International Student Enrolments in New Zealand 2003-2009

Introduction

This report summarises the publicly available data, from three main sources, on enrolments of international students within New Zealand education provider sectors from 2003 to 2009. Summary information is also stated on the numbers of approved student visas and permits during 2003 to 2009.  

This information is disaggregated by origin, according to the key markets of North Asia, South-East Asia, the Middle East, Europe and North America, and the developing markets of Latin America and South Asia. Further information is given on the estimated economic value-added to New Zealand from international education.

Summary

From a peak of 121,190 international fee-paying enrolments in 2003 there has been a 23% decline to 93,505 enrolments in 2009. This decline initially mainly affected private training establishments and schools, and from 2005 a reduction in total enrolments within the public tertiary education sector¹ was also recorded. In 2009 a near 6% increase in international enrolments was recorded, reversing the trend since 2003. The main beneficiaries of this growth were private training establishments, particularly English language schools. A graphical representation of this data is shown in Chart 1. 

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

Footnote

1. The tertiary education sector includes the publicly-funded institutions of the universities, institutes of technology/polytechnics, wananga, and teachers colleges; and the private training establishments (PTEs) that receive government funding for their students.