May 2020 YTD ELICOS commencements decrease 23.7%
Travel restrictions and border closures continue to heavily impact the Australian ELICOS sector, decreasing student commencements by almost a quarter in May 2020 YTD compared to May 2019.
The drop in commencements has impacted all states and territories but to a lesser degree in Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia, falling 18.0%, 19.4% and 18.5%. The ACT is perhaps the worst hit, dropping an astounding 59.9% to 185 students, an enormous change considering May 2018 saw 825 students in the nation’s capital.
China commencements almost halve at 44.7% fewer students
Despite China’s significant decrease in commencements, the proportion that this drop has contributed to the national decrease has fallen. In February and March falls in overall national commencements in ELICOS were effectively falls in commencements from China, ELICOS commencements fell by 1,317 students while commencements of students from China fell by 1,471 students in February for instance.
However by April, the falls in commencements of students from China made up only a quarter of the overall fall in commencements. In May, the falls in students from China represent less than 30% of the total fall in commencements.
It is no longer simply the case that falls in Chinese commencements mean falls in national commencements, more so than ever before, every market matters.
Colombia still grows despite travel restrictions
Colombia recorded a 3.2% increase in commencements for May 2020 YTD, making it the only top-10 source country to record growth. Colombia accounted for 47.4% of the students from the top-2 source countries in May, bringing it close to taking the number one spot from China.
ELICOS market analysis: May 2020
DET Summary Report
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