AUSTRALIAN PROPERTY INSIGHTS
CAMPUS QUARTER
DEMAND DRIVERS A STRUCTURALLY SUPPORTED DEMAND BASE
PBSA demand in Australia is anchored by two complementary cohorts: international students and a growing base of mobile domestic students. Together, they form a resilient tenant pool that underpins occupancy across key education precincts. INTERNATIONAL STUDENT DEMAND: A CORE ENGINE In 2024 Australia welcomed just over 500,000 international students, a level that now exceeds pre-COVID peaks. Demand is driven by a mix of globalised student preferences, relative value to competing countries, closer proximity to home for Asian students, the strength of Australia’s tertiary institutions, and supportive visa and post-study work settings. Early indicators are suggesting that international students are increasingly looking at alternatives to the US due to concerns over immigration policies. This will likely be supportive for Australian demand in the coming years. Recent visa reforms have shifted the narrative toward quality over volume. These changes have primarily impacted the non- university sector. PBSA-relevant students, who are typically full-time, degree-enrolled, and financially secure, have been largely unaffected.
CHART 3
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS’ CHOICE OF DESTINATION (2023)
Malaysia
Netherlands
Japan
China
France
Australia
Canada
Germany
UK
USA
-
200,000
400,000
600,000
800,000
1,000,000
1,200,000
Number of International Students
Source: UNESCO, Statista
5
CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD
Powered by FlippingBook