More overseas students are coming to Northland to study, with international enrolments doubling at one provider.
International enrolments were up 6 per cent in Northland last year, according to the New Zealand International Education Snapshot. Institutes of technology and polytechnics led the rise with international student numbers up 38 per cent or 69 students there.
NorthTec council chairman Vern Dark said NorthTec experienced a significant increase in international students in 2015, in line with most other New Zealand institutes of technology and polytechnics.
He said international student numbers across NorthTec's Whangarei and Auckland campuses more than doubled from 370 in 2014 to 799 last year.
"The majority of our international students come from China and India, although other nationalities are also represented."
Students were coming from overseas to study business, applied management, project management and sales and marketing as well as information technology and hospitality. Others were studying civil engineering, architectural design, nursing and the English language.
Mr Dark said NorthTec was expanding its international sector to allow it to grow, while continuing to focus on its core business of providing tertiary education in Te Tai Tokerau.
He said the school had grown its international market carefully, to increase student numbers in a manageable fashion.
It provided English language support to ensure all international students reached the required degree of fluency. It also provided pastoral support for students far from home.
"Our international strategy is to continue developing this market through strong partnerships with schools in China and accredited agencies in India," he said.
International student enrolments were up 13 per cent or 14,748 nationwide last year, according to the New Zealand International Education Snapshot.
It showed 34 per cent of enrolments were at private training establishments, 21 per cent at universities, 17 per cent in the English language sector, 14 per cent at institutes of technology and polytechnics, and 14 per cent in schools. The top market was China with 27 per cent of enrolments followed by India with 23 per cent.
The New Zealand international education industry earned just over $1 billion in tuition fee revenue in 2015, an additional $146 million compared to 2014, and a record result for the industry.
Korea experienced the largest decline in enrolments last year. There was an overall decline in Korean students studying abroad, with many choosing to remain in Korea and take advantage of its much improved standard of education.