistics

AEI has now released the final end of year data for 2013 featuring a positive year of growth for the English language sector in Australia.

Overall growth in international student commencements across all sectors continued to strengthen throughout the year, finishing with growth of +9.3%. The VET decline has slowed (but not yet stopped). The growth in higher education is being driven primarily by post-graduate students from India, China and Nepal.

The ELICOS sector experienced a very strong year in 2013 with growth of +21%, producing a total of 91,405 commencements. This growth represents 15,843 more commencing students than 2012 and is not only growth compared with 2012, but also compared with both 2011 and 2010.

The sector has now seen 16 consecutive months of growth – with this growth experienced across a diverse range of countries. The growth is accelerating, with the first half of the year showing growth of +14% and the second half of the year showing growth of +27%.

In both 2010 and 2011 all of the top 10 countries experienced declining numbers. 2012 figures showed declines from only 4 countries in the top 10: China, South Korea, Brazil and Saudi Arabia. All top 10 countries have returned to growth in 2013.

Vietnam (+2,930), China (+2,097), Thailand (+1,880), India (+1,585) Colombia (+1,473) and Brazil (+1,465) have contributed the largest numbers of additional ELICOS students.

Kuwait (-289) and Libya (-130) show the strongest declines of any country (students).

A sudden turnaround from decline to growth in commencements (driven by the Science without Borders program) has seen Brazil retake its place at the end of the year as the second most important source country after China. Accelerating growth at the end of the year saw Thailand leapfrog Colombia to finish 3rd and Vietnam leapfrog South Korea to finish 5th. Japan and Saudi Arabia maintained their positions at 7th and 8th. India finished the year strongly, replacing Spain in 9th place and overtaking Taiwan in doing so.

Although South Korea has fallen from #3 in 2012 to #6, 2013 was the first year of growth for this important source market following five consecutive years of decline.

Only one country in the top 20 continues to show declining numbers (Switzerland).

Click here to view the AEI Summary.

English Australia Member Colleges and Corporate Affiliates can access a detailed analysis of the data from an ELICOS perspective by logging in to the following section of the English Australia website:

COLLEGES » Services & Resources » Statistics/Research

Agents can access a summary of the key trends plus the ELICOS commencements for the top 100 ELICOS source countries by logging in to the following section of the English Australia website:

AGENTS » Agent Resources