Brazil tops study rush
THE Gold Coast is fast becoming the destination of choice for international students, with a 15.8 per cent spike in enrolments in the past year.
And Brazilian students are leading the charge, with a 38 per cent jump in enrolments from the Samba nation, which now outstrips China as the biggest source of international students, according to new Study Gold Coast data.
Nearly 5000 Brazilian students called the Gold Coast home during their studies in 2017, compared to 4466 from China, from a total number of 28,000.
The Gold Coast’s international student numbers have increased by 24 per cent since 2014 and now inject $1.4 billion into the local economy – up from the $1.1 billion the previous year.
The Gold Coast is now ranked 87th on QS rankings of the world’s best student cities and 23rd for best student mix. It is the only regional city in Australia to feature on the prestigious list.
Study Gold Coast CEO Shannon Willoughby said the rise of Brazilian students choosing to study on the Gold Coast was good news for the city.
“It makes the Gold Coast a unique study destination compared to other cities, it shows we do have a diverse market, that we’re not reliant on just one market,” she said.
Ms Willoughby said there were a number of factors drawing international students to the Gold Coast over other cities.
“The Gold Coast’s competitive advantages are lifestyle and climate, no doubt about that, but also affordability and security,” she said, adding that access to part-time work and quality of education were also attracting students.
For Study Gold Coast, Japan, China, Brazil and India remain target markets for growth, and they expect to meet their set targets.
They reported a massive spike in visits to Study Gold Coast’s website from India during and after the Commonwealth Games, and Ms Willoughby said there was a need to capitalise on that potential.
“We need to make sure we don’t ignore other markets, India remains a sleeping giant for us,” she said.