YTD March ELICOS commencements increased by 258.4% versus March 2022. Enrolments increased by 375.4%.
Market highlights
- Commencements from Latin America continue to dominate the YTD market performance. Colombia #1 increased by 993.7 % or 7,552 additional students, and commencements from Brazil #2 increased by 574.2% or 3,491 additional students. Several other LATAM markets are in the top 15 for commencements.
- Thailand continues to hold the #3 market position with 225.6% growth or 2,495 additional commencements, and growth experienced from Vietnam #5 increasing by 256% or 1,042 additional commencements.
- Commencements from China #4 increased by 56.4% or 1,063 additional students versus YTD March 2022. Chinese students made up 9.1% of commencements within ELICOS.
- YTD March commencements increased by 62.9% across all sectors. Enrolments increased by 28.6%.
- The VET sector experienced an increase in commencements at 36.0% or 14,381 additional students when compared to YTD March 2022.
- The Non-award sector experienced an increase in commencements at 196.2% or 7,333 additional students versus YTD March 2022.
Visa trends:
ELICOS only grants up by over 173%
The Independent ELICOS sector grants were up in March 2023 by 173.83%, compared with March 2022, with 3,906 more grants.
Offshore grants for Independent ELICOS were up by 141.69% in March 2023, with 3,076 more grants, compared to March 2022. Onshore grants for Independent ELICOS were almost eleven times higher, with 830 more grants.
ELICOS only visas granted to citizens from Mongolia were 27 times higher and over 17 times higher for citizens from Vietnam in March 2023 compared to March 2022. ELICOS visa grants for citizens from Colombia were almost 9.7 times higher with 2,112 more grants, while grants to citizens from Chile were up by almost 2.6 times higher or 298 more grants for the same comparison period.
ELICOS only lodgements up by 17.65%
The total number of Independent ELICOS visa applications lodged for March 2023 was up by 17.65% compared to March 2022, with 6,593 total lodgements.
DoE Summary Report
DoE Detailed Report

