Australia’s educational tourism sector is set for significant expansion, with forecasts indicating a growth from USD 22.3 billion in 2025 to USD 44.6 billion by 2035, representing a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period. The growth of this sector is fueled by the increasing global demand for Australia’s world-class universities, specialized academic programs, and its renowned language immersion experiences.
Market Overview
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated Australia Industry Size (2025E) | USD 22.3 billion |
| Projected Australia Value (2035F) | USD 44.6 billion |
| Value-based CAGR (2025 to 2035) | 7.2% |
The increasing popularity of Australian universities and increased short-term study programs such as English language programs, vocational courses, and cultural exchange programs are major drivers for market growth. Moreover, Australia's image as a secure, English-speaking country for foreign students continues to appeal to students from all over the world.
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The chart below highlights the changes in CAGR for the base year of 2024 and the current year 2025, reflecting shifts in market dynamics.
CAGR Values for Australia Educational Tourism Market (2024 to 2025)
Australia’s educational tourism market is expected to grow by 6.2% in H1 2024, with the rate increasing to 6.4% in H2 2025. This increase is driven by the continued success of Australia’s flagship institutions such as the University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, and the Australian National University (ANU), along with rising demand for short-term programs in emerging sectors like technology, health sciences, and environmental studies.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Market Value | The Australian educational tourism industry is expected to generate USD 20.8 billion in 2024, contributing over 60% of the Asia-Pacific region's educational tourism market. |
| Domestic Market Share | Domestic tourists make up 40%, with Australian students engaging in both academic and vocational programs across the country. |
| International Market Share | International students represent 60%, with key markets including China, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia, all attracted by top Australian universities and culturally enriching programs. |
| Key Destinations | Major educational hubs include Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Canberra, where students flock for higher education, English courses, and professional development programs. |
| Economic Impact | The sector generates billions in tuition fees, accommodations, transportation, and local spending in Australia’s major cities, boosting the local economy. |
| Key Trends | Growing popularity of short-term professional certifications, language courses, and work-study programs in sectors like business, engineering, and hospitality. |
| Top Travel Seasons | The highest demand for study programs is observed during the summer and winter school breaks, with a focus on English language immersion and professional development seminars. |
Australia's tourism in education is boosting tourism from overseas students, especially from the Asian continent, with the best institutions like the University of Queensland and the University of New South Wales being major drivers for this tourism. Sydney ranks at the top as one of its leading academic programs and its active cultural life attract students, while Melbourne is famous for its innovative education and cosmopolitan range of international students.
Chief trends in this region are an influx of short-course programs such as English language immersion and business leadership certification. Intensive programs under which students could study and work, including part-time work, internships, and others, also appeal to international visitors desiring a hands-on experience.
| Date | Development & Details |
|---|---|
| Jan 2025 | New Data Science Certification at University of Melbourne: The University of Melbourne launched a three-month certification program in Data Science targeting professionals from Southeast Asia and India. The program includes practical industry placements in collaboration with tech companies in Melbourne. |
| Dec 2024 | Innovation and Entrepreneurship Short-Term Course at ANU: The Australian National University (ANU) introduced a three-week innovation and entrepreneurship boot camp aimed at young professionals and entrepreneurs from Asia and the Middle East. The program includes workshops and networking opportunities with local startups. |
| Nov 2024 | Cultural Immersion and English Language Program in Sydney: The University of Sydney expanded its English language programs to include a cultural immersion component, offering international students the opportunity to explore Sydney while enhancing their language skills. |
| Oct 2024 | Hybrid Learning Model Introduced at University of Queensland: The University of Queensland launched a hybrid learning option for its one-year postgraduate courses, allowing international students to complete coursework virtually before arriving for in-person sessions in Brisbane. |
| Sept 2024 | Environmental Sustainability Program at University of Melbourne: The University of Melbourne rolled out a semester-long program on environmental sustainability, attracting international students from Europe and Asia interested in hands-on projects and workshops focused on sustainable solutions. |
A Major Revenue Driver for Australia’s Educational Tourism Industry
Post-graduation courses in Australia are a key income generator for the education tourism sector, with the University of Melbourne, University of Sydney, and Australian National University (ANU) having an international student population. Master's degrees, MBAs, and PhDs are highly specialized and provide high-value qualifications that attract international students wishing to boost their career prospects in business, engineering, healthcare, and technology fields.
For instance, the Master of Engineering program at the University of Melbourne has been a favorite among students from China and India for years, where there is high demand for qualified engineers. Foreign students pay as much as USD 35,000 per year for these courses, which is a major source of revenue for the university. Likewise, the MBA course of the University of Sydney, with its international standing and advanced curriculum, attracts business professionals from Southeast Asia, especially Singapore and Malaysia, seeking to study higher business courses in an international environment. These are high tuition charges that are among the most significant contributors to post-graduation education profitability.
Apart from tuition, the financial contribution of such programs is far-reaching beyond the confines of the classroom. Foreign post-graduate students remain in Australia for prolonged periods and inject funds into the economy by spending on living, food, transportation, and accommodation. Indian students, for example, studying at Canberra's ANU rent apartments in the suburbs of Canberra, generating demand for Canberra's real estate market. Also, the students' families often visit, again supporting local businesses, ranging from accommodation to retail, hospitality, and tourism industries. This flow of international students and their related spending supports employment and local industries, thus making post-graduate studies a major pillar of Australia's educational tourism industry.
A Profitable Segment of the Australian Educational Tourism Market
One-year courses in Australia provide an attractive, high-returning alternative to the conventional degree courses, allowing students to enjoy a concentrated, short-term learning experience that addresses the increasing demand for specialist skills. The University of Queensland's Intensive English Language Program, for instance, has been a favorite among international students, especially from South Korea and Japan. These students pay top dollar, as much as USD 15,000 for a year-long program, to enhance their English skills and acquire academic language ability for further study at the university level. Aside from tuition, these students also inject money into local economies in terms of paying for accommodation, eating out, and participation in leisure activities, thereby stimulating demand in the hospitality and real estate sectors.
Another rapidly expanding field in one-year programs is professional development, especially in business and technology fields. Graduate certificates in digital marketing and business administration are drawing students from areas such as India and Southeast Asia. The University of Sydney's Graduate Certificate in Digital Marketing, for instance, serves professionals who want to enter the digital marketing profession. These students usually pay between USD 10,000 and USD 20,000 as tuition fees, in addition to other expenses such as accommodations, textbooks, and living costs.
In addition, short courses in such in-demand fields as cybersecurity and data analysis have become popular. The University of Melbourne, for example, has a Graduate Certificate in Cybersecurity that attracts students from Singapore and Indonesia, which both need to have cybersecurity experts. These programs are intended to deliver specialized, practical exposure to topics like network security and ethical hacking. With the growing need for cybersecurity professionals worldwide, such programs bring significant revenue not only in the form of tuition fees but also from related expenses such as career advancement workshops and industry networking sessions. The success of these one-year programs has established Australia as a center for professional upskilling in fast-moving industries.
Australia's education tourism industry is very competitive, with top institutions such as the University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, and Australian National University (ANU) taking the lead. Other competitors such as Kaplan International and English Language Schools Australia (ELSA) also make their contributions by providing specialized English language courses and academic preparation services for foreign students.
2025 Market Share of Australian Educational Tourism Players
Leading players in the market include IDP Education Limited, G8 Education Limited, and 3P Learning Limited, followed by several universities and specialized institutions offering programs for international students.
Australia’s educational tourism market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% from 2025 to 2035.
The market is projected to reach USD 44.6 billion by 2035.
Key drivers include growing demand for Australian education, specialized short-term courses, and the country’s status as a top destination for English language learning and professional development programs.
Key players include IDP Education Limited, G8 Education Limited, and 3P Learning Limited.
The market is segmented into Primary, Secondary, Graduation, and Post-Graduation.
The market is segmented into One Week and Less, One Month, One Year, and More than a Year.
Segmentation includes Less than 12 Years, 13 - 18 Years, 19 - 25 Years, 26 - 40 Years, and Over 40 Years.
The industry is divided into Domestic and International.
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Australia Educational Tourism Market
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