AUSTRALIA is becoming an increasingly popular choice for students planning to study overseas, according to figures released by the International Students Branch of the Australian Department of Employment, Education and training.
The Australian International Education Foundation (AIEF) said Hong Kong students feel assured by the country's education system which insists that all institutions be accredited by the Australian Government before they can offer courses to overseas students.
This not only guarantees high academic standards but also ensures that standards between institutions do not differ greatly.
Hong Kong is of special interest to Australian institutions looking to expand or maintain their international student programme, the AIEF said. There is a strong demand for secondary, post secondary and tertiary students from Hong Kong.
The department's statistics show that Hong Kong students make up the majority of Australia's overseas students.
In 1994, there were 11,933 full fee-paying Hong Kong students studying in Australia: 8,927 in higher education; 2,009 in primary/secondary education; 675 in other post secondary classes, and 322 in English-Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students Centres.
