Australia is losing its long-held position as a hub for international students thanks to the closed border and worsening ties with China.
Many Chinese students are being turned off Australia by closed borders, safety concerns and worsening diplomatic and trade sanctions, a study by global education provider Navitas found.
It comes after relations between the countries declined after Australia called for an international probe into the coronavirus crisis, with China placing strict produce tariffs on the country.
The report revealed countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States were being looked upon more favourably due to their open borders and promising predictions of bouncing back from the effects of the pandemic.
Canada and the UK were being recommended as more reliable travel options for the next 12 months.
The survey of 900 agents across 73 countries was held in March, before China announced the suspension of the Australia-China Strategic Economic Dialogue.
According to the research, the federal government’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic did not influence agents’ attitudes, with Australia being rated alongside the US as an attractive study destination thanks to its public health response.
“There is strong scepticism about when Australia and New Zealand will reopen their borders,” the report said.
“Only 20% of agents from China have confidence that students will be able to travel to Australia (in the first half of 2022).”
The report said Australia was gradually losing its historical advantages on the ground.
