International Enrolments in New Zealand 2000-2006

This report summarises the publicly available data, from four main sources, on the actual enrolments of international students within New Zealand provider groups from 2000 to 2006. Summary information is also stated on the numbers of approved student visas and permits for the calendar years 2000 to 2006. This information is disaggregated by origin, according to the key markets of China, Japan, and South Korea, the regions of South-East Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America, and the developing markets of Latin America and India. Further information is given on the estimated economic value-added to New Zealand from international education.

Author: International Division
Date Published: 20 April 2007

Summary

The total enrolments of international students across all provider groups rose by 153 percent from 2000 to 2002, from 50,026 to 126,919. From the market peak in 2002 there has been a 26 percent decline to 93,421 enrolments in 2006. This decline has mainly affected the schools, private tertiary education organisations, and English language schools. In 2005 and 2006 a reduction in total enrolments within the public tertiary education institutions was also recorded.

A graphical representation of this data is shown in Chart 1. It is apparent that the greatest increase in enrolments occurred within the English language schools sector, followed by the public tertiary education institutions. While the decline since the 2002 peak is clearly evident, the 2006 level is still about 18 percent above the total recorded for 2001.

Table 1: International enrolments by provider groups

	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006
Schools	7,191	10,555	15,259	17,448	14,477	11,984	13,933
Public Tertiary Education Institutions	13,326	20,405	30,714	39,009	43,047	40,706	35,261
Private Tertiary Organisations	3,306	6,345	9,443	10,475	9,876	5,807	6,634
English Language Schools	26,203	41,725	71,503	50,689	43,417	35,749	37,693
Totals	50,026	79,030	126,919	117,621	110,817	94,246	93,421

Sources:

2000 – 2005:

Schools data is as at 1 July (Ministry of Education roll returns).
Tertiary data, for public and private providers, is for full calendar years 2000 to 2005 (Ministry of Education Single Data Return database).
English language schools data is for the financial years ended 31 March 2001 to 2006 (Statistics New Zealand Survey of English Language Providers).

2006:

Export Education Levy database for the full calendar year. This database records information for schools, tertiary education institutions, and private providers (described as ‘private training establishments’ – PTEs) according to their classification as ‘SDR’ and ‘non-SDR’ PTEs. ‘SDR’ PTEs enrol domestic students who receive state funding support, and so have to participate in the Single Data Return monitoring system.

Chart 1: Enrolments of international students in New Zealand, by provider groups

enrollmentsinternational

Related Pages on Education Counts

See International Students Trends Reports publication home page.