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Australia s tertiary education industry faces a devastating economic hit this year as international students from key markets switch their applications to countries with more open borders including Canada and COVID-ravaged Britain.
University vice-chancellors and international education agents have reported students in India, Nepal and China, who were originally bound for Australia, this month have started making other arrangements because they want to study on a real campus instead of online.
Education agents have reported an increasing number of international students are considering studying in Canada and the UK instead of Australia.
Credit:Louise Kennerley
Western Sydney University vice-chancellor Barney Glover said his agent networks told him some students who had been offered a place at his university had eventually declined the offer to take a place at a UK university.
International student accommodation almost empty as sector battles with COVID-19 quarantine and border restrictions
ThuThursday 14
updated
ThuThursday 14
JanJanuary 2021 at 10:54pm
A room in the Scape Carlton, a large student accommodation tower set to open in Melbourne next month.
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On Melbourne s Swanston Street, the final touches are being put on a $100 million tower for as many as 750 university students.
Key points:
Figures show 30 per cent of Australia s 542,106 student visa holders were out of the country on January 10
It has left most student accommodation facilities with tiny occupancy rates
These providers are lobbying state governments to allow quarantine arrangements in their facilities
COVID-19 Sydney outbreak: Hotel quarantine change could stop spread news.com.au - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from news.com.au Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Thousands of international students are considering moving to Canada instead of Australia because of COVID-19 restrictions.
As many as 6,600 students trapped in India are still enrolled in university courses Down Under, but are unable to get into the country due to strict border closures.
Many are now strongly considering ditching the Australian dream so they can pursue their education elsewhere.
Indian students make up about 15 per cent of all overseas enrollments in Australia, behind those from China.
Thousands of international students are considering moving to Canada instead of Australia because of COVID-19 restrictions (pictured: two female students wear graduation caps at the Australian National University in Canberra)