International student enrolments in New Zealand 2000-2006 Publications

Publication Details

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(s): International Division, Ministry of Education.

Date Published: 20 April 2007

Executive 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
Notes:
  1. Source 2000-2005: 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.
  2. Source 2000-2005: Schools data is as at 1 July (Ministry of Education roll returns).
  3. Source 2000-2005: Tertiary data, for public and private providers, is for full calendar years 2000 to 2005 (Ministry of Education Single Data Return database).
  4. Source 2000-2005: English language schools data is for the financial years ended 31 March 2001 to 2006 (Statistics New Zealand Survey of English Language Providers)
  5. Source 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.
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
50, 026 79,030 126,919 117,621 110,817 94,246 93,421

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

pubID-14677-fig1

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