The number of international students studying at Federation University campuses has more than doubled in the past year, boosting enrolment numbers.
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There are 801 international students studying at the university's Ballarat campuses this year, an increase of 69 per cent from 473 in 2018.
University Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Helen Bartlett said the university was expecting this growth to continue as its reputation grows internationally.
"At Federation University, international students can get a world-class education and research opportunities in regional communities, which are welcoming and more affordable than a major city," she said.
International student numbers have also risen at Federation University's other campuses, with an increase of 207 per cent from 138 in 2018 to 424 in 2019 at the Berwick campus.
Our international student numbers have more than doubled in the past year and we expect this growth to continue as our reputation grows internationally.
- Professor Helen Bartlett, Federation University
The number of international students at the Gippsland campus rose from 23 in 2018 to 50 in 2019, a rise of 117 per cent.
Federation University student Pattan Tausif is in his second year of studying a Master of Engineering Technology (Mechanical Engineering).
He travelled from South India to Ballarat to begin the degree in February last year and has been living on campus at Mount Helen since.
Mr Tausif set up the university's Indian Students Association last year and has seen it grow from 50 to 400 student members this year.
"The Indian population at the university has been growing a lot since I started here, as well as the Chinese," he said.
Mr Tausif said he chose to study at Federation University in Ballarat to be in a regional area, live on residence and study at a university with a good reputation.
"I thought with a big campus in a quiet city and living on residence it would be a lot easier for me to make friends and survive," he said.
While Mr Tausif has thrived in Ballarat enjoying university, living on campus as a residential advisor at Fed Uni Living and working two part-time jobs, he said many other international students faced challenges securing a job and rental accommodation, while overcoming language and cultural barriers.
"Clubs like the Indian Students Association are there so we can support each other," he said.
The increasing number of international students at Federation University comes as the state government revealed Victoria's international education sector has set records for enrolments and economic impact.
The Indian population at the university has been growing a lot since I started here, as well as the Chinese.
- Pattan Tausif, Federation University student
Figures released by the state government on Thursday show international students from 170 countries accounted for 281,000 enrolments at Victorian universities last year, up 11.4 per cent.
State government data shows this supports almost 79,000 Victorian jobs and generates $11.8 billion in export revenue.
Revenue for Victoria has increased by 89 per cent since 2014, making international education the state's largest export category, ahead of tourism ($5.4 billion) and wool ($2.1 billion).
The top five countries for onshore students statewide were China (88,401), India (50,463), Malaysia (16,643), Vietnam (12,763) and Sri Lanka (9,541).
Statewide, the most popular fields of study were management and commerce (32 per cent), arts and humanities (21 per cent), IT (10 per cent) and foundation studies (10 per cent).
On Thursday the state government announced almost $1 million in International Student Welfare Program grants, supporting 27 projects.
Since 2014, the Government has committed $4 million to 104 projects that protect and promote international student wellbeing in areas including sport, work rights, accommodation, legal services and mental health.
Professor Bartlett told The Courier in a statement a Multicultural Student Services team supported international students with academic and social programs at Federation University.
"[This is] to make sure they get the most out of their studies and their experience living in Australia," she said.
"For our domestic students and the local community, our international students bring the world to our campuses and communities in Ballarat, Gippsland and Berwick.
"They enrich our university community with different cultures and insights, which is particularly beneficial in regional communities that don't always have the cultural diversity of larger cities."
According to Universities Australia, 86 per cent of international students return to their country of origin after their studies.
Mr Tausif told The Courier he planned to remain in Ballarat to work after completing his studies under a temporary visa.
The peak university sector body has previously dismissed concerns of 'over-reliance' on international students, saying the increase in international students in Australia has been a 'self-made success story'.
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