More overseas students in city
19 April 2002

By JOHN GIBB
The Dunedin economy is benefiting from continuing strong growth in the University of Otago overseas student roll.

Overseas undergraduate student enrolments rose 15 percent (up 98 equivalent full-time students) by the end of February, compared with the same stage last year, a university report says.

The 747 undergraduate efts enrolled in the first semester was already more than 10 percent higher than the university's targeted 675 efts for the full year.

The latest roll rise seems likely to generate gains of more than $500,000 in full-cost recovery tuition fees and sundry spending on accommodation and living costs.

Overseas student numbers rose about 10 percent to 1235 efts last year, generating $14,398,000 in tuition-fee income, up more than $2.5 million on the previous year.

University financial controller John Patrick said yesterday the further roll rise was positive for the university and city.

The overall economic benefit was clearly substantial but an authoritative estimate was not yet available, Mr Patrick said in an interview.

The benefit of last year's roll rise would be estimated in the university's latest annual economic impact report, due to be released within a few weeks.

Last year's higher fee income had partly reflected foreign currency gains, given extensive payments in US dollars, Mr Patrick said.

University income gains from the latest rise would depend partly on the mix of tuition fees, which often varied by discipline, and on foreign exchange movements, he said.

The report indicated that overseas postgraduate students (115 efts) were up 38% on the same stage last year, already reaching more than 80% of the full-year target (138).

Wayne Angus, the university manager, international liaison, said prospects were also good for some further growth in the second semester.

Malaysian student numbers had fallen sharply in recent years, but had since "bottomed out" and the university's diversification efforts were also bearing fruit.

Students from about 70 overseas countries were attending.

Most notable increases this year were in students from China and the United States.

The university's annual report shows that the top five contributing overseas nations last year were: US (268 efts), Malaysia (204), China (77), Germany (63) and Hong Kong (60).