Popular Field of Study by University in Australia for Overseas Students
Most Popular Fields of Study
Society and Culture: This field consistently appears as one of the most popular areas of study, with high percentages across many institutions. Notably, The Australian National University stands out with 46.34% of its overseas students enrolled in Society and Culture courses. Other universities with high percentages in this field include the University of New England with 38.69%, the University of Notre Dame Australia with 28.95%, and the University of Melbourne with 23.65%. The average percentage of overseas students studying Society and Culture across all institutions is 25.34%.
Management and Commerce: Another leading field of study, particularly strong in private universities and non-university higher education providers, where it can account for a significant portion of the student body, such as at Torrens University Australia with 50.62% and Private Universities and Non-University Higher Education Providers with 55.27%. The average percentage of overseas students studying Management and Commerce across all institutions is 17.35%.
Health: This field also emerges as a top choice among overseas students, with several universities showing high enrollment numbers in this area. The Australian Catholic University, for example, has 40.64% of its overseas students studying Health-related courses. Other universities with high percentages in this field include the University of Notre Dame Australia with 33.39%, Bond University with 26.48%, and the University of Tasmania with 26.87%. The average percentage of overseas students studying Health across all institutions is 16.14%.
Least Popular Fields of Study
Agriculture, Environmental, and Related Studies: Generally, this field has low enrollment numbers across most institutions, often falling below 1%. Exceptions include The University of New England and The University of Tasmania, where it slightly exceeds 3%. The average percentage of overseas students studying Agriculture, Environmental, and Related Studies across all institutions is 1.18%.
Food, Hospitality, and Personal Services: This field has minimal enrollment in most universities, often close to 0%. It's notably more popular in Private Universities and Non-University Higher Education Providers, where it reaches 10.16%. The average percentage of overseas students studying Food, Hospitality, and Personal Services across all institutions is 0.28%.
Architecture and Building: This field also has low enrollment numbers across most institutions, often falling below 1%. The average percentage of overseas students studying Architecture and Building across all institutions is 1.65%.
Observations
Creative Arts and IT: Both fields show moderate popularity, with institutions like RMIT University highlighting Creative Arts (14.68%) and Federation University Australia showing a significant leaning towards Information Technology (25.48%).
Natural and Physical Sciences: This field shows a strong interest at institutions like Monash University and The University of Sydney, indicating a solid foundation in scientific research and study among overseas students.
Education: While not the top field, Education sees substantial enrollment in specific universities such as Edith Cowan University and Avondale University College, reflecting a targeted interest in teaching and education studies.
Data Table: Popular Field of Study by University in Australia for Overseas Students (2022)
| Institution | Agriculture Environmental and Related Studies | Architecture and Building | Creative Arts | Education | Engineering and Related Technologies | Food Hospitality and Personal Services | Health | Information Technology | Management and Commerce | Mixed Field Programs | Natural and Physical Sciences | Society and Culture |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Catholic University | 0.09% | 0.00% | 1.83% | 22.62% | 0.24% | 0.00% | 40.64% | 0.94% | 5.29% | 0.00% | 6.28% | 22.06% |
| Bond University | 0.78% | 5.84% | 3.82% | 0.45% | 0.82% | 0.23% | 26.48% | 1.27% | 19.99% | 5.72% | 4.95% | 29.65% |
| Carnegie Mellon University Australia | 0.00% | 0.00% | 7.53% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 39.76% | 18.87% | 13.63% | 4.12% | 16.08% |
| Charles Darwin University | 0.60% | 0.78% | 5.59% | 13.51% | 4.46% | 0.00% | 28.58% | 4.28% | 9.16% | 1.05% | 11.34% | 20.65% |
| Charles Sturt University | 4.34% | 0.04% | 2.78% | 12.36% | 0.37% | 0.00% | 17.73% | 12.04% | 14.37% | 0.00% | 8.09% | 27.87% |
| CQUniversity | 0.86% | 1.03% | 3.93% | 8.65% | 5.69% | 0.00% | 25.53% | 10.47% | 19.74% | 1.33% | 10.82% | 11.93% |
| Curtin University | 0.63% | 4.16% | 8.65% | 8.23% | 11.42% | 0.00% | 18.03% | 4.19% | 19.95% | 0.00% | 11.56% | 13.16% |
| Deakin University | 1.25% | 3.49% | 5.87% | 8.49% | 4.17% | 0.00% | 15.87% | 7.14% | 15.26% | 0.07% | 11.36% | 27.02% |
| Edith Cowan University | 0.64% | 0.14% | 7.72% | 23.98% | 5.64% | 0.03% | 20.56% | 6.95% | 12.62% | 0.13% | 6.66% | 14.94% |
| Federation University Australia | 0.97% | 0.00% | 3.11% | 10.73% | 3.00% | 0.00% | 18.47% | 25.48% | 15.63% | 0.84% | 7.76% | 14.00% |
| Flinders University | 0.44% | 0.00% | 5.58% | 9.27% | 3.99% | 0.00% | 30.85% | 2.45% | 7.03% | 1.85% | 13.43% | 25.12% |
| Griffith University | 0.91% | 1.12% | 10.26% | 6.76% | 4.45% | 0.03% | 14.74% | 3.63% | 17.63% | 0.03% | 12.94% | 27.50% |
| James Cook University | 1.61% | 0.26% | 2.49% | 5.83% | 2.63% | 0.00% | 29.10% | 6.46% | 17.38% | 1.36% | 14.52% | 18.34% |
| La Trobe University | 2.36% | 0.19% | 2.24% | 7.41% | 1.84% | 0.06% | 28.54% | 5.29% | 16.15% | 0.14% | 14.41% | 21.38% |
| Macquarie University | 1.15% | 0.15% | 4.64% | 6.62% | 2.30% | 0.00% | 4.49% | 6.02% | 27.16% | 0.00% | 11.89% | 35.59% |
| Monash University | 0.61% | 1.07% | 5.26% | 5.55% | 8.37% | 0.00% | 12.50% | 7.61% | 18.02% | 0.00% | 16.39% | 24.63% |
| Murdoch University | 2.28% | 0.16% | 4.89% | 6.77% | 1.78% | 0.00% | 11.52% | 7.09% | 18.60% | 2.18% | 12.73% | 32.00% |
| Non-University Higher Education Providers | 0.80% | 0.75% | 8.46% | 1.32% | 3.67% | 0.44% | 10.62% | 12.28% | 38.54% | 0.43% | 7.09% | 15.61% |
| Non-University Higher Education Providers (excluding Avondale) | 0.04% | 0.54% | 25.12% | 2.77% | 0.34% | 0.04% | 2.55% | 6.36% | 33.71% | 0.39% | 2.94% | 25.20% |
| Private Universities and Non-University Higher Education Providers | 0.04% | 0.03% | 4.21% | 2.83% | 2.46% | 10.16% | 2.24% | 4.02% | 55.27% | 1.11% | 3.88% | 13.76% |
| Queensland University of Technology | 0.58% | 4.37% | 10.07% | 6.89% | 8.04% | 0.00% | 13.99% | 8.74% | 17.52% | 0.00% | 10.16% | 19.64% |
| RMIT University | 0.71% | 6.16% | 14.68% | 1.98% | 13.14% | 0.07% | 4.87% | 8.70% | 25.79% | 0.00% | 7.80% | 16.08% |
| Southern Cross University | 2.18% | 0.09% | 6.54% | 11.28% | 1.16% | 0.36% | 16.53% | 5.37% | 21.98% | 1.31% | 13.13% | 20.07% |
| Swinburne University of Technology | 0.00% | 0.96% | 13.29% | 12.34% | 15.90% | 0.01% | 2.36% | 10.70% | 19.23% | 1.38% | 7.51% | 16.34% |
| The Australian National University | 2.29% | 0.00% | 2.86% | 0.04% | 4.72% | 0.00% | 3.32% | 8.26% | 14.16% | 0.04% | 17.98% | 46.34% |
| The University of Adelaide | 2.66% | 2.30% | 5.10% | 2.30% | 11.37% | 0.00% | 16.74% | 5.11% | 14.87% | 0.38% | 15.73% | 23.42% |
| The University of Melbourne | 2.81% | 4.82% | 9.66% | 5.29% | 6.61% | 0.00% | 10.72% | 5.43% | 15.38% | 0.01% | 15.63% | 23.65% |
| The University of New England | 4.17% | 0.88% | 3.42% | 17.38% | 0.30% | 0.00% | 10.68% | 1.88% | 8.02% | 0.00% | 14.58% | 38.69% |
| The University of Newcastle | 1.47% | 5.23% | 5.35% | 10.83% | 7.49% | 0.00% | 21.02% | 2.16% | 11.05% | 0.00% | 15.25% | 20.14% |
| The University of Notre Dame Australia | 0.34% | 0.12% | 3.47% | 19.80% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 33.39% | 0.01% | 5.73% | 2.14% | 6.03% | 28.95% |
| The University of Queensland | 3.51% | 1.32% | 4.10% | 2.60% | 9.76% | 0.00% | 17.57% | 4.45% | 14.21% | 0.05% | 17.27% | 25.16% |
| The University of Sydney | 0.96% | 2.32% | 6.52% | 4.05% | 9.25% | 0.01% | 17.58% | 5.02% | 15.89% | 0.01% | 12.16% | 26.23% |
| The University of Western Australia | 2.01% | 2.86% | 4.43% | 2.71% | 9.27% | 0.00% | 12.68% | 3.65% | 15.13% | 0.13% | 21.28% | 25.87% |
| Torrens University Australia | 0.00% | 2.92% | 17.85% | 1.75% | 0.04% | 1.87% | 15.46% | 3.97% | 50.62% | 0.00% | 0.69% | 4.83% |
| University of Canberra | 0.66% | 3.91% | 12.68% | 9.58% | 1.56% | 0.00% | 14.73% | 8.61% | 14.05% | 0.33% | 12.26% | 21.65% |
| University of Divinity | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% |
| University of New South Wales | 0.80% | 4.47% | 8.24% | 1.86% | 18.25% | 0.01% | 6.33% | 8.52% | 17.55% | 0.01% | 16.52% | 17.45% |
| University of South Australia | 0.42% | 4.67% | 8.70% | 10.24% | 6.35% | 0.04% | 19.23% | 6.15% | 16.20% | 1.16% | 9.99% | 16.87% |
| University of Southern Queensland | 0.67% | 0.27% | 6.81% | 16.85% | 11.01% | 0.00% | 17.22% | 6.86% | 10.04% | 2.03% | 11.06% | 17.19% |
| University of Tasmania | 3.39% | 1.34% | 8.07% | 7.62% | 4.84% | 0.00% | 26.87% | 6.08% | 8.75% | 2.00% | 12.05% | 18.99% |
| University of Technology Sydney | 0.44% | 4.12% | 9.95% | 1.85% | 14.77% | 0.00% | 9.49% | 8.34% | 23.69% | 0.01% | 13.39% | 13.94% |
| University of the Sunshine Coast | 2.43% | 0.38% | 10.57% | 8.39% | 1.97% | 0.00% | 24.44% | 4.62% | 12.49% | 0.01% | 16.41% | 18.29% |
| University of Wollongong | 0.67% | 0.00% | 5.49% | 6.63% | 9.27% | 0.00% | 11.19% | 11.05% | 20.80% | 0.61% | 13.03% | 21.26% |
| Victoria University | 0.39% | 1.43% | 1.79% | 11.88% | 4.13% | 0.05% | 15.14% | 7.55% | 24.11% | 0.31% | 8.18% | 25.04% |
| Western Sydney University | 0.76% | 2.72% | 4.83% | 6.39% | 7.01% | 0.00% | 20.35% | 3.61% | 12.37% | 0.00% | 12.49% | 29.47% |
| Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 100.00% |
| Avondale University College | 0.53% | 0.26% | 5.38% | 24.74% | 0.07% | 0.00% | 37.60% | 1.12% | 5.47% | 2.00% | 4.12% | 18.72% |
| Average | 1.18% | 1.65% | 6.68% | 7.86% | 5.19% | 0.28% | 16.14% | 6.80% | 17.35% | 0.94% | 10.59% | 25.34% |
References
Australian Government Department of Education, n.d., Education, viewed (12 February 2024), https://www.education.gov.au/.