The number of overseas students in Australian higher education institutions has more than trebled, from 13,700 in 1983 to 42,600 in 1993. Australia benefits from the participation of overseas students in higher education.
Benefits occur on personal, institutional and national levels.
Direct benefits include the cultural enrichment of the educational environment and the revenue obtained from fees. Indirect benefits include increased expenditure in the domestic economy and the enhancement of trade relations 1 . However, there are concerns that the rising number of overseas students in Australian higher education institutions may limit access for local students 2 . This is despite government assurances that policy changes allowing fee-paying overseas students into Australian institutions will not displace local students. The number of overseas students attending Australian higher education institutions increased markedly over the last decade.