The number of international students choosing to study in Australia has surged over the past few years to the point that Australia is overtaking the UK as the world’s second-biggest destination for international students, behind the US, according to researchers at University College London’s Centre for Global Higher Education.

In 2015, the UK attracted about 130,000 more overseas students than Australia, says UCL professor Simon Marginson. But in recent years, Australia has repeatedly increased its overseas student numbers by 12 to 14 per cent. Prof Marginson and his team believe Australia may have overtaken the UK. If not already, it will happen soon, they say.

Australia has a lot to offer school leavers with a sense of wanderlust. It is famed for its beaches, food and natural assets, while bustling cities such as Sydney and Melbourne are considered some of the most liveable in the world. “Australia is seen as an El Dorado-type destination,” says Laura Bell, an academic registrar at Melbourne Business School.