English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students' (ELICOS) Spending, 2006

Australian Education International (AEI) recently completed research into the spending of international students in Australia to estimate the export value of international education to the Australian economy. Previous research into spending of international students in Australia completed by the Australian Education International (AEI) covered all five education sectors (Higher Education, Vocational Education, Secondary School, ELICOS and Foundation Studies), the ELICOS sub-sample was comparatively small. AEI commissioned The University of Queensland Social Research Centre (UQSRC) in February 2006 to undertake a supplementary survey of ELICOS students with the aim of achieving a more reliable estimate of their expenditure. Using a survey instrument developed for self-completion on the World Wide Web or via hard copy format, UQSRC obtained detailed expenditure information from 899 ELICOS students in all states and territories. The sample was drawn to reflect January to November 2005 population data which was the most current data available to UQSRC at that time. The survey was conducted during the period February to March 2006. The sample achieved is broadly representative of the population in terms of state of residence and country of origin. In order to estimate expenditure of ELICOS students across the population as accurately as possible, the sample data has been weighted to reflect the actual population of ELICOS students based on January 2006 enrolments. Specific expenditure items with the highest levels of average weekly spending were motor vehicle purchase ($187 per week), rent/board ($167 per week), rates ($139 per week), mortgage repayments ($138 per week), travel within Australia ($137 per week), children's course fees ($132 per week), childcare ($131 per week), and food and groceries ($84 per week). Motor vehicle purchase, rates, children's course fees, childcare and mortgage repayments were only reported by small numbers of respondents, however. The major aggregate components of student expenditure were housing ($145 per week), food and groceries ($120 per week), entertainment and recreation ($28 per week), telephone costs ($25 per week), and alcohol and cigarettes ($22 per week). Across the whole sample, total average weekly expenditure on goods and services (excluding course fees) was $551. Total average weekly expenditure of students in the 2006 survey is $161 per week more than that estimated for ELICOS students in the 2004 survey of international students. Overall, expenditure by ELICOS students in Australia makes a significant contribution to the Australian economy.