The table and pie charts provide data on the number and gender distribution of local and international research students at Australian universities in 2001 and 2010. Overall, the data compare the growth in the total number of research students over the decade, highlighting a marked rise in international students and subtle shifts in gender proportions.
Constituting the vast majority, the local students made up to 86% of 38,499 research students in 2001. However, a decade later, the total number of research students surged to 53,638, while the share of local students dropped to 73%. This shift was attributed to a significant rise in international students, whose number nearly tripled from 5,061 to 14,451 in 2001 and 2010, respectively.
The gender distribution among local students was balanced in 2001, with males and females each accounting for 43% of the total. By 2010, while the proportions fell slightly to 34% for males and 39% for females, their absolute numbers increased, reflecting the overall growth in the local student population.
Conversely, among international students, males represented 9% and females 5% of the total 14% in 2001. In 2010, the share/portion of international students expanded notably to 27%, with male students doubling their portion to 16%, surpassing the 11% held by females.